Konza Prairie Rangers

[ChooksChick]

Renee how is this project going??

I really should post some pics...I'll see if I can't snag some today. The only camera I have is my phone, and it's always dead when I hit the farm...I don't pay attention.

Anyway, there are more white girls with some dirty partridge coming through than anything else, as I've lost a number of pullets to a bobcat. Oddly, the reason I've been steering away from white is that it seems to be a more obvious visual draw to predators...who are leaving the whites just to screw with my head.

Anyway, I have now observed a MARKED dimorphism between the genders on this generation, and the hens seem to have hit a maximum mass but the boys are definitely larger. Well...denser, anyway. HEAVY. I'll know more when we visit the processor. I haven't had many boys this past hatch, so there won't be any for 14-17 weeks, give or take. I only hatched a handful this time, too, as the hens have been broody. Good mommas, but it slows down my project.

I'm now going to focus a little more on comb and color. It will be hard without bottlnecking too much, so this will be slow. New girls are laying, but since they are white, we'll see what happens. There are 2 Red boys, a Copper Black and Moby. That should help some. Sweet fellows, all of them. I require good nature toward humans.

 

[Arielle]

Color is an interesting aspect with hawks-- white would seem to stick out like an easy target. I've lost a white and a black to hawks.

THe white in the girls-- is this dom white? Maybe the boys will add some coloring.

Very interesting that the girls have not progressed in size like the boys. That I didn't expect--very surprising.

 

[Triplehorn]

Hi ChooksChick,
How is your Konza project going? Your project goals sound just like the bird I've been conceptualizing but doesn't seem to exist. Something like a quick developing, large Orpington with as little comb and wattles as possible. Good laying, good size for meat, good foraging ability, good winter laying, gentle, and camouflage-ish coloration. I don't care if they are all the same color as long as their performance is good.
I was very excited to see this thread!
Any chance of project eggs or chicks being available during March-May 2014?
Thanks

 

[Arielle]

HI triple horn!! Many of us have been as excited as you to try these new birds. Chookschick has been very busy lately and hopefully will chime in soon. But if she doesn't answer in a timely manner, hang in there. A few of us have her birds, or hope to, and like having a project meat bird. Welcome to the thread.

 

[ChooksChick]

Gads, folks. I'm back.

I've had to move the whole farm/facility, and with work having increased so dramatically like it had been since spring, something had to give...and it was communication with you all!!

I am now up and acting and have partnered with a lovely farmer who has great knowledge in sheep and waterfowl who will be helping me so I don't get buried again! You will al get to meet her soon- when she gets her account created.

Right now, the new generation of Konzas have begun to lay and we're contemplating pairings for selections of the next gen. I have a couple of teens growing out, as well.

Happy new year to everyone!!

 

[draye]

Gads, folks. I'm back.

I've had to move the whole farm/facility, and with work having increased so dramatically like it had been since spring, something had to give...and it was communication with you all!!

I am now up and acting and have partnered with a lovely farmer who has great knowledge in sheep and waterfowl who will be helping me so I don't get buried again! You will al get to meet her soon- when she gets her account created.

Right now, the new generation of Konzas have begun to lay and we're contemplating pairings for selections of the next gen. I have a couple of teens growing out, as well.

Happy new year to everyone!!

Nice seeing you back.
Hoping that all goes well with your new farming operation.
Congratulations on the next generation on Konzas laying, hope they lay well for you.

 

[Arielle]

Gads, folks. I'm back.

I've had to move the whole farm/facility, and with work having increased so dramatically like it had been since spring, something had to give...and it was communication with you all!!

I am now up and acting and have partnered with a lovely farmer who has great knowledge in sheep and waterfowl who will be helping me so I don't get buried again! You will al get to meet her soon- when she gets her account created.

Right now, the new generation of Konzas have begun to lay and we're contemplating pairings for selections of the next gen. I have a couple of teens growing out, as well.

Happy new year to everyone!!

Glad to see you are back !!


What have you kept for breeding stock for this year??

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
I have 4 hens with less white than previous, and I've gone toward more of a crele look on this selection, because I think auto-sexing would be incredibly helpful.

I have 4 mahogany partridge hens and several that are more of a black copper look.

The roos are red partridge, black and crele-ish. The coloring is always secondary to size, feed consumption, and overall shape and growth speed. Of course, with hens, the laying and brooding is important. I'm still experimenting with skin, flesh, etc. phenotypes, as I'm not certain where these choices lay in my preferences. I AM actively selecting for mousers. If I see one catch a mouse I band it for keeping regardless of all other factors.

I have about 30 in the incubator for hatching next week and may give up a batch of chicks if someone wants to go with an insta-flock. Whuddya think??

 

[Arielle]

Instaflock for sure!! Looking forward to getting a few to get this party rolling!!

Which line brought the crele into play? I can see the benefit in separating by gender if the size between males and females has become dramatic. Smaller birds often don't fair as well when crowded by bullies at the feeder.

Mousers are a multi purpose. My oponion so far is that they learn from each other, but of course they have to be willing to learn. I've pulled 3 mice from the grain bin this week-- I just can't kill them outright. Would be happy to have a mouser fill that job.

I like the less white on the birds. THough a splash here and there could be useful wehn the sun shines thru the leavy canopy here. I don't expect that you have that issue on an open rainge though. My speckle sussex can disappear quickly into the woods.

 

[draye]

 Instaflock for sure!!  Looking forward to getting a few to get this party rolling!! 

Which line brought the crele into play? I can see the benefit in separating by gender if the size between males and females has become dramatic. Smaller birds often don't fair as well when crowded by bullies at the feeder.

Mousers are a multi purpose. My oponion so far is that they learn from each other, but of course they have to be willing to learn. I've pulled 3 mice from the grain bin this week-- I just can't kill them outright. Would be happy to have a mouser fill that job. 

I like the less white on the birds. THough a splash here and there could be useful wehn the sun shines thru the leavy canopy here. I don't expect that you have that issue on an open rainge though. My speckle sussex can disappear quickly into the woods. 

Throw them mice to the chickens.