Nankin Discussion Thread

[foxypoproxy]

Does mary ann sell hatching eggs too?
I may be interested in breeding some nankins aswell.

 

[Micki]

I'm enough of a wimp that i don't like to slaughter and eat anything I "knew", but I live in a fairly rural area, and there are plenty of people who would be grateful to have a few small chickens to put on their plates. I would have no problem giving culls to them to eat. Trying to find the balance between what birds can go into the "Christmas pen" and those that should flat out be culled will be a learning experience for me. I'm sure that I will err on the side of caution to start with, and will learn the rest as I go. I don't want to cull so many birds that I hurt the gene pool by not leaving enough diversity, but I also don't want to keep and breed birds whose genetics will damage the gene pool of an already rare type of bird. I will guess that these are challenges that all breeders face. I completely understand you not running a hospice for chickens, Saladin! I can't afford to do that either.

If all goes well I will start off with 20 chicks! I don't want to take back my order from Lund Poultry, since from what I am reading their birds do well in shows in their area and originated from Mary Ann's flock. I am on the list for 10 from them and another 10 from Mary Ann. I know that's a lot of chicks, but the laws of probability will probably make half of those cockerels, of which I probably only want half of those. My current plan is to set up 5 breeding pens, with my 5 best cockerels, plus the "Christmas" pen if I still have enough birds. I will probably wait until next fall before I would do any serious culling, and I'll probably go easy on that the first year.

What have you found is a good ratio for Roos to Hens for good hatchability? I am planning on letting the girls brood their own chicks, although I may try incubating in the future.

I'm still open to all suggestions and comments! Thanks so much!

Michele

 

[Micki]

I don't know if she sells hatching eggs or not. Google "Mary Ann Harley" and you will find her email address. I don't know if it's ok to post it here or not. She responded to me within 24 hours. Of course it's a very busy week for many people. Good luck!

 

[saladin]

Quote:
I'm not sure. All I've ever heard her talk about was sending out chicks. I know year before last she mailed out 500. Last year the number was down some to around 300 chicks.

 

[saladin]

Quote:
For a young cockerel: 7-10 pullets.

 

[Micki]

<For a young cockerel: 7-10 pullets.>


Oh that's better than I thought. Very good! I always hear about breeding trios.

Thanks for answering all my questions. You have a lot of patience! I am seeking education about all this and I appreciate your patience. I am learning so much! Can't wait to get my birds!

 

[foxypoproxy]

Quote:
Ok thanks i will look her up

 

[foxypoproxy]

Quote:
I'm not sure. All I've ever heard her talk about was sending out chicks. I know year before last she mailed out 500. Last year the number was down some to around 300 chicks.

Thank you, i will ask her

 

[chikincrazee]

Hi we have some nankins....we are based in Moline IL I will ship eggs for the $5.00 a dozen plus the cost of shipping.....our flock has three lines....Iowa bred ones..Mary Ann Harleys and then a pair from Washington state...my son shows all over and has done extremely well in the Jr shows....he had BB nankin in the Jr show at Nationals this year....we will be going to a show probably in Sedalia Missouri this year and i try to arrange it so we can travel around to diffferent states with the birds and it gives people the option to pick their birds up at shows....Lund poultry has very nice birds too.

 

[Micki]

chickincrazee, maybe we can meet at the Sedalia show! Not sure when it is, will have to look into it. Even if my birds aren't old enough to show yet, I would like to go to a few shows to see what it's all about. And who knows, I may be wanting more chicks by then

.

Michele aka Micki (Michele was already taken, but I answer to both)