Greetings from Central Virginia. I've been lurking in this thread for the past week as I try to decide what to do with my 16 week old hatchery SS. It's been a very informative discussion. Thank you all so much. If I had known all of this a year ago, I might have just gone with Cornish Cross and Leg Horns. I can't speak to their egg laying proclivities yet, but the growth rates and feed conversion ratios are abysmal on the SS. (Course that leaves so much room for improvement, doesn't it?)
I've spent the last two mornings, tagging and weighing my 89 SS. I'm very discouraged at this point. My biggest cockerels weigh in at 5lbs, with most 4lbs and under. Most of the pullets are in the 2-3lb range. I had it in my mind they would hit the standard weights by now, but it seems from MatchAce's marans cockerel story, I've got to keep feeding the whole lot of them for another 4 - 8 weeks before I can make a decision on who stays and who goes in the freezer. Even then, standard weights for pullets and cockerels are probably a pipe dream. And the numbered bandettes I ordered for my "heavies" are probably going to be falling off in droves. Definitely need a smaller size.
My birds are from Mt. Healthy and are mostly very dark mahogany (especially the pullets), with nearly black beaks, white primaries, uneven combs, and a lot of bleed through on the shanks. About half my roo-lets have crooked toes. I have another batch of 7 SS from McMurrary that are 7 weeks old and looking very puny, but they are bunking with Dorkings whose general body type seems to dwarf the SS. Keeping my fingers crossed, that another 15 coming from Sandhill in the next week or two will be closer to what I was expecting size wise.
I will try to post pics of my birds tomorrow (Too hot right now to ask them to pose.) Maybe some top down and side shots so we can evaluate those backs and body types.
Pleasure to meet all of you.
Robin
