Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[DUCKGIRL89]

Hi TJ.

Wht do you have in?

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

I want to have da bomb flock. So I'm researching breeders since I don't know standards. I just know what's appealing to my eye.
Just me.

I also want to specialize in rare breeds. I love the rare ones.

That's also how I like my steak.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Hey TJ! What day are you on?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

There are standards for many aspects in life. Grades in school is a beginning standard. You must score X to get grade Y.

There is a difference between breeding utility birds aka meat production/farm production/pet production how ever you wish to label them. Then breeding to the written and agreed apron standard for an animal in order to strive towards betterment of the breed.

PAI do compair dogs to birds and can because we have working Pyrenees, not show Pyrenees. They never come inside, they do a job and are not pets. We have EE chickens that are pets and produce great eggs that are good for eatting. If others want EE eggs to hatch we sell them at a reasonable price to help cover feed cost of that flock. Our son is raising black copper marans, his hatching eggs are a higher price, because he has spent time collecting birds that meet the standard and culling those who do not. This has been an investment of time on his part and funds on ours. Thus the eggs and chicks cost more than oh we are gon a buy just any BCM eggs hatch and breed them and sell the eggs.

Some breeds have issues in the lines that need worked on. Knowing this and ignoring it only ads to the problem. BCM have sprigs, thumb prints and carnation combs, as well as split wing and white primaries. Birds with these issues shouldn't be used. They make great stew or eatting egg layers.

Lavender Ameracuana need egg color improvement, color improvement, and consistency in color. These are all things that need to be worked on with goals for improvement. To improve egg color and feather color you breed back to black pure breds to help both.

Sebastopols can suffer from Twisted Wing Tip as well as Angel wing. These are two different issues which are caused by two different reasons. There are ways to avoid them, and or correct them be it through selective breeding, feed choices or wrapping of wings (I early on set cases of angel wing). Twisted wing tip is not found in the UK where they have both smooth and curly Sebastopols accepted to their standard. It is thought that using both in a breeding program might be the reason for it. It is further affirmed by the fact many US flocks have no smooth breasted birds in the breeding program and have many cases of TWT.

Call ducks when just bred at random can be way too large, tall in the leg with big bills. This is not what a call duck should be. You shouldn't breed large pet quality (or sports) call ducks together as it doesn't do anything to improve the breed.

Standards are a guideline for a reason, it helps in producing flocks of quality animals without faults.

There is not a thing wrong wrong with producing utility grade livestock animal. As long as they are marketed as such when selling eggs and offspring. Sebastopols are not a utility bird, they are eye candy that should be kept to the standard as much as possible.

 

[tjohn]

I am new to this site, This is my first batch, I am on day 18, would someone explain what all I need to do for shut down. Thanks, tj

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Tj, what are you incubating? Ducks, Chickens, geese, emu?

 

[tjohn]

12 red star eggs

 

[Marty1876]

tjohn, wait around, I'm not a chickenn person, but there are several knowledgable folks here who also hatch chickens. I'm a duck, quail, turkey lady. Just hang on....

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Ah, chickens. Lockdown starts on day 18, keep the temp steady as it was during incubation. stop turning the eggs. Raise the humidity, how much depends on your incubator, where you live and where it was during incubation.

 

[Marty1876]

Your so cool, Celtic! I'm glad that you are such an awesome info source.

There are standards for many aspects in life. Grades in school is a beginning standard. You must score X to get grade Y.

There is a difference between breeding utility birds aka meat production/farm production/pet production how ever you wish to label them. Then breeding to the written and agreed apron standard for an animal in order to strive towards betterment of the breed.

PAI do compair dogs to birds and can because we have working Pyrenees, not show Pyrenees. They never come inside, they do a job and are not pets. We have EE chickens that are pets and produce great eggs that are good for eatting. If others want EE eggs to hatch we sell them at a reasonable price to help cover feed cost of that flock. Our son is raising black copper marans, his hatching eggs are a higher price, because he has spent time collecting birds that meet the standard and culling those who do not. This has been an investment of time on his part and funds on ours. Thus the eggs and chicks cost more than oh we are gon a buy just any BCM eggs hatch and breed them and sell the eggs.

Some breeds have issues in the lines that need worked on. Knowing this and ignoring it only ads to the problem. BCM have sprigs, thumb prints and carnation combs, as well as split wing and white primaries. Birds with these issues shouldn't be used. They make great stew or eatting egg layers.

Lavender Ameracuana need egg color improvement, color improvement, and consistency in color. These are all things that need to be worked on with goals for improvement. To improve egg color and feather color you breed back to black pure breds to help both.

Sebastopols can suffer from Twisted Wing Tip as well as Angel wing. These are two different issues which are caused by two different reasons. There are ways to avoid them, and or correct them be it through selective breeding, feed choices or wrapping of wings (I early on set cases of angel wing). Twisted wing tip is not found in the UK where they have both smooth and curly Sebastopols accepted to their standard. It is thought that using both in a breeding program might be the reason for it. It is further affirmed by the fact many US flocks have no smooth breasted birds in the breeding program and have many cases of TWT.

Call ducks when just bred at random can be way too large, tall in the leg with big bills. This is not what a call duck should be. You shouldn't breed large pet quality (or sports) call ducks together as it doesn't do anything to improve the breed.

Standards are a guideline for a reason, it helps in producing flocks of quality animals without faults.

There is not a thing wrong wrong with producing utility grade livestock animal. As long as they are marketed as such when selling eggs and offspring. Sebastopols are not a utility bird, they are eye candy that should be kept to the standard as much as possible.