SOP Breeders: How many to hatch yearly and pen sizes?

[Chickenaddition]

I have a pair I'm raising up right now. I've had 7 D'Uccles in total, but predators and disease were a steep learning curve.
I'm hoping to have chicks for sale by the end of Summer.
If I start hatching early enough, I'll have chicks to show in August and extra pullets and cockerels to sell later.

Sorry for the deaths, was liking simply because of your willingness to share. I can see the appeal of D'Uccles. Love the beards and their coloration.

Wheaton Ameracauna's vs. Lemon Pyle Brahma's vs. BC Maran's for me. All have great personality. 2 have interesting egg color which adds to the challenge of breeding. 1 has the size factor that I love. In the end the family will have a sit down meeting in a couple months and decide. I am just so unused to indecision. Darn chickens too much to love about them.

 

[Sleepytime]

I have a pair I'm raising up right now. I've had 7 D'Uccles in total, but predators and disease were a steep learning curve.
I'm hoping to have chicks for sale by the end of Summer.
If I start hatching early enough, I'll have chicks to show in August and extra pullets and cockerels to sell later.

If you have a good pair, don't sell chicks too soon. You could be selling potential show/breeders.

 

[Sleepytime]

Sorry for the deaths, was liking simply because of your willingness to share. I can see the appeal of D'Uccles. Love the beards and their coloration.

Wheaton Ameracauna's vs. Lemon Pyle Brahma's vs. BC Maran's for me. All have great personality. 2 have interesting egg color which adds to the challenge of breeding. 1 has the size factor that I love. In the end the family will have a sit down meeting in a couple months and decide. I am just so unused to indecision. Darn chickens too much to love about them.

Are you thinking of showing ?

 

[Chickenaddition]

@Sleepytime I can't say any time in the future, but who knows. I could catch that bug down the road. I know if showing was the primary goal, that would probably knock out the Lemon Pyle Brahma's since they are not an "accepted" coloration as of yet.

The first goal is again to teach myself and my son genetics and the challenge of breeding toward the goal of SoP. Also to get myself and my son into the learning of the breeding process and really getting to understand a breed.

 

[Sleepytime]

Gotcha. I find the genetics fascinating. I was going to say the same thing you did about the lemon pyles. I hope your son finds it as enjoyable as I have.

 

[Cyprus]

If you have a good pair, don't sell chicks too soon. You could be selling potential show/breeders.

I don't have much choice. Very limited space and the countdown to leaving the house is ticking.
I didn't intend to start all over again so late in the game, but the deaths of my primary pair and the rapid succession of being given chicks that weren't supposed to be mine threw a wrench in that plan.

That's the thing about breeding animals, especially chickens. They don't care if you have a plan. In fact, a plan is a challenge to find a way to stop it. Like dying suddenly or deciding they don't like each other enough to mate.

 

[Tbird84]

@Sleepytime Thank you for all that you wrote. That does help explain things in great detail. I will be setting up a notebook for this to help keep information noted. I will be getting colored zip ties to help denote. Sharpie markers colored to match zip ties to keep track of eggs.

I am surprised but convinced on the addition of different genes. I was just worried about inbreeding. Again this is a new foray for me so I am not saying that I know anything. I am simply saying that was a worry of mine but I am convinced on all your experience. Thank you.

Yes long read, but well worth it and it will be printed out and saved for my breeding notebook.

@everyone on this thread. Thanks again to everyone's effort to explain things to a complete and utter novice. Also @Tbird84 thanks for starting this thread and letting me hijack it a bit.

No problem I'm learning too.

 

[Mosey2003]

Planning on starting to breed RIR's this year. Had anyone else bred them?

(P.S. Love your signature @Chickenaddition )

Scroll through this sub-forum, there is a RIR breeder thread. What area of the country are you in? I know of one good RIR breeder here in IL, and there are a few throughout the country. I will try and find the current thread and tag you in it.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Planning on starting to breed RIR's this year. Had anyone else bred them?

(P.S. Love your signature @Chickenaddition )

Change your profile to include what state you are in. People could point you in the right direction to obtaining breeder stock in your state or state or two away.

 

[Mosey2003]

Actually, @SBFChickenGirl I'm not finding a more current thread. Maybe I imagined one. This one is excellent for solid background, but old:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/4939417

Maybe we can get @cmom to pop in here and discuss with you, she breeds exhibition RIR.