The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[NestingHillsSC]

Yea 10 is a lot. Good eating. LOL

 

[RedRidge]

Yea 10 is a lot. Good eating. LOL

And I have 6 Rhodebar cockerels... and am culling 4 of those, so yes... I don't need to raise my annual Cornish crosses this fall like usual. LOL

I am hoping that by fall about 4 RIR cockerels will jump out at me out of the 10 and I'll cull 6... but that may be dicey... don't want to cull the wrong one, but wintering all of them is... ugh...

 

[NestingHillsSC]

But yea have to do what is best for the flock. The HRIR's are easy for me. Since I only have 10. Now the Heritage Delawares on the other hand are not. I'm in the boat you are in. I have 25 of them now 2 months old. I will just have to suck it up and keep them until I know what I have. With them and the 25 out back, I go through 50lbs of FF every 5 days.

That's all they do is eat, eat , eat. But everyone is growing nicely. Which is what you want.

 

[kaylee gee]

Here is a question that is not directly related to HRIR, but since I will be raising them soon its a question I would like answered. I have been raising chickens for a little over 2 years now, and have never had a bird molt. Could I be doing something wrong that they don't molt?

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I do believe they all molt. Just some more than others.They start I do think any where from 1 year to 16-18 months old from the time they were hatched. If I am wrong, somebody correct me.

 

[FOGELLY]

I am sure that like most animals there will be the occational runt.
When housed in bigger groups,there are some chicks that are more aggressive at the feeder. This seems to contribute to some growing bigger early. Also like other animals some just mature at different rates. I had a class mate that could grow a full beard by 14. I did not even own a razor until I was 20.

My first year I shared birds with two friends with the understanding I could pick a cockerel from them in the fall. I did not need to, but the option was there.

You have to decide what your goals are. Breeding to standard, nice backyard flock, ect.
If 10 is to many, cull down to what is ok for you. Select the ones that catch your eye and move forward.
We do this for enjoyment and stress relief (same thing I told myself when I gave up golf)

Ron

 

[catdaddyfro]

I am sure that like most animals there will be the occational runt.
When housed in bigger groups,there are some chicks that are more aggressive at the feeder. This seems to contribute to some growing bigger early. Also like other animals some just mature at different rates. I had a class mate that could grow a full beard by 14. I did not even own a razor until I was 20.

My first year I shared birds with two friends with the understanding I could pick a cockerel from them in the fall. I did not need to, but the option was there.

You have to decide what your goals are. Breeding to standard, nice backyard flock, ect.
If 10 is to many, cull down to what is ok for you. Select the ones that catch your eye and move forward.
We do this for enjoyment and stress relief (same thing I told myself when I gave up golf)

Ron

This is about as bad as me having fun at the dirt car racetrack(which stresses me out WAY TOO much/competition and trying to out do everyone LOL) and I absolutely despise my profession/everyday job (automotive mech.)(it used to be fun when I was young now it hurts), yours and mine are examples of a first class case of IRONY if I ever heard of one<LOL

Jeff

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I am sure that like most animals there will be the occational runt.
When housed in bigger groups,there are some chicks that are more aggressive at the feeder. This seems to contribute to some growing bigger early. Also like other animals some just mature at different rates. I had a class mate that could grow a full beard by 14. I did not even own a razor until I was 20.

My first year I shared birds with two friends with the understanding I could pick a cockerel from them in the fall. I did not need to, but the option was there.

You have to decide what your goals are. Breeding to standard, nice backyard flock, ect.
If 10 is to many, cull down to what is ok for you. Select the ones that catch your eye and move forward.
We do this for enjoyment and stress relief (same thing I told myself when I gave up golf)

Ron

Give up golf!!! NEVER!!

Don't play very much any more. Don't have time with all these chickens. LOL

 

[ronott1]

Here is a question that is not directly related to HRIR, but since I will be raising them soon its a question I would like answered. I have been raising chickens for a little over 2 years now, and have never had a bird molt. Could I be doing something wrong that they don't molt?

Depending on when they hatched, it can take 1.5 years or so for the first molt. Some do not molt that much--You just notice a pile of feathers since the new ones grow out very quickly.

Molts come faster and are more sever as the chickens get older. You should see heavier molting this fall with yours.

 

[Robert Blosl]

I have a lady from Washington State who is looking for the lady who has Rhode Island Red large fowl on Whidbey Island.

If you can pop up she is wanting to get a start and or at least get in the hunt to have some Reds like you have.

Thank you. bob