Minnesota!

[Rhetts]

Wow! Those are pretty cool! I can't wait to tell/show daughter. She will be impressed for sure!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I lost my Dixie rainbow rooster today. He finally died of injuries he got jumping off the high roost. I told him he was too big to be up there..


So in addition to a EE rooster, I find I need another dual type rooster, a jersey giant or a Rainbow is what I would like but I am open to anything, If you have such a thing you want to part with let me know.

I cannot believe the 2 roosters I wanted most to make it over winter died and I am stuck with 2 roosters I am ambivalent too. ( not counting my CX rooster who I REALLY REALLY want to have make it over winter.

 

[lightchick]

@lightchick-Yes, I think the birds do go on the deck just for the sake of pooping on it. BTW My daughter was wondering if your avatar picture is of a real bird. I told her I thought so but she says it looks so beautiful it must be a statue or something with the dark comb and purple feathering. I told her I would ask you.

LOL yes, it is a real chicken! It's not MY chicken though. I wish it was.

 

[ejb3810]

Ralphie, If nothing unforeseen happens I will possibly have an extra Patridge Chantecler cock that you would be welcome to. He is from last springs hatch and in good condition at this point.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie, If nothing unforeseen happens I will possibly have an extra Patridge Chantecler cock that you would be welcome to. He is from last springs hatch and in good condition at this point.

Thanks, that would be an interesting cross. I must admit I know little about them.

My intentions with the two that died were to cross my CX pullets with them and try to get a larger drumstick.thigh and little smaller breasts. Would he do this?

I think 2 roosters for 31 hens is a little low on the ratio, I hate to incubate too many unfertilized eggs.

I am sorry I have not gotten up to Duluth to see my daughter and get the EE yet either. Seems to always be something on our end or theirs.

 

[ejb3810]

Ralphie, the Chanteclers are good size birds. I would suggest that you do a little research regarding them, and if you think it would work that would be great. I have two EE cocks and color of them is quite different. You might take them both to see if one produces pullets with better egg color than the other?

 

[duluthralphie]

I have been reading on the Chanteclers it appears they are winter hardy, that is a point in their favor. I see mixed reviews but a lot of the bad ones are from down south
I have a lot of EE, my package was overloaded with them and BSLs. Egg color is the thing I go for with the EE, That and they are just so darn cute. I have a lot of partridge colored EEs.

I am going to be building several more covered pens and small coops. Next year I want only one rooster with each group of hens. I know more coops is more work, but I think it would be worth it.

How large do you think the chantecler would dress out? I am not planning on dressing him just trying to get a size idea..
I

 

[Minniechickmama]

I have been reading on the Chanteclers it appears they are winter hardy, that is a point in their favor. I see mixed reviews but a lot of the bad ones are from down south
I have a lot of EE, my package was overloaded with them and BSLs. Egg color is the thing I go for with the EE, That and they are just so darn cute. I have a lot of partridge colored EEs.

I am going to be building several more covered pens and small coops. Next year I want only one rooster with each group of hens. I know more coops is more work, but I think it would be worth it.

How large do you think the chantecler would dress out? I am not planning on dressing him just trying to get a size idea..
I

I think if you can't wait to get Buckeye, a Chantecler is probably the next best thing for up in this part of the country. I wouldn't pass up on this offer since you are looking for a hardy bird soon.

 

[duluthralphie]

I think if you can't wait to get Buckeye, a Chantecler is probably the next best thing for up in this part of the country. I wouldn't pass up on this offer since you are looking for a hardy bird soon.

I am leaning that way, thanks for the advice, the more I read about them the more them seem like a good set of genes to put into my mutts. It also looks like they have a good body type to counter some of the CX traits. If the CX's actually ever lay eggs. That is not a given, they maybe on borrowed time as they are 8 months old now. I keep hoping they will lay 40-50 eggs each for me this spring.

 

[Dandelioness]

When have you all noticed hens going broody? Last summer was the first time I had it happen with more than one hen.

This year I'd like to put them to work. I'll be separating breeders out and waiting a month prior to collecting hatching eggs. But it's a question of timing, I suppose. I'd hate for them to go broody, then separate the breeders out for a month, plus hatching time - probably not so good on the hens' condition. Or the opposite - have a glut of fertile eggs, but no one's broody!

Anyone who has noticed a general pattern (besides me! Hmmmm...spring and summer), please share. If it helps, the potential broodies would be a silkie, light brown leghorn, red sex link (cinnamon queen), Rhode Island White, buff Orpington, Easter eggers or cuckoo Marans.

I keep good calendar records on the veggie garden, but not on the chickens. Time to start, I suppose.

All my friends use incubators, so no broody advice there.