Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

How is the last hatch coming along

I'll get photos tomorow, after I do some rewiring - had a 30a plug short this week (that's been replaced, together with most of the wiring on the circuit, but I still need to replace the outlet, which got smoked when the plug melted. and I have to do it early AM, before it gets too hot, because it powers the A/C for the RV (and most everything else).

Little black bird, two days late, with the hernia didn't make it - passed this AM - the three yellow birds hatched the first day are doing well.

Will get photos of the prior hatch too - they are growing really well. The two blacks will get culled of course, but last year, I'd have kept one of them as a half step in the right direction.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As promised.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Seems awfully light colored on the chest (back has a light, but useful, particolor), but look at the deeply defined breast on this, age about 7 weeks. I associate that with more "meaty" breeds. Going to get a weight. will edit shortly.

[EDIT: A mere 3/4# and a bit more. The slightly better patterned, slightly smaller sibling with the pronounced broad dark stripe at top of back is 2/3#. endEDIT]

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Last year, I'd have kept this to breed forward in the project - gold base patterned bird, clean legs. This year, I'll keep her for eggs, because I need more layers, but she's only a half step in the right direction.

No such forebearance for the other black bird in this hatch.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

and current impressions of the most recent hatch?

Middle OK actually has more red/orange tones than right OK. Blame auto color correction in the cell phone camera. Right OK is (visibly) biggest of the bunch - my scale isn't accurate at these sizes.

 

[NanaK]

Chick on the far right looks chunky compared to the other 2.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Chick on the far right looks chunky compared to the other 2.

I'll grow all of them out as layers this year, see what happens - I like all three for differing reasons. But as comments about the prior batch's most "meaty" bird should make clear, once I get the color and pattern down, I'm going to have to breed up in size for a long long time.

and with that, I'm off to the feed store!

 

[Red Mangrove]

Have you obtained your desired lemonade yet?
185 pages is honestly far too much to sift through as a busy father

In theory your project sounds very similar to my own: creating a large, dual-purpose survival bird through long term selective culling

Lots of people breeding survival birds these days. We must all feel the same thing coming

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Have you obtained your desired lemonade yet?
185 pages is honestly far too much to sift through as a busy father

In theory your project sounds very similar to my own: creating a large, dual-purpose survival bird through long term selective culling

Lots of people breeding survival birds these days. We must all feel the same thing coming

NOPE! But I didn't expect it to be a fast thing, either. I'm only two years in, there have been numerous ups (and downs), I'm still trying to get color and pattern before I start looking for size - though I continue to select for larger, lighter colored eggs when I can.

Welcome to the thread!

 

[Red Mangrove]

NOPE! But I didn't expect it to be a fast thing, either. I'm only two years in, there have been numerous ups (and downs), I'm still trying to get color and pattern before I start looking for size - though I continue to select for larger, lighter colored eggs when I can.

Welcome to the thread!

Thank you. I've looked through 20 or so pages and I'll have to keep reading so I can avoid experiencing similar issues

What I should have originally done personally is study far more before ever beginning in the first place

Painting is easier with a blank canvas, rather than painting over something else