Langshan Thread!!!

[brahmabreeder]

Right now it's the start of winter. Having chicks in winter is't that big of an issue. Just keep them warm and they'll do fine. Obviously spring is better but if they aren't hatched early enough then they can't be shown.

 

[BGMatt]

So you breed and hatch in Winter ( Jan - March ), then raise till fall in which case they will be old enough to show.
Isn't is a hassle having chicks in Winter???

Can depend on your climate really. Where I live we have very wet winters and it is hard on younger birds so you also want them mature by late fall even if you aren't going to show.

I agree entirely with brahmabreeder on hatching Jan-March. I'll hatch bantams a bit later but large fowl in my opinion should really be done by end of March. Ideally when There aren't other factors, Jan/Feb I hatch Large fowl for myself and bantams to sell, and then in March/April I do the opposite, anything hatched May or later is either hatched to order for sales or an emergency "I need more of (whatever)" situation. And if you're showing, then yes even the smaller Mediterranean breeds need that time to finish those tails (or you just never show a cockerel, same as Langshan really, those big beautiful male tails take time!)

Another benefit to hatching early in the calendar year is if your pullets are just coming into lay as the daylight shortens, they will usually lay strong all the way through winter.

Edit: of course this might all be different for you down there due to different seasons. Basically hatch at the tail end of winter so that by time birds are off heat (around 8 weeks) you're at the beginning of spring, and they're coming into lay just before the daylight hours start getting shorter in fall.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Hi Langshan people
Can I get some opinions on my croad girl?

 

[Chickengirl1304]

Another

 

[BGMatt]

Hi Langshan people

Can I get some opinions on my croad girl?

Lacing looks pretty nice. She looks like she has decent leg length. From what I can see eye color looks good. Does she hold her tail to one side, or is it just the way she's standing in top picture? Good front end it looks like. I'd like to see a smoother transition from back to tail, and tighter feathering and less fluff.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Pertaining to when to hatch.

I prefer fall hatches, such as September and as late as November. I have a very specific reason for this. I add heat to the pens that I have my youngest chicks in during the fall/winter. My reasons? If I hatch in January-March, I still get fairly good results, but the high temperatures that start up in April can wreak havoc on a large, growing bird. They will stop eating and only drink water. This gives poorer growth than a bird that was hatched in the fall the previous year.

Showing a pullet or cockerel really isn't that big of a deal for me. I'm more than happy to show a pullet in a hen class, even if she looks less developed. I know that she has at least grown to her full potential and will only develop into a better bird in her 2nd year. Now, up north? I hatched February into May. The summers up there are SO much easier on the birds but the winters....ugh...those winters.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Pertaining to when to hatch.

I prefer fall hatches, such as September and as late as November. I have a very specific reason for this. I add heat to the pens that I have my youngest chicks in during the fall/winter. My reasons? If I hatch in January-March, I still get fairly good results, but the high temperatures that start up in April can wreak havoc on a large, growing bird. They will stop eating and only drink water. This gives poorer growth than a bird that was hatched in the fall the previous year.

Showing a pullet or cockerel really isn't that big of a deal for me. I'm more than happy to show a pullet in a hen class, even if she looks less developed. I know that she has at least grown to her full potential and will only develop into a better bird in her 2nd year. Now, up north? I hatched February into May. The summers up there are SO much easier on the birds but the winters....ugh...those winters.

Eh the winters up HERE don't get that cold usually. Rarely ever goes below zero although next week it's suppose to. Usually we are in the 20's ish. The cold doesn't bother me per say but the snow just sucks. I love it the most when it gets in my boots and melts

.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Snow was a magical, wonderful thing until I moved to PA. Now...UGH. I wish I could never see the stuff again. Especially since, down here, there are no trucks specifically designed for clearing, plowing or pre-treating the roads (they don't pretreat...here's some sand! There ya go! That'll getcha!).

Sorry...I would much rather take the tornado weather than the freezing blizzards and ice storms any day.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Ok so US - Winter - January...February...March
Spring - April...May...June
Summer - July...August...September
Autumn(Fall) - October...November...December Oppisite, add a month.

Aus - Summer - Dec, Jan, Feb
Autumn - March, April, May
Winter - June, Jul, Aug
Spring - Sept, Oct, Nov Opposite, minus a month.

Basically hatch at the tail end of winter so that by time birds are off heat (around 8 weeks) you're at the beginning of spring, and they're coming into lay just before the daylight hours start getting shorter in fall. For sure going to do this! Thanks heaps

.

Oh yes, America has a bigger changing climate then us. Over here it's all relatively the same. Where I am now our Winter are very Mild compared and our Summers do get rather hot, getting up to 45 C ( 113 Fa ).
Aren't other factors? Factors being?
"Another benefit to hatching early in the calendar year is if your pullets are just coming into lay as the daylight shortens, they will usually lay strong all the way through winter."
Very clever, I like it.^^^ I have never really thought about the timing of laying and seasons.




Very clever Rod. So you really have to your change breeding, hatching etc depending on your climate.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Unfortunately yes. I've had to live in several places over the past few years and there is no way I could have hatched in the fall into the spring with the resources I had available in PA. I had to hatch early spring, keep in the basement until at least May, then allow them to grow out under natural conditions, but supplemented with light. It's cloudy and gray ALOT up north.