Newbie needs help - I'm second guessing the breeds in my first chick order!

[VA Raptor]

The plan is to grow out the roos and cull whoever doesn't make the cut. Also, to keep the Maran, Ameraucanas, and Cream Legbars separated from the mixed layer flock (again, assuming I get a successful hatch).

Hopefully this isn't too simplistic a plan - I'm definitely open to suggestion and constructive criticism.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

By cull you mean process? Cull by definition simply means to remove an unwanted animal from the rest to avoid unwanted breeding, many use that word as a nice way to say butcher!

It sounds like you have a good plan. So many get into chicken breeding having no idea what they are going to do with the unwanted roos. They think that they can easily rehome them, and this is just not the case for most roos. It sounds like you will have a great flock.

 

[Rainier]

My experience with Production Red's from a hatchery are that the hens are ok. They are to young to lay yet but are now showing signs of getting ready to. The cockerel on the hand was sent to freezer camp (butchered) at about 18 weeks because he was really mean. He broke the skin several times and attacked us every time we were in the chicken run!

I will not be getting Production Reds again. The rest of my flock I would get again! I really wanted some EE's but they never had any at the feed store.

We had bad luck in that the 20 chicks we got only 8 hens! The BR cockerel so far is a good one. He calls the hens when treats are found, never chases them and was the gentlest when trying to mate with them. Looking back now I realize that we had way to many cockerel's and the hens were stressed. Three cockerels to seven pullets seems to work for our crew.

The BR is from a co-worker. We also got three Black Australorpe's from him and they were the first to lay. We also got one from the feed store and it's temperament is the same as the other ones.

 

[VA Raptor]

By cull you mean process? Cull by definition simply means to remove an unwanted animal from the rest to avoid unwanted breeding, many use that word as a nice way to say butcher!

It sounds like you have a good plan. So many get into chicken breeding having no idea what they are going to do with the unwanted roos. They think that they can easily rehome them, and this is just not the case for most roos. It sounds like you will have a great flock.

By cull, I meant sending any hardcore meanies to freezer camp. If a roo has a decent disposition, but if I'm already full, I will try to find homes before processing them. Figure I better have a plan going into any agricultural activity. It's another reason I wanted dual purpose birds.

Sorry to have been vague about culling, I didn't want to offend those who aren't comfortable with the "freezer camp" option

Still kind of anxious about the Reds, but I will play whatever hand the hatchery deals me!! I hear they can be tasty.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

No need to apologize here! It is always best to be practical with chickens. Roos are a dime a dozen, if you cna get that much! If it helps any, i received 4 RIR roos with my first batch of birds. They were much skinnier than I had expected, but their flavor was excellent, we processed them at around 20 weeks. I waited hoping they would plump up, now knowing what I do, I would process around 16 to 18 weeks!

 

[Rainier]

By cull, I meant sending any hardcore meanies to freezer camp. If a roo has a decent disposition, but if I'm already full, I will try to find homes before processing them. Figure I better have a plan going into any agricultural activity. It's another reason I wanted dual purpose birds.

Sorry to have been vague about culling, I didn't want to offend those who isn't comfortable with the "freezer camp" option

Still kind of anxious about the Reds, but I will play whatever hand the hatchery deals me!! I hear they can be tasty.

I think the mean ones taste exceptional tasty

No need to apologize here! It is always best to be practical with chickens. Roos are a dime a dozen, if you cna get that much! If it helps any, i received 4 RIR roos with my first batch of birds. They were much skinnier than I had expected, but their flavor was excellent, we processed them at around 20 weeks. I waited hoping they would plump up, now knowing what I do, I would process around 16 to 18 weeks!

We ate ours at about 18 weeks and he was good. The hens didn't seem to get any bigger after the 18 - 19 week mark. They are much "leaner" than our BR or Australorpes. When we butchered the BR at around the same time they were a lot bigger.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I think the mean ones taste exceptional tasty

Right!

The BJG that attacked my two year old (who snuck into the pen while I was getting water) made the best soup I've ever had LOL! No aggressive roos tolerated here!

 

[Rainier]

No aggressive roos tolerated here!

X2

There are too many great roos needing homes to tolerate aggressive ones!

 

[Rainier]

By cull, I meant sending any hardcore meanies to freezer camp. If a roo has a decent disposition, but if I'm already full, I will try to find homes before processing them. Figure I better have a plan going into any agricultural activity. It's another reason I wanted dual purpose birds.

Sorry to have been vague about culling, I didn't want to offend those who isn't comfortable with the "freezer camp" option

Still kind of anxious about the Reds, but I will play whatever hand the hatchery deals me!! I hear they can be tasty.

I think that one of the hardest parts of chicken raising is when you do not have a set plan in place. Many times people are not comfortable with "freezer camp" but cannot find homes for the extra roos. Unless you get sex-linked chickens you are, at some point, going to end up with to many males.

You are a step ahead by realizing that you are going to have to send some to freezer camp. The reality is finding extra roos a new home is difficult at best.

 

[VA Raptor]

Well, my Meyer order arrived today. It turns out I really screwed up and have a second order that will probably arrive tomorrow. Yikes!! If I can't sell the extras locally, I will try again in the Spring as started birds for the girls and process the roos. Good thing my hatch rate sucked! I'm definitely going to need a larger brooder.

At least today's chicks arrived alive and looked healthy. They sure have huge appetites!