Toad Raising.

[Finnie]

I'm joining in here just to follow all the progress. I love the toads!

Ralph, my DH is excited for these but he also told me that he would like me to make one outcross just for him...a toad x cochin lol he wants a huge ball of fluff running around the yard. Of course, that would be a one time thing just for him to get a big fluffy chicken lol. Other than that, we can't wait to raise some of these out

Oh that would be so funny! A Cochin-Toad!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh that would be so funny! A Cochin-Toad!!

That would be an interesting looking cross. I am sure a toad rooster would not mind helping you with that. Toad hens are kind of fussy though...

 

[JayColli]

I have about 2 million of them but they all look about the same.

I suppose I could show some Toad Eggs.

Toad egg pics would be great!

 

[duluthralphie]

It appears I will have a dozen eggs to go on Monday.

I will be offering them on the buy sell pages.

I should have a dozen every week on Mondays.

I prefer they stay close to start with. I also want whoever buys the to chronicle the raising of them on here .Please.


I am going to be asking A moderator to make sure I am not breaking a rule of BYC.

My preference is for NPIP places first. I would also like to know how many you would keep and raise.

What I am basically doing is trying to do is get my work spread out so I don't lose the genetics.

You have to know the line may not be stable yet. I have no idea when we will reach stability.

If you want to use the roosters on other hens, have at it, I just ask you keep a line true and breed the hens back to Toad roosters.

Toad eggs are extremely fertile right now, they may never be. I do not do AI, but it maybe something some one else would try.

I want to have a self sustaining flock, AI is not self sustaining in my book, it might be in yours.

Some tips on feeding Toads.

I do not keep the water and feed right next to each other, I make them walk, to the feed and the water, However, that has not been an issue in a couple generations, They eat a lot but lot like the CX. They are a very "meek" bird. They will be the bottom of a pecking order. They will not defend themselves, so watch out for bullies picking on them.

I have not decided a price yet. Maybe we can all do that together. I do know mailing a box of eggs in the 2-3 day priority mailer is roughly $25 with the foam egg sleeves.( a tad more with the top and bottom foams.

I do not want to give the eggs away, I want a person to want the toads as a line in their chicken operation/ranch/farm/backyard. I was always told something you get for free has no value. I am thinking 10 bucks for a dozen eggs. Plus the $25 to ship?


What" s everyone else's thoughts? I know that makes the toads more than CX cost at TSC. I think they are better birds though. I have to drive 5 miles into town to mail them. So that's a 10 mile drive plus the expense to get to this point which is WHO KNOW WHAT...

I am just trying to figure my costs and get a fair price, while I spread toads.

I know this is a rambling post. It is 3 am I cannot sleep and am thinking of the toads and letting my babies go.


Someone asked when they start laying. I have never known that as I never get eggs in the first fall from them, I need to get the birds over or into spring to get eggs. This is the first I have gotten eggs in January.

That is another thing we need to know. I am going to be taking some roosters out of my pen. I think I have too many, but I am not seeing any signs of rooster abuse, I do not think they knock each other off the hens. They are too large and to mellow to do that.

Ok Time for feedback.. I would mail chicks but I do not get 15 at a time which is the minimum to mail this time of year. I have not gotten those 72 hour heat packs. I am a little worried about them in the priority mailing boxes.

I will talk more with whoever is the first to get eggs about the mailing if it does not work. I am tempted to mail myself a box from another post office, and see what happens.


Discuss and then I will put the offer up on buy/trade sell. when we all decide.

Maybe together we can make a new breed and get it APA even.. We would have to call it dual purpose I suppose.. who knows...

 

[daxigait]

I think that is cheap considering your work to this point. I look forward to seeing what happens with the next generations. At this point I am not NPIP since I don't like all that government intrusiveness though I keep a closed flock that I got from NPIP and certified mycoplasma free facilities.
I think these are a worthy project and want to encourage others to get on board. You did the hardest part, and I am excited about them.
Go Toads!

 

[duluthralphie]

I think that is cheap considering your work to this point. I look forward to seeing what happens with the next generations. At this point I am not NPIP since I don't like all that government intrusiveness though I keep a closed flock that I got from NPIP and certified mycoplasma free facilities.
I think these are a worthy project and want to encourage others to get on board. You did the hardest part, and I am excited about them.
Go Toads!

Thanks and NPIP is not the end all for them, at a dozen a week, and2-3 days shipping time everyone can have the eggs in by day 10-11. Which is not too old for them.

I have NPIP because of my showing and selling of birds to 4-h kids and other show people.

It is a PITA,

 

[duluthralphie]

I got a reply from a moderator on this thread.

I have to watch myself and make sure I am NOT advertising them here.

Help me stay on the proper side of that line. Once I actually make and ad we can discuss that stuff in that thread.

 

[biophiliac]

Agree w/Daxigait, that is way too cheap in view of your achievement so far with these birds! I have been following you with interest on the meat birds thread. Think about doubling that to 20$ at least. GOOD LUCK!....edit, hope i dont run afoul of the moderator....i'm a little hazy on the rules ;-)

 

[Maeschak]

Perhaps you could set a price and then make a 'waiting' list instead of putting them on the buy/sell here? That way you could prioritize NPIP/proximity and the folks who want to buy eggs would have a better idea of when they could get some. Just a thought. (But I will be keeping an eye out on the buy/sell page when I am ready to start hatching).

 

[Turk Raphael]

This thread is for those that plan to raise toads.

As I have said is several threads I am about ready to start selling toad eggs. I will be selling them on the Buy/sell ad on BYC. I will lay the terms down there.

I want people to try and make this a self sustaining meat bird.

I do not think you will need to limit feed on the toads like those of you that have tried to raise CX's have done. I do not limit feed, however, I do occasional let mine go hungry for a day to use extra fat up.


You can raise them however you want. My dream for this site is for us to discuss how they are growing problems and so forth.

To me the Toad is the perfect meat bird. For some of you this is a re-hash for others it will be new, so all my BYC friends that have seen these pictures just hang n there.

I really want to have more people try to make these sustainable. I would prefer you not process all the Toads you get this year but try to over winter them to get more toads. I have only eaten a couple roosters so far.

I am interested in how they do in different climates. I would like to see them go to some NPIP places so I could get some back if I need to.

Here are some pictures:






The ruling Bert, the Grand dad of this generation of Toads.



Above is a turkey and Toad of the same age, Toad is on the right! 15.5 Pounds.

Aside from the fact that I don't much like turkey meat, the 'toad' looks 200% more appealing to my eyes.