Rosecomb Thread

[Cjarvis]

They are bit shy after being in a box but are starting to come around well. Still waiting on the pullets to start to show themselves since they are scared they hide under the cockrell, But here are two shots I did manage to get of the cockrell. he is quite the little man.
Feathers are little tattered from the box and earlobes need cleaned up some (got some "stuff" on them) but will clean them up in a few days i don't want to stress them anymore right now.

 

[Cjarvis]

I had Hink add this thread to the breed thread list, so if you ever loose the thread in the endless pages just select the link "Noteable breed threads" above the box with the threads listed and scroll down to Rosecomb. It will take you to page 1 of the thread.

 

[Cjarvis]

The birds have been here only about 8 hrs. For birds that were not laying they must like something, just got 2 eggs from teh pen so double checked teh box, there was 1 in there. Just really made my day.

 

[checoukan]

The birds have been here only about 8 hrs. For birds that were not laying they must like something, just got 2 eggs from teh pen so double checked teh box, there was 1 in there. Just really made my day.

Good deal, must have been the box and the ride. I swear, they had not laid any eggs here. I would think they would be fertile, but since they are the first eggs, I don't know. Look really good. I did not bathe them, as I was afraid to get them chilled

on the ride down to Okla. Sure glad they got there today, would have been a cold nite tonight for sure!!!!!

 

[Cjarvis]

Good deal, must have been the box and the ride. I swear, they had not laid any eggs here. I would think they would be fertile, but since they are the first eggs, I don't know. Look really good. I did not bathe them, as I was afraid to get them chilled

on the ride down to Okla. Sure glad they got there today, would have been a cold nite tonight for sure!!!!!

I'm going to let them settle in for a few days then bathe them, The eggs really surprised me. But those little girls are strutting thier stuff now. A good bath and let them get thier feathers back together from the box and they will be great.
One has a nick in a tail feather from teh box and teh cockrell broke the shaft of one his sickles but they should molt before too long with teh changes are going through with location, feed, lights etc. So all will be good real soon.
Thanks again for such a nice trio.

 

[Cjarvis]

They seem to be adjusting quite well, will start them on wheat germ and cod liver oil in two days with thier feed. Then they will have a sheen that can't be washed off, and should help with fertility and and hatchability. I don't really expect any problems but they are a rosecombed breed which traditionally have a little lower fertility rate. Hope to get about 40 out of the trio by the end of March, then on to the beginnings of Birchen and Opal.

 

[checoukan]

They seem to be adjusting quite well, will start them on wheat germ and cod liver oil in two days with thier feed. Then they will have a sheen that can't be washed off, and should help with fertility and and hatchability. I don't really expect any problems but they are a rosecombed breed which traditionally have a little lower fertility rate. Hope to get about 40 out of the trio by the end of March, then on to the beginnings of Birchen and Opal.

I have had very good luck with my rosecomb hatching. I would say on an average, course this was with my adult birds, not with the young birds, I would hatch around 97%. I handled the cockerels quite a bit, the pullets, I tried to handle, but with the numbers I had, may not have got everybody handled as much as I should have. He should be nice to handle. Never tried to pinch me. My old man cock, now he wants to be naughtly, but not bad, and he only does that when he is with his girls. I am not sure how many eggs I have in the incubator right now. My old quad has not started laying yet. I hope to get some eggs again from them, but they are gettting old, and I don't know how much longer they will last. The other trio, is laying, and have a bunch of eggs from them in the incubator now. Once I get enough from them, I am going to switch cocks and change up and see what happens. I may pull the cock out from my trio, and show these two hens this spring, but I need to get them into show condition. How much wheat germ and cod liver do you give the birds in those two days? I have never done that, would like to see how it works. Working with my 4H kids, I have to have so much info, and most of the time when they ask questions, its on something new. Got to stay ahead of the busy minds.

 

[checoukan]

I'm going to let them settle in for a few days then bathe them, The eggs really surprised me. But those little girls are strutting thier stuff now. A good bath and let them get thier feathers back together from the box and they will be great.
One has a nick in a tail feather from teh box and teh cockrell broke the shaft of one his sickles but they should molt before too long with teh changes are going through with location, feed, lights etc. So all will be good real soon.
Thanks again for such a nice trio.

I knew the pullets would, they just didn't like that camera, and like you seen, they would hide under the coclerel. Silly girls!!!

 

[Cjarvis]

I take a 3lb coffee can, fill to about 1 inch from the top, add 1oz of Wheat germ oil and 1 oz of cod liver oil. Shake it up good let sit overnight then feed from that. when conditioning it will take at least two weeks for the oils to really start making a big difference and get to the end of teh feathers. It takes about teh same to start seeing the breast fill out more.
I do teh same with my older breeder birds (over 4 yrs) and can keep them very productive with high hatch rates for a few more years. i often add 1 oz of red cell to thier feed too though.

The wheat germ and cod liver oils are very high in good fats, and natural vitamins and teh birds respond to it very well. they will gain an extra 2 oz. on average but is mostly in the breast. the extra oil is excreted into the feather folicle and works its way to the feather tips in time. then when you bathe them the water will shed off much like a duck, less stuff sticks to teh feather and they do not shred as easily in transport as they are more plyable.

 

[Cjarvis]

I have had very good luck with my rosecomb hatching. I would say on an average, course this was with my adult birds, not with the young birds, I would hatch around 97%. I handled the cockerels quite a bit, the pullets, I tried to handle, but with the numbers I had, may not have got everybody handled as much as I should have. He should be nice to handle. Never tried to pinch me.

Good to know, I know from Wyandotte and sebright I always had to add to them to keep fertility and hatchability up real good. It is nice to know these will not require as much input.
they are little dolls, and will finish out well with a little more time, they are acting much better today and will be handled at least twice a day so to get even more comfortable.
teh trio is in a 27x30 hole in my 6 hole indoor conditioning pen. They will likely stay there this year. well protected from predators, weather and eveything else.