15 Naked Necks and 10 New Hampshires. I will use a generic "he", as I have no idea on genders (though I swear I think I can already tell one of the little Nn cockerels by comb size at day one - games we play with ourselves...) Yes, they've already made a bit of a mess...
Of the "Naked Necks", 6 are black, and 9 are lighter (some more yellowish, some more reddish yellow, two of these with a dark spot on the head). I tried to take a tally of the NNs while putting them in the brooder, but I got distracted and it was hard to keep count for the light ones (and now they're all facing down eating and I can't see their chins!):
Black: 3 NN (tiny bowtie fluff), 2 Nn (full bowtie/muff in front), and 1 nn (no naked neck at all - he came with a pasty butt, but we fixed that. Guess he had too much fluff around his butt!)
Light: 3 (maybe 4?) NN, 6 (or 5?) Nn (and no nn). Interestingly, some of the light Nns looks exactly like the NHs, but with naked back of neck - has someone started my hybrid experiment for me?
All NN seem healthy and very vigorous so far - they skid around the brooder so fast already!!! All but one NH are healthy and vigorous - one seems to maybe be blind and weak. Another NH has a bit of a bloody comb - possibly some roughhousing in the hatchery or in the box on the drive home? I'm off to search BYC for (1) whether I can put iodine or something else on his comb area safely (feed store closed, no Blukote on hand, would like to avoid separating him - no picking at him yet), and (2) any ideas on the blind chick (though he's also wobbly/doesn't stand well, and doesn't really eat much even when I put his beak in food, and he cries incessantly, so regardless, he may not make it. I will try Nutridrench, though, in case he'll live - if so, I will mark him so I don't use him for breeding - I got a toe punch, so I can use that).
Plan is to follow size and speed of growth (as well as hardiness, etc.), and to keep a few pullets of each, plus one (or two) roosters, to breed (just for myself) Naked Necks to each other and as hybrids with NHs. I WAS only going to keep Naked Necks with full NN features, but now I think I'll also get serial weights on some of the Nns to see if they carry good meaty features...
Time to go check on them again (much better than TV!)
Yes he is my main flock roo, I know he is fertile b/c there are a few mini me's , that are coming of age. There has been a secondary roo until a few months ago, Riker, he was killed protecting bunnies and hens from a preditor. Shakespear has always been head roo, keeping Riker in line, Riker had to sneak breed w/ the hens. Shakespear has always acted off for a head roo though. he never sleeps w/ the hens, never on the top rung, doesn't really hang out w/ them at all
Handsome boy. Sorry to hear about Riker - every time I tell myself to "keep it simple" re: number of breeding roosters, I read a story about loss of one...
Handsome boy. Sorry to hear about Riker - every time I tell myself to "keep it simple" re: number of breeding roosters, I read a story about loss of one...
Yes I have several up and comers. I learned from my "chickeggdon" experience I always have 2 dozen of the most recent eggs, I don't eat or sell or anything just in case.
Yes I have several up and comers. I learned from my "chickeggdon" experience I always have 2 dozen of the most recent eggs, I don't eat or sell or anything just in case.