The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Cranking out new batches of chicks leads to another situation that may not be taken into consideration by new breeders... what to do with all of these chicks. Obviously, newly hatched chicks can't be thrown in the brooder with week-old chicks. Each new batch will need a separate brood space. My question is, how do you experienced breeders handle this situation?

Melon Boxes work well.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Cranking out new batches of chicks leads to another situation that may not be taken into consideration by new breeders... what to do with all of these chicks. Obviously, newly hatched chicks can't be thrown in the brooder with week-old chicks. Each new batch will need a separate brood space. My question is, how do you experienced breeders handle this situation?

You CAN combine the hatches when one group is 2 weeks and the other is 3 weeks. Or 1 week olds and 2 weeks olds. There isn't THAT much difference between them. Since you're hatching every week, combining closely hatched groupings is easy. The earlier you combine the better.

I do NOT find combining hatches further apart in age to be a good idea. It doesn't work well. But needed infrastructure only gets worse as the process goes on. Putting the requisite 50 to 80 chicks on the ground will tax you, your facilities and your wallet. It can be an exhausting 4 month stretch. Count the cost before hand. However much room you think you'll need and however much feed you think you'll go through?

Double that.

So, you wanna be a breeder of standard bred fowl, eh?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

You CAN combine the hatches when one group is 2 weeks and the other is 3 weeks. Or 1 week olds and 2 weeks olds. There isn't THAT much difference between them. Since you're hatching every week, combining closely hatched groupings is easy. The earlier you combine the better.

I do NOT find combining hatches further apart in age to be a good idea. It doesn't work well. But needed infrastructure only gets worse as the process goes on. Putting the requisite 50 to 80 chicks on the ground will tax you, your facilities and your wallet. It can be an exhausting 4 month stretch. Count the cost before hand. However much room you think you'll need and however much feed you think you'll go through?

Double that.

So, you wanna be a breeder of standard bread fowl, eh?

Fred, I passed the "point of no return" a long time ago. There's no turning back now. Full speed ahead!!!

 

[ejcrist]

Fred, I passed the "point of no return" a long time ago. There's no turning back now. Full speed ahead!!!

Me too, and I haven't even hatched my first batch yet. I had a rare moment of vision for once in my life about a year ago and started building a multi-pen building just for breeding. I finished the building and should be done the runs in about 2-3 more weeks. Also started on the breeding pens - a lot of them, kinda like a townhouse/rowhouse development in my backyard. I'm beyond committed at this point but it's one of those things you know for certain you want to do, so it's full steam ahead for me.

Fred - thanks for the Cliff Notes version of how to keep your chicks separated long enough before you toe punch. I haven't had a chance yet to go back and read the earlier stuff but I see exactly what you were talking about and it seems easy enough. I could hatch higher numbers with a separate hatcher, which I might eventually do, but I'll work with what I have now (the Sportsman 1502 with hatching tray in bottom) so I can get some trigger time before doing anything more. And then if I feel the need I'd more than likely get two Hovabators and take it from there. Even if I did invest in a a cabinet hatcher like the GQF 1500, it isn't like I still wouldn't use the additional Hovabators because I plan on breeding three different breeds in time. So it's all money well spent.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I will be taking a handful of extra large fowl, SC Reds to the Knoxville show. If you have knowledge of folks who have been looking for these birds but don't know how to find a pair or trio, ready to go in late winter breed pens, have them contact me. I believe we can get it arranged.

Knoxville, TN - December 2,3 Should also be a great show. I expect over 6000 birds to be entered.

 

[Fred's Hens]

In a huge field at the Ohio National, our best bird placed #3 cockerel. Here he is. The grand daughter named him Crazy Horse, which is pretty appropriate as he's quite the Red warrior.




Matt Ulrich's Large Fowl cockerel took BB, Res Ch American. Congratulations Matt.

 

[daxigait]

You were correct. The insurance company wants to total the truck because the repairs total more than 75% of the value of the truck. Hubby recently put new Michelin tires on it. I wonder if they will take that into consideration.

buy some cheap used tires and keep your new ones if they will fit what you are getting or sell them.

 

[daxigait]

In a huge field at the Ohio National, our best bird placed #3 cockerel. Here he is. The grand daughter named him Crazy Horse, which is pretty appropriate as he's quite the Red warrior. Matt Ulrich's Large Fowl cockerel took BB, Res Ch American. Congratulations Matt.

Congratulations Fred and @Matt1616

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

In a huge field at the Ohio National, our best bird placed #3 cockerel. Here he is. The grand daughter named him Crazy Horse, which is pretty appropriate as he's quite the Red warrior.




Matt Ulrich's Large Fowl cockerel took BB, Res Ch American. Congratulations Matt.

Both are fine birds. Congratulations to you guys and granddaughter!!!

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I've thinned the cockerels down to three, and will make my final decision as to who makes it into the breeding pens in a couple of months. I have three families, but not sure if I'll move forward with all three, or KISS and use two. I'll cross that bridge when I get there...