The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

I'm not a professional, but in my 30+ years experience in the auto body industry

Thanks for your opinions. This process is taking longer but not surprised. We do research thoroughly. I guess the person that is looking for the front clip may be interested in the whole truck for parts. I promise no more truck talk. I do appreciate your opinions and advice. I was looking forward to going to some of the northern shows. Now to find another truck and to get the wrecked one home.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Thanks for your opinions. This process is taking longer but not surprised. We do research thoroughly. I guess the person that is looking for the front clip may be interested in the whole truck for parts. I promise no more truck talk. I do appreciate your opinions and advice. I was looking forward to going to some of the northern shows. Now to find another truck and to get the wrecked one home.

You're welcome. If you can make $500 or more on the salvage after expenses, it'll be worth the trouble. Best of luck!

 

[daxigait]

@Fred's Hens Well, I integrated your two in with the others when I condensed to two coops for the winter. They did well. Then yesterday after ten days when I unexpectedly got home with an hour of daylight to spare I opened the coop for some free ranging. They were a little intimidated, but they did well enough except figuring out getting back in with the group. I had to round up those two and one of mine(I was right there or they would not have been out).
Your two have much yellower legs so they are easy to identify

 

[Fred's Hens]

Integration of older females is NEVER easy. Just stay with it. They "fear" going back into a barn pen where they know "strangers" live. LOL
Soon enough, it will be breeding season and you'll be messing with their little society anyhow. Making up breed pens, rotating cockbird, etc.

I have bred birds for decades and yellow legs is a criteria I push on the American Class birds where their standard calls for it. Rocks, Reds and so on. Plus, our grass provides the nutrients for that genetic to shine forth. It is much harder to keep when the ground is snow covered. I don't worry much about it once show season is over for me following the Knoxville show in two weeks.

Which reminds me. Get your worming capsules or pellets soon. Christmas/New Years are wonderful celebrations but they are also the kick off of worming the birds. When you decide the time is right to flip on the lights and get them laying, they need to have been wormed prior to that kick off. Breeding season varies from the deep south (late January) to middle states (early February) to the north (late February) to the far north (early March).

Meanwhile, my suggestion is to let them rest. I don't light in the cold months preceding breeding season. I cannot take a risk of all the bad things that can happen to induce a moult and screw up breeding season. Think it through. Do your planning now. Take the appropriate steps for rest, followed by worming, followed by lights, egg laying, breeding pens, etc. Now is the time to chart your course.

It's also just about the "final" time to really paw through the birds, looking for excessive black in the wing cuts, on the hackles and on the underbody. Think through your breeders carefully. I'd much rather collect eggs off a solid, known good trio, then hatch out a bunch of junk I'm gonna have to feed and eventually cull anyhow. Just saying'. I have limited ground space here and limited facilities. I cannot be hap hazard. Purposeful. Bob Blosl used to preach it all the time. Go small. Go slow. And go right down the middle. KISS was his favorite. Still good advice, especially those just getting going (five years or less).

 

[sgribble]

I have a few single comb reds for sale. Must be picked up in Chatsworth Georgia

 

[ejcrist]

I'll be starting a breeding program for the first time in another two months or so. I'll be toe punching the chicks to keep them straight as to which mother they came from; I only have one cock so I know who their father will be. After culling I'll need to identify each bird individually since I'll be line breeding them. At first I was considering using the same plastic coiled leg bands that I've been using on my layer flock, but then I got to remembering how the numbers wore off on some and also that a few of the hens removed others which would be a disaster if you're really trying to keep them identified correctly. So now I'm strongly considering using wing bands. Two questions: (1) If you apply the bands when they're young, what effect does the band have was they grow? I watched a video on the application and apparently the Jiffy bands have 1/2" space when folded, but as the wing gets larger with age does it allow enough room for the tendon to grow? (2) Are wing bands acceptable if you intend to show the banded birds? I know they're invisible after they grow up a bit but I'm not too familiar with show rules yet and if there any prohibitions against using wing bands. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[RCleghorn]

I'll be starting a breeding program for the first time in another two months or so. I'll be toe punching the chicks to keep them straight as to which mother they came from; I only have one cock so I know who their father will be. After culling I'll need to identify each bird individually since I'll be line breeding them. At first I was considering using the same plastic coiled leg bands that I've been using on my layer flock, but then I got to remembering how the numbers wore off on some and also that a few of the hens removed others which would be a disaster if you're really trying to keep them identified correctly. So now I'm strongly considering using wing bands. Two questions: (1) If you apply the bands when they're young, what effect does the band have was they grow? I watched a video on the application and apparently the Jiffy bands have 1/2" space when folded, but as the wing gets larger with age does it allow enough room for the tendon to grow? (2) Are wing bands acceptable if you intend to show the banded birds? I know they're invisible after they grow up a bit but I'm not too familiar with show rules yet and if there any prohibitions against using wing bands. Any info would be appreciated.

Wing bands work great. The wing grows right around them. I have had a few issues on bantams with them growing into the wing but for large fowl i have never had any issues. As far as showing they do not get deducted for that. Judge probably doesnt even realize they are banded unless he specifically looks. They are almost invisible when bird completely feathers out

 

[Fred's Hens]

Going to be a good Red's display at the Knoxville "Dixie Classic" Show next weekend. They're still taking "phone in" registrations, BTW. Gonna bring a truck load of Reds, LF and bantams. Taking the grandson as always, We always make this trip together and look forward to it each year..

This is about your last chance to pick up a solid breeding pair this year, so bring some crates or boxes and go home with some birds.

If you're going? Be sure to come up and introduce yourselves. A bunch off us will there, so don't be shy.

 

[ejcrist]

Wing bands work great. The wing grows right around them. I have had a few issues on bantams with them growing into the wing but for large fowl i have never had any issues. As far as showing they do not get deducted for that. Judge probably doesnt even realize they are banded unless he specifically looks. They are almost invisible when bird completely feathers out

Thank you sir - much appreciate the info! I'm going to order up a bunch and that's what I'm going to use then. I liked everything I read about them but most especially that they're permanent - that's the best part.

 

[RCleghorn]

Thank you sir - much appreciate the info! I'm going to order up a bunch and that's what I'm going to use then. I liked everything I read about them but most especially that they're permanent - that's the best part.

I have found the brass jiffy bands are the best. Colored Jiffy bands are not made as well. There may be a truck to them i just haven't figured it out yet. Good thing about colored bands is you can customize them anyway you like. My name is on all my bands