The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[uphilljill]

One more night.

Just keep telling ourselves that. Then that has got to be it for winter, right?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I sure hope so. Think it was two weeks ago I'd stated this will be the last sub zero night of the year. Couldn't have been more wrong as this area broke two records since then.

My problem is trying to collect eggs from only two birds before they freeze. Previous years I'd be ending my first hatch around now and didn't have much concern about freezing as the weather was warmer and with collecting from five birds they kept the nest warm as they were laying all morning.

Curious how much these refrigerated eggs I'm getting will effect the hatch rate. Geesh, today one was on nest so I went shopping, checked back in hour and other was on nest. Went back half hour later to two very cold eggs.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, most of the eggs have been very cold, but not frozen. If they are frozen I just feed them back. Good for the birds.

I've got almost 5 dozen eggs in the incubation process. I'll be hatching non stop for the next three weeks. (mostly Reds) In candling, the cold temperatures haven't effected the fertile eggs. They're doing just fine. What has been very unsteady is fertility. Cannot expect consistent fertility under these awful conditions.

I get the feeling that the birds keep saying "OK, this is the last cold night." "OK, now THIS is the last cold night" as well as we do. They've got to be worn out by it and ready to see the earth again.

 

[normanack]

The Sandhill cranes are back and I saw red-winged blackbirds today. Maybe spring will happen after all.

 

[Silver Rock]

Hi All, I have gotten many messages asking me on when will I start hatching chicks this year & my breeding plans for this year. So here is my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding plans.

My Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding plans have changed. I will be hatching eggs from now till the end of May.

Clayton Grace "Silver Rock"

 

[colburg]

Quote:
Fred, I'm curious how you will make up for this next year. Will you put out lights earlier so your breeders will get some extra laying time before you start setting eggs? Assuming next winter is average.

Or do you do everything just like you've done before and just hatch from pullets that are a month or 3 younger than normal?

colburg

 

[Wynette]

Well, most of the eggs have been very cold, but not frozen. If they are frozen I just feed them back. Good for the birds.

I've got almost 5 dozen eggs in the incubation process. I'll be hatching non stop for the next three weeks. (mostly Reds) In candling, the cold temperatures haven't effected the fertile eggs. They're doing just fine. What has been very unsteady is fertility. Cannot expect consistent fertility under these awful conditions.

I get the feeling that the birds keep saying "OK, this is the last cold night." "OK, now THIS is the last cold night" as well as we do. They've got to be worn out by it and ready to see the earth again.

Fred, BEST of luck on your hatch(es)!!! I have gotten OODLES of folks letting me know they are also experiencing fertility issues; I definitley believe things will change for most of us in that area very soon, since I "think" spring is finally here!

Maybe spring will happen after all.

I hate to even do it, as I don't want to jinx us, but....

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred, I'm curious how you will make up for this next year. Will you put out lights earlier so your breeders will get some extra laying time before you start setting eggs? Assuming next winter is average.



Or do you do everything just like you've done before and just hatch from pullets that are a month or 3 younger than normal?



colburg

We cannot make up for lost time in terms of the age of the chicks. That's gone. Anyone needing a 6 month old bird on August 1st for a FFA or 4H program? Well, that's about shot. All we can do "to catchup" is now hatch with a vengeance. Every single egg, in staggered hatches. My local partners and I are setting just about every viable egg. That's all we can do. I built a large, foam hatcher that holds 3 dozen eggs. I'm so glad I did. There is no room at the Inn. Packed out with eggs. First batch scheduled for tomorrow and well hatch every 3 or 4 days from now until early May. I'm candling at 12 days and pulling clears and filling the empty spots.

We'll catch up in numbers. Our total chicks on the ground goal is still attainable. But any hopes for March hatched chicks has faded. The calendar is turning to April. That's just the way it goes.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Even the mid-south folks, like the our folks in So. Kentucky, lost some time, this year. 2014 was a rough one, even for them and by their standards. The numbers of chicks on the ground is simply less. They are catching up quickly down there. While weather was a bit unsettled through March and certainly NOT their normal spring, they've muddled through, just not as productively as if it had been a warmer spring.

 

[colburg]

Quote:
I simply meant in terms of catching up for your breeding program next year. Do you make up a month next year, and another month the year after that? Or do you make up for it all in one shot next year, breeding from pullets that are 1-3 months younger than they would have been?