Old and Rare Breeds

[hallerlake]

That I do not know.


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[saladin]

hall,

If you find out I would really like to know. Thanks in advance.

 

[saladin]

I have always believed that one of the truly great qualities of our old and rare breeds is the fact that they came from different regions of the world with different climates. Thus, we are able to make breed choices based on our on climates.

Here in the South it gets extremely hot as you know, but the 6" of snow outside my window also speaks to the extremes of our weather. We can range from a low of 15F to a high of 105F+.

I have found that the British breeds really suffer in our weather.

The French, Games, and Oriental breeds tend to do the best I've found. (Or breeds with some Oriental background such as the second oldest American breed the Java).

It is not our cold the birds have the most trouble with (as we are seldom cold). It is our extreme heat and humidity that can last for days and days. In July and August we will have many nights that never fall below 80F and the birds just don't have a chance to recover. Excessively feathered birds just have a very hard time of it; so, I don't keep them.

 

[Chris09]

Well I think I am going to be on a mission here in about a week or so.
I have a older refrigerator that I think I am going to convert into a incubator. It is a smaller refrigerator at about 20 x 20 x 34 high but it should make a nice incubator.
The little Styrofoam type incubators I have isn't going to cut it this year, I have too much to try to hatch you this year. My Wife has Silver Appleyard ducks from Holderread Waterfowl that she wants me to start hatching out this year on top of the Reds, Dominique, Brahma, Polish, and White Leghorns.

Well as long as the wife is happy then I guess that is all that matters.

Chris

 

[saladin]

Those college dorm refrigs make great incubators.

We don't ever use an incubator with the duck eggs because of the cooling off period. Our Muscovy hatch all theirs and all the Blue Swedish too.

You'll have to post some before and after pics of the incubator.

 

[Chris09]

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If I could find my Muscovy nests I would like to use the as a incubator but, I could never find there nests.

I will post some before and after pics of the incubator and some progress pictures. I already have the 3012 Motor, Fan, & Mtg. Bracket, 3015 225 Watt Heat Element and 3122 Wafer Thermostat so I have a start on the heating end of it. I have some information on the "Sportsman" type incubators like the wire diagrams and over all user information that I got off the GQF site so that should help a lot............ I hope..

Chris

 

[saladin]

I rewired my old Sportsman a couple of years ago (I don't exactly how old it is, but is is all wooden... I'm guessing 40+???). Shoot I was so proud of myself when I turned it on and it worked that I had one man celebration right there and then!

 

[Chris09]

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LOL, I bet you were dancing a jig on the spot.
I herd that those old Sportsman where really good.
I have the opportunity to get a old Red Wood incubator (the ones that look like a box on long legs) but I just have to find a place to put the big thing.

The wife said, not in the living room, not in the kitchen and not in the bed room.

So I think I will have to put it in the basement. I hate to put it down there do to dampness but I may be able to work with that...

Chris

 

[Cuban Longtails]

My muscovy like nesting in those 55 gallon plastic barrels that are typically used for cock houses. Makes it easier to find the nests, but I let'em hatch them. Brooding ducks, even muscovies is too much of a hassle with the mess they make. Chicks are lots cleaner!

 

[Chris09]

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I wish mine did.

I think they tend to nest down by the creek where the tall grass is but it is hard to get there. I'll have to get them all penned up that way I know where there nest is.

Chris