Should I focus on a different breed?

[cmom]

In the past I have have several different breeds. I've done some experimental breeding. My passion has been heritage lines. My advice is to get what you want. If you are happy with your chosen breed stick with it and breed your remaining birds and keep the best as future breeders. I do that now. I hatch out all of my chicks from my chosen breeds. I hatch out around 50/50 male/female. I keep the best for breeding and sell mostly the extra males but always keep one and a spare in case one should die for any reason. I pick out my best birds for breeding for the traits in the birds I'm looking for. Selling the extra males helps to offset the cost of the feed. I also sell eggs for hatching and eggs for eating. For the most part my birds do take care of themselves. I have processed some but the cost isn't cost effective for me so if I want chicken I go to a butcher down the road. I can make more money by selling the live birds and buying an already processed bird.

 

[alexisrambles]

Thank you guys for all the input! @aart I was going to convert my old coop (the now non-mobile tractor of accident fame) into a breeding coop for the Creves once the new coop was finished. I wasn't too worried about separating them until they started laying anyway. What I may end up doing is separating the new coop (It's bigger than I realized!) into two sides and just alternating who gets the yard. I think I want more security.

I may convert the old coop anyway for some banties I have my eye on. It's really much too small for large breed.

What I'm worried about now is partially bloodlines. So if I wanted to get some really good stock to work with, it'd have to be Greenfire as far as I can see. But they don't recommend shipping fewer than six. Not sure I want to get that many. And I think one roo to one girl will result in a lot of overbreeding of the one girl. Originally I'd gotten him three hens so it would be easier on them.

Well. After typing that out it seems a little obvious. If I want to have the Creves in the future, I'll have to get some more stock one way or another...

 

[Folly's place]

If you read articles from people who want to have and improve a certain breed, they get a LOT of chicks to start, and cull down to the best individuals. Get as many as you can, and select the best out of a group. Nobody's birds will all be worth breeding, no matter the source.
Mary

 

[alexisrambles]

If you read articles from people who want to have and improve a certain breed, they get a LOT of chicks to start, and cull down to the best individuals. Get as many as you can, and select the best out of a group. Nobody's birds will all be worth breeding, no matter the source.
Mary

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Since these are so rare they cost about 30 per unsexed chick from the best lines. :/
And I'm worried if I just go with the two I have I won't have enough diversity genetically.

GULP. Maybe I'll wait and see if somewhere has a sale?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Since these are so rare they cost about 30 per unsexed chick from the best lines. :/
And I'm worried if I just go with the two I have I won't have enough diversity genetically.

GULP. Maybe I'll wait and see if somewhere has a sale?

Reality is, we don't always have access to the chickens we want when we want them. I've tried getting wheaten ameraucanas here several times and it's not been going so great.

One option is to get a smaller number from a decent source and hatch out as many as you can the first year, culling HARD for the traits you want. It may take some time but you could get a decent breeding flock within a few generations even from less than stellar lines.

 

[alexisrambles]

That's very true. I'm a little spoiled by today's "get it in two days" mentality I'm afraid. I need to think of the long run instead. And to be completely honest, with a breed with so few large established breeding flocks breeding to SOP, most are likely to have SOME problems.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have kept chickens for 12 years now, and sporadically before that. Many a time, I have thought oh this breed is for me. Only to get them, and it did not work out quite as well as I had thought. So if you want to try a different breed, go ahead. There are so many kinds of birds. So little time and space.

Breeding birds is hard work, it takes dedication and a sharp knife. And you really do need a lot of birds. Almost all animals that are bred for a very different physical appearance, are tricky to raise due to some other problems. Those problems crop up, and often times decrease the liveliness of an animal. IMO - less than 6 birds, will not really add anything to the breed as a whole. Nothing wrong in doing less than 6 birds, but only if you really want them.

Mrs K

 

[cmom]

I agree with @Mrs. K and @Folly's place. In the past I have had several different breeds. I have settled on the breeds I have now with no regrets. I'm an old lady with not many years left so I'm not experimenting any more but enjoying what I have with the years I have left. Order more than you want, grow out and keep the best for your breeding program. I hatch out around 200/300 chicks each year realizing around half will be males. I do grow them out so I do have a hefty feed bill along with my adult birds too. When they are around 5 months old I pick out the ones I'm considering for breeding. It may change as they continue to grow. I sell the males I'm sure I don't want to use as breeders first. I'm lucky I have buyers for my extras. I don't sell the birds from my property but take them to a local farm swap. I usually make arrangements prior with my buyers. I have advertised on Craigslist that I will be bringing some birds to the swap if for any reason I didn't make contact or my buyers couldn't come on that particular day. Selling the extra males helps to offset the feed costs. I go through 600 to 800 pounds of feed weekly. I wouldn't do it if I couldn't afford to. You don't have to start out with that many. I do show my birds at poultry shows. Good luck and have fun...

 

[cmom]

I built my flocks up generally with quads. Many years ago, I had an owl kill all of my Rhode Island Whites except one male and two females. The male was very bloody and one of the females was bloody and her comb was messed up, the other female was ok. I had these 3 birds to rebuild my flock. With a few more females your flock can be built up a bit quicker with more choices. It did take time. I'm very happy with the generations I have now and the birds look good. I am usually the only one showing Rhode Island Whites. I have had a couple that placed fairly low when I first started showing my birds, but as time went by each year I would place better. I actually had to go through the same routine with each of my breeds of choice. I usually get at least Best of Breed for most of my birds. I have had some Champions and some Reserve Champions. I try to pick out at least 5 to 8 females for every male I use as a breeder. Just my experience. I have made plenty of mistakes.

 

[Folly's place]

I won't take mine to shows, but I do want them to conform to the breed standard (the white Chanteclers), and look nice (everyone else). This coming spring I plan to order 25 white Chanties from Cackle, and soo if some are worth keeping in my flock.
Mary