I am hoping to get chicks in late Feb, by then it should be springlike enough to brood them in the "super brooder". Also means I get off my dead rear and get it finished.
I won't offer eggs at this point, my only NN roo is downright stupid. He is a NN/Delaware cross, and will make good soup. He almost met that fate today, he was being just too mean to one of the girls. He bullies the little hens, which are primarily the NN girls. I think he doesn'r realize he is a NN, since when he sees himself in the backdoor window. his big fluffy bow tie hides his red neck. Anyway, his brothers were yummy. the only reason I haven't gotten rid of him yet, is the girls really like to forage and he does guard them along with the EE rooster. I'm keeping his Delaware personality out of the gene pool. And yes I sold my Delawares when they were maybe 8 months old.
This spring I am adding only more Naked Necks and Easter Eggers to the flock, I know they are good, productive, sweet birds. I probably won't due any hatching until the fall, other than a few eggs for my granddaughter over her spring break. Hope the new boys will be a tad smarter.
You are correct 4heathens, the NNs handled last summer's 100 days of 110+ degrees really well. They would even try to sun bath, stretch out in the sun on the hot soil, last about 5 minutes before running back to the shade cloth awning and wading pool. Because they are so hearty in the heat, they are the core of my flock.
I have lost only one of my NN hens, that was about a month ago, she became listless, laid around for a couple and days, then layed down in the nest box and died. Weather wasn't terribly cold, she showed no signs of being egg bound or sick. I can't make myself do a necroscopy, and since it was a single death I didn't send her away. One of the Tetra Tint hens did the same thing a few weeks earlier, it was as if they just found the molt too hard on them and quit thriving.
sweet pictures ! Congratulations !
sweet pictures ! Congratulations !
