Questions for Miss Prissy and and any one else who will help.

[yoker]

I am going to start breeding BO,RIR,BR,SLW and white silkies.
Right now I have the first 3 breeds.
The RIR I bought 37 from a hatchery 18 pullets, 19 cockerels.
I had alot with crooked toes soo...
This is what I thought I would do:
Pick the best Roosters and butcher the rest.
Then next year breed the best hens to them.
I will also try and find a Rooster that is not related.

This is what I found in my book on raiseing chickens:
1.Use the best birds available-I didn't know of anywhere else that I could get them.
2.Make a long term goal-Good laying ability, fair meat,nice color,Good fertility, Good temperament and good resistance to disease.
3.Keep records-I will
4.cull- I have heard that this is the most in portent thing to do.

What do you think?
I was also wondering if you could give me some tips on the other breeds?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

That's a good start. You might also want to look in to finding breeders of the breeds that you're wanting to start with. Breeder stock will completely blow hatchery stock out of the water. The birds are bred to the APA standard, nothing but the best.

Join the breeder clubs, I've found them to be very helpful. Generally joining their online forums is free and easy to do. It's a good way to meet other people who you can learn from. Invest in a copy of the APA standard, it's well worth it.

Good luck!

 

[yoker]

the orps and the BR are from a breeder near my place and he has the other two that I will get next year.

 

[Katy]

I agree with chickngurl.....try and get your start with good stock from a breeder, not a hatchery. It will cost more, but it would be worth it.

 

[MissPrissy]

I would not start with hatchery birds.

There are people here on BYC that breed some awesome birds.

Look around and see what you can get that is NOT from hatchery stock.

Bamachicken has beautiful RIR's.

Hinkjc has gorgeous Buff Orpingtons.

Speckledhen raises Barred Rocks.

Bamachicken has silkies.

I am not sure who has breeder quailty SLW.

 

[yoker]

I also have A pair of breeding ss which came from a good breeder.
I hatched 1 chick from that pair.

 

[Kanchii]

Don't start from hatchery stock. The birds are smaller, bad type, coloring, ect. If you're going to breed and want people to actually want birds from you, you'll have to find better stock. Try finding the breed websites online and posting on many breeder forums

 

[yoker]

I have or know where to get all but the RIR.
I live in Alberta, Canada.

 

[MissPrissy]

Hmm. I don't know where to get anything in Canada.

 

[yoker]

that is the problem.
but could I start with what I got and still try to find something better.