The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Quote:
There are more outside, but there is another RC RIW chick hiding in the RIR chicks under the saw horse.

 

[immyjay54]

There are more outside, but there is another RC RIW chick hiding in the RIR chicks under the saw horse.

Hey cmom, this is like a game. Find the hidden chick. lol I saw the little white head sticking up among those dark red bodies.
I have one Underwood sitting on eggs right now and I have an olive egger that just decided yesterday to go broody so I'm going to put 10 or 12 eggs under her tomorrow from Matt's girls. Got two more SC Underwood's broody right now but I'm not setting anymore. lol As someone else on here had said earlier, these Underwood's sure do like to go broody.

Jim

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I want to get some or Gary's RC RIR chicks. I have some from Dick Horstman. I have a a girl that is from my 3rd generation sex-link project that is broody, so I think I'll set up the brooder and let her set on some RC RIW eggs from my roo that just passed away.

 

[melroseladi]

I want to get some or Gary's RC RIR chicks. I have some from Dick Horstman. I have a a girl that is from my 3rd generation sex-link project that is broody, so I think I'll set up the brooder and let her set on some RC RIW eggs from my roo that just passed away.

I just hatched out 5 RC and 5 SC last week. I love all my Underwoods but I really love my RC.

Penny

 

[Davaroo]

Question: please explain how and why RHODE ISLAND REDS are not automatically feather sexed, just because of their breed.
Or if they are, please explain that.
Everything I've read says you have to CREATE this trait through breeding. If you dont it isn't assured.

 

[Irishhenman]

Question: please explain how and why RHODE ISLAND REDS are not automatically feather sexed, just because of their breed.
Or if they are, please explain that.
Everything I've read says you have to CREATE this trait through breeding. If you dont it isn't assured.

Chicks can only be feather sexed if you cross a slow feathering breed to a fast feathering breed (I think the hen has to be the slow feathering breed but I'm not sure on that one). then the chicks can be feather sexed. Some breeds have had this trait bred into them from the start but Rhode Island Red is not one of them.

 

[immyjay54]

Question: please explain how and why RHODE ISLAND REDS are not automatically feather sexed, just because of their breed.
Or if they are, please explain that.
Everything I've read says you have to CREATE this trait through breeding. If you dont it isn't assured.

I've read many different things on sexing the different birds but most of them unless they have been crossed such as the RIR with White Rock etc the sexing at hatch is a little iffy. I've seen where you can go by the length of wing feather, dark lines on the head or back etc but for me I just wait until they grow a little and most of the boys get their combs/wattles a little earlier and the boys seem to have the heavier legs on them. It doesn't take to many weeks for the boys to be pretty prominent. Just my opinion but unless you are wanting to get rid of them at time of hatch I don't really worry about much with these birds. When I had the hatchery birds and only wanted them for egg production I ordered pullets and the hatcheries have a very high % of being right on. These guys do vent sexing and have folks that have been doing this for years and pretty much know what they are doing. I for one am not getting into that. If I ever did, my chicks would be a little more expensive. lol Just my opinion on this.

Jim .

 

[immyjay54]

I just hatched out 5 RC and 5 SC last week. I love all my Underwoods but I really love my RC.

Penny

I agree Penny, it is so strange how different the RC and SC's are. The SC seem to go broody more. In fact I've had 4 broody SC this year and 0 RC. The RC seem to be a little larger, especially the boys. The RC seem to lay a little better then the SC. The RC eggs even seem to be a little more on the larger side. Just my observation of the difference I've seen in the last couple of years.
I haven't put as much time/effort in with the Underwood's this year because I really wanted to get a super start with my Reese birds from Matt but I do have a few more of the Underwood's to work with next year. I have a handful of eggs in the bator right now due to hatch 5/10 and if they all hatch, they are already promised. This past winter was terrible and my fertility has been awful this spring with the RC's.
Jim

 

[melroseladi]

I agree Penny, it is so strange how different the RC and SC's are. The SC seem to go broody more. In fact I've had 4 broody SC this year and 0 RC. The RC seem to be a little larger, especially the boys. The RC seem to lay a little better then the SC. The RC eggs even seem to be a little more on the larger side. Just my observation of the difference I've seen in the last couple of years.
I haven't put as much time/effort in with the Underwood's this year because I really wanted to get a super start with my Reese birds from Matt but I do have a few more of the Underwood's to work with next year. I have a handful of eggs in the bator right now due to hatch 5/10 and if they all hatch, they are already promised. This past winter was terrible and my fertility has been awful this spring with the RC's.
Jim

My SC are broody crazy. So far my RC hen has not gone broody. I have not had an issue with fertility but Tanker only has 2 hens. I have had a very hard time getting the RC out of their shells though. This hatch was better but I still had a couple that zipped and quite or pipped and quite. These 5 seem to be doing good so far and I am so happy I got any to hatch. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Penny

 

[cmom]

I can't wait for my RC to grow up, but it is fun watching all the chicks go through the different stages. I have a RC Mutt (father was a RC RIW and mother a RSL. I got a RC that is pretty but looks more like a Delaware. She is definitely broody.