My Attempt at a Dual Purpose Heritage Flock

[Tre3hugger]

Tomahawk box and dukes dog proof. I mainly use bad eggs or mini marshmallows as bait so I don't get stray cats. Sometimes I put cat food in the box

Well that is the catching device. But what do you then do with them?

 

[SheaLoner]

Sure. I have two 4 week old males rn. Just turned off the heat during the day. You want one of those?

Were they properly marked? Thats what I was going for with this project, was going for sexable at hatch. I have maybe 7-8 cockerels in the meat pen but they didnt have the wing spot.

 

[Molpet]

Well that is the catching device. But what do you then do with them?

22
Double bag in the garbage. I have one in the freezer waiting for garbage day.
Used to have a predator compost pile but that got to be too much work when it's hot out.

 

[Tre3hugger]

oooh, now I get it. Sorry, thought you just needed a male. I will see what I can do next hatch

Were they properly marked? Thats what I was going for with this project, was going for sexable at hatch. I have maybe 7-8 cockerels in the meat pen but they didnt have the wing spot.

 

[Tre3hugger]

22
Double bag in the garbage. I have one in the freezer waiting for garbage day.
Used to have a predator compost pile but that got to be too much work when it's hot out.

Thank you

 

[SheaLoner]

Got it.

 

[B and K Homestead]

My New Hampshires turned 12 weeks old and I have some impressive weights.
I have 4 roosters & 7 hens.

I will list the roosters from biggest to smallest, & same with the hens.

Roosters:
#1: 9 lbs 0 oz
#2: 8 lbs 14 oz
#3: 8 lbs 19 oz
#4: 7 lbs 9 oz

Hens:
#1: 6 lbs 13 oz
#2: 6 lbs 8 oz
#3: 6 lbs 5 oz
#4: 6 lbs 2 oz
#5: 6 lbs 1 oz
#6: 6 lbs 0 oz
#7: 6 lbs 0 oz

My MM Delaware enhanced broilers will be 12 weeks next week. I grabbed one of the bigger Delaware roosters and at 11 weeks he weight 6 lbs even, which I thought was impressive as well.

My New Hampshire Roosters are so big that I am concerned they won't be able to jump onto the hens and successfully breed, but we will see.

 

[SheaLoner]

I've taken to putting my potential breed stock out with the layers. They get a measured18% twice a day and forage inbetween, Just for this reason. It keeps them a little more trim.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I got some weights on the sex link males yesterday...10 weeks old and averaging 5.4lbs! Very happy. I have put them in a confined grow out pen with unlimited food and plan to process in 2 weeks or less.

The 2nd generation is fully integrated, and have been given their yellow leg bands for 2022. Will be growing them out and selecting the best to overwinter.

The 3rd generation is off heat and looking good. Looks like I have 5 Del female, 3 Del cockerel, 2 NH cockerel and 2 NH pullet. 4/5 cockerels will be eaten and the girls will be grown out a bit so I can select my keepers before winter.

Another batch of NHs and SLs are in the incubator, with 10 days left. I will be eating the SL boys, maybe keeping one to try and out over some NH females. Instead of toads tehy will be tree frogs lol. Selling the Sl girls, eating the NH cockerels and growing out the girls for selection.

I will try and getg some pics this week!

 

[B and K Homestead]

Very nice! My MM Delaware Enhanced Broilers are 12 weeks old tomorrow so I weighed them today, as I am going to be butchering them along with my Cornish Cross tomorrow.

The weights are very impressive!.
Biggest: 6 lbs 10 oz
Smallest 4 lbs 1 oz

Below are the weights of all #10

1: 6 lbs 10 oz
2: 5 lbs 8 oz
3: 5 lbs 4 oz
4: 4 lbs 12 oz
5: 5 lbs 7 oz
6: 5 lbs 10 oz
7: 6 lbs 3 oz
8: 5 lbs 5 oz
9: 4 lbs 11 oz
10: 4 lbs 1 oz

Average for all of them is 5 lbs 5.5 oz

I think it is obvious which one I will be keeping for a breeder! I am attaching images of my my Delaware Rooster @ 11 weeks & 6 days old.