The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Quote:
Most of my coops have electricity to them and I have 7½ watt bulbs in each coop. I usually just unplug the coops during the day I also have electric wire around my pens to keep the predators out. There is a plug on the end of the main cord which is plugged in at the barn. I have 3 coops with no electricity. We have a yard light from the power company that goes on at night and off in the morning. It does shed a little light into the closest coop so I really don't need a light in it. I bought these pond solar lights. They aren't very bright but all of my coops have night lights. I know some people put their lights on timers. I don't bother because mine are not bright and If I want to go out and check on the birds for any reason I don't have to shine a light in to check on them. My birds lay pretty much all year long. They do slow down during their molts. Not long ago I was looking for some kind of a solar light for the coops with no electricity to them. I found some pool lights. They are supposed to work under water. Since I wanted them for my coops I wasn't too worried about that. I found some small round brackets and mounted the solar collector part on the side of my coop so it is just above the roof line and gets direct sun all day and hung the light on a nail with a zip tie to secure it and have it pointed up somewhat so the light isn't shining directly on the roosts. So far they seem to be working ok. I have had a couple of over cast days and to my surprise the lights were still on when I went out to check a little before dawn. They go on at dusk and off at dawn. I bought them from Amazon.com. The reviews were mixed for the uses people were using them for but I think they make ok coop lights. They are inexpensive and not very bright but work for me.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's the K's wing from the project line. Again, small steps forward, moving in the right direction.



This old Kittle foundation line has a long way to go to match up favorably with the birds we have the Don Nelson foundation, but they're enjoyable birds to continue to work on. We've been focusing the last 4 years on type, and type alone. This year, we pushed for better tails and feathering. In the future, we understand the need for improved under color, but one step at a time.
Thanks to Ken Weaver for helping with the modeling.

 

[RedRidge]

My mentor told me once that one of the keys to providing proper winter lighting for encouraging laying is to place the source such that you don't have shadows. Anyone else experienced that?

 

[desertmarcy]

@Fred's Hens and any other northern breeders, Do you provide light to get started breeding before spring? If so what kind of light do you provide the chickens?
Last year I had rope lighting in the coop and I'm not sure it was bright enough.

Last year I hooked up a whole bunch of extension cords and lights with reflectors, aimed at the roosts. Even here in the southern part of the US I need to give supplemental light to get eggs from many of my Standard Bred birds in the late fall-winter. I found my RIRs particularly need it. Also they haven't been laying well at all this year in the summer heat we have, hardly ever seen one in the nest box. So I don't feel guilty forcing lay in the short day length times: they have already been taking a long summer break. My dilemma again this fall is if I start hatching, which I need to do early because it gets hot so soon here (by May we typically hit 100), I have no place to put them because I'm still culling birds.
Edited to add I am using 100-watt equivalent compact fluorescent bulbs.

 

[cmom]

My mentor told me once that one of the keys to providing proper winter lighting for encouraging laying is to place the source such that you don't have shadows. Anyone else experienced that?

That is new to me. I have never heard that before. My lights are quite dim as they are only 7½ watt bulbs but the gals are still laying. There are chicken people around here who buy eggs from me because they tell me their birds quit laying. My birds are not laying as well right now because they are starting to go through their yearly molt. They also get high protein feed.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
We have been hot here too this summer but not as hot as where you are. I do have sprinklers in my pens that I turn on during the hottest time in the day (the afternoons) for my birds, and I also have shallow pans that fill with the cool water that they like to wade in.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Although a differing point of view , just to provide a grand champion Red breeder's point of view, here's a quote from Don Nelson himself:


"My line is far from pure, I have an old line base but have added Myers,Underwood,production,Bowers(old related line) to my flock over the last 20 years.I feel by selectively adding different birds that I have improved my Reds significantly over the ones I started with,There were mistakes made and many times took steps backward to move forward.The Reds now are larger in body size,earlier maturing,better and earlier layers,and have great color and feather quality.

My birds have always been raised in unheated barns,no lights,and VERY little medications."

Read more: http://showbirdbid.proboards.com/search/results?what_all=don+nelson+line&who_only_made_by=0&display_as=0#ixzz3BcK0nvgm

 

[Matt1616]

Although a differing point of view , just to provide a grand champion Red breeder's point of view, here's a quote from Don Nelson himself: "My line is far from pure, I have an old line base but have added Myers,Underwood,production,Bowers(old related line) to my flock over the last 20 years.I feel by selectively adding different birds that I have improved my Reds significantly over the ones I started with,There were mistakes made and many times took steps backward to move forward.The Reds now are larger in body size,earlier maturing,better and earlier layers,and have great color and feather quality. My birds have always been raised in unheated barns,no lights,and VERY little medications." Read more: http://showbirdbid.proboards.com/search/results?what_all=don+nelson+line&who_only_made_by=0&display_as=0#ixzz3BcK0nvgm

Fred, I have heard Don say this before as well. I totally disagree with him but I guess everyone has a right to an opinion. Matt

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I know it's early, but is anybody here going to the big show in Knoxville DEC 6-7? I just moved from SC to Knoxville. Had Ron's birds but had to sell everything I had to move. So if anybody is coming to the show and have a Trio to sell PM me!! Looking for LF SC. Thanks very much.

 

[RedRidge]

I'm in Knoxville but have had zero chance to think about getting any birds ready to show. Hatched over a hundred and am down to fewer than a dozen but that's as far as I've gotten.
Would be a shame to live here and not go but... Man is been a crazy, one thing after another, summer.
And I have RC not SC... Underwoods