I am so glad you discussed your experience with Freedom Rangers. I was just looking at this breed as a possible cross with my NNs and wondered if it would work given the rapid growth rates. You answered every question running through my mind! Thanks! I think I'll monitor your project as long as you provide updates and stick with my original plans for now.
Okay....so what am I thinking now?
I'm starting with crossing one of my largest NN cockerels with my White Rock pullets. I've been really impressed with their rapid growth and very meaty breasts and thighs in my pullets at an early age. The WRs pullets grew substantially faster than even my NN cockerels until about ten weeks of age, which is where the NN cockerels caught up. I want to see what a mix of these two results in not only in rate of growth and meatiness, but also meat quality, texture and flavor.
My next cross will probably be with a few of my Dorking mixes, and then I will probably introduce some Dark Cornish into the mix down the line as well. I've heard repeatedly that Dorking meat is fantastic but my own birds aren't old enough for butchering yet. I should have first-hand experience in a couple more months....assuming that one particularly annoying Dorking cockerel doesn't further try my patience before then. I don't own Dark Cornish yet, but I've been admiring the bird for a long time and I'm utterly fascinated with the idea of combining their genetics with my NN's. I want to examine the birds carefully at each cross to see the results before adding in more new blood, and I will probably breed the crosses back to NN blood in between since I prefer the NN feathering....but I won't decide that for certain until I can examine the progeny in turn. I'm still working out the punnet squares and breeding charts for my first groupings and suspect it will be a work-in-progress with many alterations along the way as I examine results.
I will also simultaneously be line breeding straight NNs in a separate program as a basis for comparison. I really like the flavor and texture of the meat and skin of this bird and don't want to risk compromising that quality, but ultimately I'd like some meatier birds and birds that grow meatier a little earlier in their development. Right now I'm culling around 18-20 weeks for roasters, but would really like to get that closer to 16 weeks with the same size. (I like big, meaty birds.)
Hmm....I think I'm going to need to invest in another larger incubator.
Me too - what do you think it is? There seemed to be quite a genetic variety in the LR chicks. Most were buff of some sort but there were several solid white ones too. I have one pullet that is quite short legged and dumpy - very odd but I don't remember anything odd about her when she was younger. The combs on some of the pullets are odd. Most have yellow legs but a few are white and this rooster almost had willow legs when he was young although they're kind of yellow now. Most of the roosters and a couple of pullets were decently large when they were butchered at about 8 weeks with carcass weights of 3.5 - 4lbs which is what I like. But there were a couple roosters that were smaller - hen sized instead of rooster sized.
Here are a few more pics. If this is too off topic for this thread and bothers anyone, just let me know and I can move it to private message.
I'm starting with crossing one of my largest NN cockerels with my White Rock pullets. I've been really impressed with their rapid growth and very meaty breasts and thighs in my pullets at an early age. The WRs pullets grew substantially faster than even my NN cockerels until about ten weeks of age, which is where the NN cockerels caught up. I want to see what a mix of these two results in not only in rate of growth and meatiness, but also meat quality, texture and flavor.
My next cross will probably be with a few of my Dorking mixes, and then I will probably introduce some Dark Cornish into the mix down the line as well. I've heard repeatedly that Dorking meat is fantastic but my own birds aren't old enough for butchering yet. I should have first-hand experience in a couple more months....assuming that one particularly annoying Dorking cockerel doesn't further try my patience before then. I don't own Dark Cornish yet, but I've been admiring the bird for a long time and I'm utterly fascinated with the idea of combining their genetics with my NN's. I want to examine the birds carefully at each cross to see the results before adding in more new blood, and I will probably breed the crosses back to NN blood in between since I prefer the NN feathering....but I won't decide that for certain until I can examine the progeny in turn. I'm still working out the punnet squares and breeding charts for my first groupings and suspect it will be a work-in-progress with many alterations along the way as I examine results.
I will also simultaneously be line breeding straight NNs in a separate program as a basis for comparison. I really like the flavor and texture of the meat and skin of this bird and don't want to risk compromising that quality, but ultimately I'd like some meatier birds and birds that grow meatier a little earlier in their development. Right now I'm culling around 18-20 weeks for roasters, but would really like to get that closer to 16 weeks with the same size. (I like big, meaty birds.)
Hmm....I think I'm going to need to invest in another larger incubator.
How Large an incubator? Since this bunch has made two of their own that work great they might sell the Octagon 40 pryed (Or is it pried) from Turk's hands. Never used...in fact I don't know if it was ever out of the box...but the box has been opened. Want me to ask??
Edited to correct foolish spelling!!!!!!!!!!
Also...My rocks are due on the 19th or 20th. I think...shipped on the 17th. You're ahead of me in one way but I got the draw on you with the Cornish...by about 2 years...
Hey @Kev ..... Any guesses as to what this chick might be? It's supposed to be a Silver Grey Dorking but definitely isn't. It has five toes....but look at that comb and top hat!!!! I'm at a complete loss. I never knew that the buttercup comb showed up on anything other than the Sicilian Buttercup.
