The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[ronott1]

I think one of my Fogle hens, the better layer of course, is now broody. About how many eggs should I give her to sit on. Right now she has one of hers. The ones I give her from the other laying hens would be smaller about the size of a large store bought egg.

I caught one of the Fogle hens setting on eggs the past two days.

It must be the time of year for them to go broody.

 

[Fentress]

For a heavy breed hen, 12 is a good #. But set them all at the same time so they hatch together.

 

[RedRidge]

As my birds transition from about 12 weeks to laying I spend a few minutes about once a week putting several bands on. I begin each season with a certain number as a starting point so that by the end of the season when most of them are about the same size, I will know who had the fastest growth rate.
For example... I had 22 in a pen together until the end of May. About that time I divided them into cockerels and pullets... 6 in the cockerel pen, 16 on the pullet pen. (Yes, it's been a heavy pullet year for me - this was just me first of 8 hatches).
I immediately banded the boys from 61-66 in order of largest to smallest. No other factors taken into consideration. Now I have a baseline for growth rate to that point. Although they will always keep those numbers, I now have a baseline and an ID to makes notes on on the white board as type begins to develop and change over the next 6 months or so.
The next hatch will get different color bands. I don't compare one hatch to the next until after they are all 6-8 months old.
I do the same thing for the pullets. I have found that the pullets who have earlier fast growth will be the first to lay. But i track them all.
Because I'm about dual purpose and functionality, I tend to pick my breeders from the lower leg band numbers and eliminate down to the final few later on when they are closer to 8-10 months and type, feathering, color, etc is more set.

And yes... Several do get extra colored spiral bands along the way that mean different things simply because I like them and they caught my eye. ;-)

So if I have 75 cockerels marked 20-95, I know that at one time 20 was my largest bird. As it turned out last year my top pick cockerel was number 23... Pretty close to the bottom.
I sold a couple of teenage cockerels last year and they were all between numbers 20-35. A bird would have to be pretty awesome to be # 60 and still make it to the final cut... I can't see it happening actually because I want early maturing to be perpetuated.

Just my anal way of doing things. I hope that helps someone who is pushing the anal envelope like I am. ;-)

 

[Fentress]

Great post. Just to summarize, within each batch that you mark, you number largest to smallest, so you can track growth rate from that point moving forward. Right? Wouldn't the largest at 12 weeks still be the largest at 9 months? Next year, I had planned to mark first to feather and then do a physical exam, including a weigh in, at about 16 weeks. I definitely want to speed up the BR that I have, because I am sure they are going t o be slow to mature, at least that is their reputation, which is consistent with my observations, so far. Have you had any success at increasing the rate of growth in your flock?

 

[RedRidge]

Quick answer... The largest at 9 months is not necessarily the one that grew the fastest.
Everyone has different criteria. .. This is just a way too track mine.
I value fast growth & early maturity, (and correctness) over final size.
Although frequently the two will go hand on hand, but not always.

If the biggest youngster was the biggest "and nicest" as an adult we could all cull our extras at just a few months. ;-) But I'm sure you weren't implying that anyway. Sure wish it was that easy. LOL

Side note... All of my original stock (in this breed) came from Gary Underwood. My ultimate goal would be to simply maintain the excellence Gary has produced and not screw them up. That may be a pipe dream, but everyone needs goals. ;-)
I have seen vast improvement in my other breed - but they had such a long way too go that it hasn't been that difficult relatively speaking - especially since we are carnivores.

 

[Fentress]

We'll-I was hoping it would be "...that easy" , but I'm not surprised that it ain't. I'll need to learn my birds and determine when it is best to weigh/evaluate their progress. Thanks.

 

[Fentress]

Oh yes, I'm a carnivore as well. My birds were bred for meat, so expectations are high that they will easily surpass the hatcheries birds that I have now. I know it won't be like a meat hybrid, but at least something respectable. I will posting results when the K's are culled, in about 2 more months. If anyone is processing now or soon I would be interested in the results. Thanks.

 

[monnie662]

I know someone on here has had to deal with sour crop. I think that is what is going on with my young cockerels. I have been giving them some peach peelings to peck on and now they all have swollen crops and two have died. Any advice about what to do. These are in a coop so they don't free range like the others if that matters. Am growing them out to butcher.

 

[ronott1]

I know someone on here has had to deal with sour crop. I think that is what is going on with my young cockerels. I have been giving them some peach peelings to peck on and now they all have swollen crops and two have died. Any advice about what to do. These are in a coop so they don't free range like the others if that matters. Am growing them out to butcher.

Sour Crop is a fungal infection so it can be treated with monistat 7. They get a piece cut off of the suppository in the morning and evening. You can get them to eat it by pulling up on the comb and putting the piece into the right side of the mouth. That is where the esophagus is.

Sour crop will lead to vent gleat.

 

[monnie662]

Sour Crop is a fungal infection so it can be treated with monistat 7. They get a piece cut off of the suppository in the morning and evening. You can get them to eat it by pulling up on the comb and putting the piece into the right side of the mouth. That is where the esophagus is.

Sour crop will lead to vent gleat.

Thanks I have the two left and have given them some Maalox and have duramycin in their water, if they hold until tomorrow will get to town and get them something else. Hate to see them suffer. The heat is bad right now too and I thought that was the problem at first but figured out differently. Thanks