What's wrong with their feathers?

[NicoleRM]

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While I understand where you're coming from, I don't have the heart to kill them all just b/c of their genetics. I'm planning on penning them separately from my other blue egg layers and using their eggs for my family and friends (that don't have chickens or hatch eggs) to eat. I don't mind culling some of the roos for eating as well, but I couldn't just cull them all.

ETA: I may also breed some of them back to fluffy birds to continue on from there, since the carriers will give a higher 50% fluffies when bred to a fluffy bird.

For me, this is how the pullets would be most useful - breeding them back to a fluffy roo. You know that regardless of the pullet's genetics, all of the smooth-feathered offspring would still be definite splits, and with good notes you could figure out who among the pullets are splits themselves as fluffy babies hatch.

 

[Gypsy07]

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Ah. I didn't realise their rarity was decreasing. Thought they were still on the 'endangered' list! That's great. I suppose if you're being mindful of space and time and money then there's no point keeping loads of possible carriers if you don't really need them. For people with enough room for a pile of extra chickens though, it might still be worthwhile to figure out who's a carrier...

I love this thread! Keep popping in for updates every so often

 

[spiritdance]

interesting thread (oh, gawd .... the chicken math is kicking in)

 

[NicoleRM]

This waiting is killing me. I really hope I have pips when I get home tonight!

 

[alicefelldown]

Come on little babies!!!

 

[NicoleRM]

I'm actually happy to be at work. I'd be a wreck if I was at home watching the bator.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
ETA: I may also breed some of them back to fluffy birds to continue on from there, since the carriers will give a higher 50% fluffies when bred to a fluffy bird.

For me, this is how the pullets would be most useful - breeding them back to a fluffy roo. You know that regardless of the pullet's genetics, all of the smooth-feathered offspring would still be definite splits, and with good notes you could figure out who among the pullets are splits themselves as fluffy babies hatch.

Fortunately, I have 4 pullets, 2 roos and a split pullet, so I should be able to get some good stock of Fluffy X Split out there into the world. If they ever mature to a point of being strong and big, I'll be able to put my birds with excellent quality Ameraucana stock, but I'm hesitant to do that with their timidity. I will be working that way, though. They are reddening up and should be near point-of-lay...but that scares me because it's when so many folks have lost them inexplicably. I'm terrified this will happen to me, too!!

I just need them to hang in there! I love them too much to lose them.

 

[NicoleRM]

I just came home to 3 pips, 1 zipping, and 1 already out!

 

[alicefelldown]

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They are sooooo fast!!!!

 

[NicoleRM]

My hatch is done, and all 12 that went into lockdown hatched! You ready for some cuteness?