She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WalnutHill]

Breeding is something you can devote your life to if you want. I am on my fifth generation of Narragansetts and they are now 3" taller, with longer shanks and keels, and 4 pounds heavier at 7 months than the first generation, while maintaining balance, vigor, and conformation. To get there, I've had to cross in bigger Bourbon Red (resulting in Golden Narragansett) and I can get back to Narragansett in one generation.

The easy part is generating a lot of offspring for the next generation of breeders. The hard part is growing them all out until they are big enough to evaluate and ruthlessly selecting the top 10% to keep and grow out to maturity. Because I have favorites in the flock, I had to create a scorecard to objectively evaluate my stock against my goals, and then I had to sell some of my favorite adult birds because once the next generation was on the ground, they were no longer in the top 10%. I did this 3 years in a row. This is the first year I am keeping both a male and two females from the previous year because they were proven breeder quality that met the standards. I want to close my flock this year, I should have good enough stock to build from for several generations. Every importation of new stock brings its own issues that don't always present until the next generation.

 

[Pyxis]

Breeding is something you can devote your life to if you want.  I am on my fifth generation of Narragansetts and they are now 3" taller, with longer shanks and keels, and 4 pounds heavier at 7 months than the first generation, while maintaining balance, vigor, and conformation.  To get there, I've had to cross in bigger Bourbon Red (resulting in Golden Narragansett) and I can get back to Narragansett in one generation. 

The easy part is generating a lot of offspring for the next generation of breeders.  The hard part is growing them all out until they are big enough to evaluate and ruthlessly selecting the top 10% to keep and grow out to maturity.  Because I have favorites in the flock, I had to create a scorecard to objectively evaluate my stock against my goals, and then I had to sell some of my favorite adult birds because once the next generation was on the ground, they were no longer in the top 10%.  I did this 3 years in a row.  This is the first year I am keeping both a male and two females from the previous year because they were proven breeder quality that met the standards.  I want to close my flock this year, I should have good enough stock to build from for several generations.  Every importation of new stock brings its own issues that don't always present until the next generation.

Luckily for me, if I develop favorites that aren't good enough for the breeder pen, I can just toss them into my laying flock. Hens, that is. Roosters I try really hard not to become attached to until it is apparent that they are staying, because for the most part the have to go, there's no way around it.

 

[sjturner79]

Luckily for me, if I develop favorites that aren't good enough for the breeder pen, I can just toss them into my laying flock. Hens, that is. Roosters I try really hard not to become attached to until it is apparent that they are staying, because for the most part the have to go, there's no way around it.

That's actually the challenge I'm going to be facing at some point soon. I will need to find a way to separate my breeders from my layers, although I would like both to free range. I'm thinking maybe a double coop and release on alternate days.

 

[rossfam06]

Oh, I would love to see updated pics!! Did both turn out to be pullets, or one of each? I was sure at least the one was a pullet...
Seriously, I wish you could come get some of mine... way too many Silkie babies here now... :/

I need to!!! I have familY in North GA. Close to Chattanooga. I will take them off your hands!!! I will take pics here in a bit to give you an update. I start my new job today but I am feeling sick and I think I have a fever.

Luckily for me, if I develop favorites that aren't good enough for the breeder pen, I can just toss them into my laying flock. Hens, that is. Roosters I try really hard not to become attached to until it is apparent that they are staying, because for the most part the have to go, there's no way around it.

Do you ever eat any extra roosters you have remaining??? I am just curious. I am going to start processing my own extras soon. But they are not old enough yet. As much as I would love to keep Gump and his offspring, 9 out of 10 of his babies will be aggressive. It's a trait that is passed down and I don't want to breed aggression.

 

[RubyNala97]

Those are all pretty colors. I love it!!! I need more silkies now. My hubby has been asking since we lost Wicket.

Ross, I'm finally getting eggs! I don't know if they are fertile yet. But I'll know tomorrow because I'm putting what I have in the incubator. If they are and you want some, I'll send you some just for shipping.

BBS and BBS partridge I apparently really like BBS because that's what I have in cochins too - BBS and mottled BBS.

That's awesome!

Breeding is something you can devote your life to if you want.  I am on my fifth generation of Narragansetts and they are now 3" taller, with longer shanks and keels, and 4 pounds heavier at 7 months than the first generation, while maintaining balance, vigor, and conformation.  To get there, I've had to cross in bigger Bourbon Red (resulting in Golden Narragansett) and I can get back to Narragansett in one generation. 

The easy part is generating a lot of offspring for the next generation of breeders.  The hard part is growing them all out until they are big enough to evaluate and ruthlessly selecting the top 10% to keep and grow out to maturity.  Because I have favorites in the flock, I had to create a scorecard to objectively evaluate my stock against my goals, and then I had to sell some of my favorite adult birds because once the next generation was on the ground, they were no longer in the top 10%.  I did this 3 years in a row.  This is the first year I am keeping both a male and two females from the previous year because they were proven breeder quality that met the standards.  I want to close my flock this year, I should have good enough stock to build from for several generations.  Every importation of new stock brings its own issues that don't always present until the next generation.

Very interesting! And so true. It's not a speedy hobby or something you can make happen faster. It takes time to breed. Guess the best thing is to enjoy it, in the moment and realize you have the rest of your life to watch it develop.

 

[rossfam06]

Ross, I'm finally getting eggs! I don't know if they are fertile yet. But I'll know tomorrow because I'm putting what I have in the incubator. If they are and you want some, I'll send you some just for shipping.
That's awesome!
Very interesting! And so true. It's not a speedy hobby or something you can make happen faster. It takes time to breed. Guess the best thing is to enjoy it, in the moment and realize you have the rest of your life to watch it develop.

Awwww....thank you. You and Ravyn are both super sweet!!!!! I will let know when I am ready.

@RavynFallen

Here are the pics of the Ogye and Hmong.

I think the Hmong is a pullet. No hackle or saddle feathers. Feathers are fairly rounded. So I may have lucked out!!!!

 

[Pyxis]

Here are the pics of the Ogye and Hmong.

Neat! Are they usually rumpless like that?

 

[rossfam06]

Neat! Are they usually rumpless like that?

Nope.....and pullets don't normally have Birchen feather bleed. So....I hatched a freak! Hhahahahahahaha!!!!

 

[FridayYet]

A cute little freak though. Hope you are feeling better Ross!

 

[rossfam06]

Thanks!!! I do love her. She is super sweet and very hefty. Lol!!!! I am feeling much better. Thank you for checking. No fever since this afternoon. Still congested.