Russian Orloffs

[desertmarcy]

Mine just hide in the shade or barn and pant but we have higher humidity than temps, only high 90's usually. For those of you 'breeding" how are you tracking your pairs and are you incubating or using silkies/muscovies/brooders?

This next time around will only be the second breeding for me. The first breedings I did, this winter-spring. were with my starter flock. I had 3 males in with 5 pullets to start with, then moved 2 of them out so there was only one male. I didn't track eggs from each pullet. This next go-around, I have two of my original roosters plus the two best cockerels I held back to choose from. I will probably not use the cockerel I used originally, he had a bit too much white, but I had questions about the fertility of my best male. I am going to test him first before I do anything and see if he is good. I have some 4'x4' pens now that I didn't have before that I can use to mate single pairs. I figure I'll pair up some select birds. Not really even thinking much about it yet, it is just too darn hot here

. I use an incubator. I'll mark the egg that came from which hen or pullet and toe punch when they hatch. That is my plan, anyway!

 

[NCSprout]

I mark eggs with pen number, have used incubator, but prefer broody hens. Isolate hens with a clutch of eggs from single source, then I don't have to worry about mixed hatches. In the incubator i have used plastic berry baskets to separate eggs. Colored zip ties identify chicks after hatch if they aren't kept isolated with broody.

 

[BlackPanther]

Have you lost any birds to the heat?

Oh, does anybody here know of a place to get light or buff Sussex?

 

[NCSprout]

didn't lose any. you might have some luck using the advanced search bar for sussex under breeds.

 

[BlackPanther]

When the humidity is very high but the temperature is lower, such as in the mid-80s, how do your Orloffs behave?



Is the advanced search bar something seperate from the search bar that just generally hangs around at the top of the page?

 

[BlackPanther]

Oh, just found it. Thanks!

 

[ashandvine]

Mr Casper's birds are on their way this weekend! New coop too. Oh boy!

 

[NCSprout]

Awesome! They are great birds from a genuinely good person. I find it refreshing that there are people who are in it for the bird instead of the buck. Good luck with them.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Mr Casper's birds are on their way this weekend! New coop too. Oh boy!

yeah... post pic's new coop too

 

[taprock]

Orloff question, Has anyone had problems with the beak? I have a guy - I think - who seems to have injured his jaw. His bottom jaw now sticks our 1/4 inch + more than it did. It took place overnight so I'm pretty sure it was an injury. A friend told me there was not much to do for him but cull him. He's my best boy.

Any suggestions?