Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Did some inventory yesterday and found that I had 17 roosters and keep cockerels.... I went through and tried to figure who I could cull out but I can't find any. I have two Yoki cocks and the youngest is turning brown/rusty on his shoulders so I don't know if I should breed him or not? Other than him I have two EEs we can eat and I really like the one from Ralphie...

I have been doing the same. Some of those that went to Hutch are headed to the freezer. I have a bunch 20-30 I need to cull, but can not decide which ones. Andy is back in the breeding pen along with One-eye jack. (separate pens) Andy in the gold creoles and One eye in the creams. I need to decide on my White rooster and back up. I am going to try and keep just two rooster of each breed, not counting the Old men Ed. Cuddles, hobbles and The one Dom without a name.

I am in a quandary with the whites. I have one with a good body but a crappy comb and one with a crappy comb and a good body. I know breed for type first...BUT the comb is so bad,,so very very bad. If it gets winter trimmed it will not look so bad and using him will be easier.

 

[BantyChooks]

Banty do you recall? Is it the redder roosters that are suppose to add the penciling?

Early feathering (indicative of broad feathers,) slight red in breast, and red leakage in sex feathers and maybe a bit of pencilling in them are all traits that mean the bird will likely throw better daughters. Just don't throw away the male line to get good pullets.

The black striping on the shaft of the feathers in the hackles (head to neck) area should be minimum.

Huh? I thought the red border was supposed to be small... not sure what you mean there.

I happen to have the SOP right here with me...I always have it with me....(nerd).

Also guilty.

 

[BantyChooks]

I find the color interesting as well. He is a little more red than Mike's normal cocks. I happen to like the red. The judges and Mike do not....hence I lose... I am now trying to breed up some darker birds.

X2. Is it just me or does his "pants" and fluff area seem to be very red instead of black? Might be image quality.

 

[I Love Layers]

I am also looking at what I can get rid of.
I have the following
Pair of Swedish Flower Hens
Pair of Icelandics
2 Bresse Hens
1 Pekin Drake(my last duck I need to get rid of since my aunt wil take the Swedish duck)
And then in January or December it will be back to ordering 56 laying chicks, planning on 28 RSLs and 28 BSLs

 

[duluthralphie]

X2. Is it just me or does his "pants" and fluff area seem to be very red instead of black? Might be image quality.

I like the color of the fluff on his pants. I do see one dark bay or black feather that looks out of place.....I might pull a @MNChickMom on that feather...Shhhhh I did not say that!

 

[BantyChooks]

I like the color of the fluff on his pants. I do see one dark bay or black feather that looks out of place.....I might pull a @MNChickMom on that feather...Shhhhh I did not say that!

Probably just my computer screen then.

 

[I Love Layers]

I was looking at McMurray and remebered they don't sell in December. So who does everyone like to order from? I am looking at Welp, if I am to order 58 BSLs, which is my preferred over RSLs, they are 1c more than what I would be paying at McMurray. So I guess that is not a bad price.

 

[jerryse]

Yesterday was rainy and sometimes big sloppy snowflakes . No sun yet but predicted . Maybe later . Going to chiropracter at 10 . Getting around fairly good . Real test will be rabbit hunting this week . Weather permitting and open slot for my partner . I no longer go alone .

 

[BantyChooks]

My PC as of today... they didn't like the snow too much but they were out and about more than some of the others.

@duluthralphie here's a close up of Java's comb. Sorry about the use of a flash, it was dark in there.

 

[holm25]

My PC as of today... they didn't like the snow too much but they were out and about more than some of the others.
View attachment 1185802 View attachment 1185803 View attachment 1185804 View attachment 1185805
@duluthralphie here's a close up of Java's comb. Sorry about the use of a flash, it was dark in there.View attachment 1185845

The male with his head up looks like he almost had a rose comb? Does it just travel to far back on the head? I think the males look good!

What is the Barred bird? A Dom?