The Frugal Small Flock SOP Breeder

[southernmomma]

@MrsBrooke , is the avatar pic a photo of the trio you purchased?

They look very nice.

M

 

[MrsBrooke]

@southernmama, I do believe so. I found it on the breeder's Web site... since they were the only three Australorps in her album, I can only assume those are the very birds!

I will update it when I can get my own camera on them. Along with lots and lots of other pictures.

 

[BantamLover55]

Hi everyone! I just started hatching my own chicks, but I have shown poultry for 6 years. I have Standard and bantam Modern Games, One standard Sumatra, 5 bantam Sumatras, and 8 Iowa Blues. I'm excited to join this thread!

- BantamLover55

 

[MrsBrooke]

Hi everyone! I just started hatching my own chicks, but I have shown poultry for 6 years. I have Standard and bantam Modern Games, One standard Sumatra, 5 bantam Sumatras, and 8 Iowa Blues. I'm excited to join this thread!

- BantamLover55

Welcome and good luck!

 

[BantamLover55]

Welcome and good luck!

Thank you! Are you currently breeding birds?

 

[MrsBrooke]

Thank you! Are you currently breeding birds?

Soooon!

We just purchased a trio - two hens and a rooster... Hubby and I are working to finish up their coop/run before we pick them up mid Sept.

I just learned that Australorps come in splash as well as blue and lavender! I'M HOOKED!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I wanted to report that I received a call yesterday from the MO Dept. of Ag. They will be coming 2 weeks from today to test my flock for NPIP. I'm looking forward to it, now that my adult flock is so small. Not nearly as daunting as it could have been. They should only have to test 13 birds, even though I have about 75.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I wanted to report that I received a call yesterday from the MO Dept. of Ag. They will be coming 2 weeks from today to test my flock for NPIP. I'm looking forward to it, now that my adult flock is so small. Not nearly as daunting as it could have been. They should only have to test 13 birds, even though I have about 75.

What have you done to prepare for them?
Does it cost anything here in MO?
How long will it take to get the results?
Why are you having it done?
Do they only test the adults?
Do you have to have some separated for them to test or do they catch them themselves?
Do you also have ducks? Do they test ducks too?
I probably have a lot more questions but that's all I can think of right now. LOL Hope you don't mind.

 

[BantamLover55]

Soooon!

We just purchased a trio - two hens and a rooster... Hubby and I are working to finish up their coop/run before we pick them up mid Sept.

I just learned that Australorps come in splash as well as blue and lavender! I'M HOOKED!

I love breeds with a lot of colors! Modern Games come in a TON of colors, such as black, birchen, brown red, lemon blue, barred, crele, BB red, wheaten, red pyle, and more! They are so addictive!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I'm not sure I qualify as "frugal" or "small flock," but I'd call myself "hands-off" or "lazy" about the breeding. That doesn't mean I'm not aiming for some quality ... and I'm curious if I can get quality out of my "lazy" approach.

I started a breeding program this spring with a trio of project-quality breeding birds in their own coop/run. I also have a larger flock of hatchery birds and mutts I sell eggs from. I started gathering/hatching eggs from the breeders and putting them under hatchery mutt broodies when broody season started. I let the hatchery mutts raise the breeding program chicks.

I was supposed to have the broodies hatch in the layers' coop/run, but our breeding coop was so empty and their run was so lush we decided to hatch in there this year. That's okay, it was really good to see how the breeders behaved around the "intruders," but integration of the culled pullets into the laying flock might be a headache when it happens. I was really pleased with the parenting instincts of the sire. The hens were more snarky about the broodies and the chicks.

Soon I'll divide the breeder coop/run into two sections so I can set up one part with the original two breeding females and one of their cockerels (presuming I get a cockerel worth breeding); I'll put the sire and some of the best pullets in the other part (presuming I get some pullets I think I can make progress with). Then fingers crossed I still get plenty of broodies when I'm in the mood to start hatching again.

I suppose in a pinch next season when I have more eggs I could hatch chicks in an incubator and time things so I can slip them into broody clutches hatching at the same time. I'd for sure need the incubators that can plug into car batteries as power outages aren't all that rare here.