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Well, looks like you are keeping the right one for sure Chef. His color looks balanced he has a good comb and and nicely feathered shanks. I can't see the white ear lobes on the other one but that and the black eyes on the last one should DQ them from the breeding program I would think. The red breast doesn't bug me so much but white ear lobes would. And your hen looks very happy and healthy and lovely sitting on her eggs!
I tried to let my hens hatch out some of their own eggs but none hatched. Only a few of the oldest eggs they were sitting on would have been fertile because I actually had to separate the hens from my roos for about a month and a half. The roos got too rough with them. One of my hens got hurt and ended up at the vet getting stitches. They are all doing great now and I have saddles for my hens, but they are still separated and I let only one rooster out with them at a time. I don't know if I have any fertile eggs or not, but one of the things I was waiting on with the hens was to see if they would still lay dark well in to the season and they are. The egg color really hasn't changed much, so I think I should try to get some chicks. Of course the big questions are what kind of egg genes the roosters carry and how they will contribute to egg color.
Drom, thank you for the input it is always good to hear what you guys think. I really think this guy is gonna grow up to look really nice (I hope) and have the DARK egg gene and work well in my program. Only time will tell now. It appears I may have a hen to take out of the breeding pen as well due to light egg color. My other two are laying nicely spotted ones so far but they have only been laying for less than a month and it's getting pretty hot hear. I too had a problem with my RIR roo harrassing the hens. The saddles are life savers for sure! That really sucks about the stiches. How is she doing now?
Patty, no big deal... I have been pretty busy myself. I will definetelty trade you the roo's for the pullet. Just let me know when your going to be available and we can meet up.
Chef
Well, looks like you are keeping the right one for sure Chef. His color looks balanced he has a good comb and and nicely feathered shanks. I can't see the white ear lobes on the other one but that and the black eyes on the last one should DQ them from the breeding program I would think. The red breast doesn't bug me so much but white ear lobes would. And your hen looks very happy and healthy and lovely sitting on her eggs!
I tried to let my hens hatch out some of their own eggs but none hatched. Only a few of the oldest eggs they were sitting on would have been fertile because I actually had to separate the hens from my roos for about a month and a half. The roos got too rough with them. One of my hens got hurt and ended up at the vet getting stitches. They are all doing great now and I have saddles for my hens, but they are still separated and I let only one rooster out with them at a time. I don't know if I have any fertile eggs or not, but one of the things I was waiting on with the hens was to see if they would still lay dark well in to the season and they are. The egg color really hasn't changed much, so I think I should try to get some chicks. Of course the big questions are what kind of egg genes the roosters carry and how they will contribute to egg color.
Drom, thank you for the input it is always good to hear what you guys think. I really think this guy is gonna grow up to look really nice (I hope) and have the DARK egg gene and work well in my program. Only time will tell now. It appears I may have a hen to take out of the breeding pen as well due to light egg color. My other two are laying nicely spotted ones so far but they have only been laying for less than a month and it's getting pretty hot hear. I too had a problem with my RIR roo harrassing the hens. The saddles are life savers for sure! That really sucks about the stiches. How is she doing now?
Patty, no big deal... I have been pretty busy myself. I will definetelty trade you the roo's for the pullet. Just let me know when your going to be available and we can meet up.
Chef
