show quality speckled sussex ??

[Indianfeathers]

I am going to put some zip ties on their legs so I can tell them apart; then I will get some close up pictures for everyone to look at.


OrangeRibbon,

Could you post a close up picture of the zip tie on their leg? I just want to see how it looks. I was thinking of getting those other poultry plastic one, but a zip tie seems to be easier to do (wish I thought of it)......Thank you for the great idea!

 

[math ace]

I use zip ties all the time.... Set them loose enough that the bird has some growing room. I have all different colors and use them to signify all different things.

I did get numbered ones when I started with the SS because they look so much alike that the numbering works great if you have 20 running around like I did.

If you only have a handful of chicks then the zip ties are a great way to tell them apart.

Right Now, each set of eggs I get in gets one color zip tie. That way I know which hatch the chick is from. Then when it gets older it wears a numbered leg band too.
So, when I go out in the yard and see an orange zip tie and a red 4 on one bird and a black zip tie with a red 15 on another.... I KNOW 4 and 15 did not come from the same people.

I hope I explained how I incorporate both zip ties and numbered leg bands.

I also use a certain color zip tie to mark all my culls. That way when someone wants to buy a layer, not a breeder, I can go right in and pull one with the right color leg band for culls.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Hey Don, thanks for that tip. Heck, I'd be somebody's buddy if they picked me up and gave me a banana!

Indian Feathers, I will try to get some pics in a few days. I'm working on changing my shop from a taxidermy studio (I can't do it anymore due to heath) and converting it into the Mystery Ridge Speckled Sussex Breeding Facilities. (How do you like that name?) The shop is 14 feet wide by 32 feet long. I'm building some big cages so I can split them up into groups with a little door at each cage going outside to their respective runs. This will make it easier for me to water, feed, and keep the coop clean. It has electricity so I can leave on lights when the days get short, plug in a heater if it gets too cold, plus can be locked up at night or when I'm gone so no one can steal my birds. Sometimes I have to use a wheelchair because of spinal stenosis, and I will be able to wheel down the center aisle between cages and take care of them if I get in bad shape. I'll have to post some pictures of the place when I get it set up.

As to the zip ties, like Math Ace said, they work great. I only put them on the 6 older birds since the younger ones are still growing. Don't want to cut off their circulation as they get bigger. SS hen #1 = red zip tie. Hen 2 = green zip tie. Hen 3= Red and green zip tie. Hen 4 = black and red zip tie. Hen 5 = no zip tie. None on the big rooster either. Those six will get put into one section together for now until I get a better rooster with less white to go with them. Like Math Ace, any offspring culls will be sold for egg layers.

I have 16 young hens with 2 roosters. I am waiting for them to grow a little more before I decide how to split them up. I guess I will go ahead and zip tie them in a week or so, but leave the ties loose so I can tell them apart. I think the young ones are going to look better than the older birds. Their tails look to me like they are going to have better angle, and they have less white on wings. One hen doesn't have any solid white feathers and she has very few speckles. I think if I breed her to the best looking rooster she will make some fine chicks. But we'll see. I'm just learning so I expect I'll make some mistakes. But as we look at each one closer I hope I can get some good advice on who to put with who.

Anyway, I will get some pictures in a few days after I get some things squared away. I'm looking forward to critiques. I want to know the bad along with the good, so don't hold back. If I get mad I'll get over it. HA! I'm just kidding. Oh, btw, I have 3 eggs in the incubator from the older hens right now. They are not laying very well. I guess between just going through a molt and the long ride to a new place they are on a laying strike and 3 are all I've gotten since I brought them home. This is only my second time incubating. The first time was a disaster with a Little Giant CBM. (Cry Baby Machine because it will make a cry baby out of you!) I made an incubator out of a small fridge and this if first time with it.

Please forgive me for rattling on so much. I'm just excited I guess.
Jeff

 

[LibertyChick]

I have a question for all you chicken experts out there. As this is my first summer raising chickens...and I'm expanding my flock...so I need to ask the questions.

I have 6- 19 week old organic Speckled Sussex pullets and just got a very nice 22 week old organic SS Roo (I rescued him). None are laying yet. I've been looking for an organic SS laying hen but have been unsuccessful. So, I have been looking outside the breed and have found an organic 14 month old Barred Rock that I can get. She is laying a large egg about every other day. She was at one time the top of the pecking order but is now being picked on by several Easter Eggers, causing her to bleed.

What are the Speckled Sussex like in a mixed flock? What is the likelihood that this Barred Rock would continue to be picked on with my SS?

A quick answer would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
LibertyChick

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I will send you a response via pm....

 

[lillypurrs23]

My SS, Nellie, from Meyer Hatchery was chosen as picture of the week and was given first place at the fair.

 

[snowbird]

Jeff, Before you get into mating SS for your future flock, just a few suggestions. The quickest way to destroy what you have with these new SS is cross them with all the Hatchery birds you already have. It will be fine to do some crossing with the others but make sure you toe punch and mark all the chicks and record all the matings in your record book. You do not have to do the string tie on the chicks. There are a combination of 80 different markings so no need to use string ties. The toe punch and slit is much more accurate and professional.

 

[fowlman01]

Here you go...

 

[Stevenson]

At what age do you toe punch?

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Hi, do the toe punch and slit on day one as they hatch. You can do a combination punch and slit and have 80 combinations.