Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[wyoDreamer]

The ones coming from Sunnyside are going to be hybrid, so if you do hatch those eggs there really is no knowing what the chicks will be like - they could end up scrawny without much meat or even not lay very well. They will probably not be sex-linked either. But they are sold as a dual purpose, supposedly they are slower growing than a broiler, get to a good size with good meat and will still lay decently for eating eggs.

The "S" breed is called Sagitta. I have 9 of them in my brooder right now. I can identify the 3 blacks that I ordered, but cannot tell the difference between the 3 Browns and the 9 Sagittas. They are growing fast so hopefully I can sort them out when they grow up. If not, no big deal as they are just for eggs and eating.

If you have some purebreds and like the breeds you have - then pen up a breed and eat the eggs for a week. Then save the eggs for hatching and when you have enough let them out into the flock again. There may be a little bit of tussling when they go back into the flock until they establish their pecking order once again.

 

[bigzio]

Nice day here....in regards to different age birds....more pens are a must for good management and health of the younger ones. We do this backyard stuff because we care about the birds, and should do it correctly. In my opinion. Being prepared before starting is more important than starting.

bigz

 

[Firstchic]

do like CC and others do.. have a breeding pen .. then just separate the breed you want eggs from .

then when you are done with that breed, turn them back with the flock and then separate another breed.

If you had only two breeds, then you can pen one breed up and automatically the loose ones will be separated also..

Did I miss something? If I have a breeding pen...where do they go to roost? And lay their eggs?

 

[irishrovr]

Did I miss something? If I have a breeding pen...where do they go to roost? And lay their eggs?

They will stay in the breeding pen until you get viable eggs for the breed you want so you should have nest(s) and a roost for them in that pen.

 

[Firstchic]

Well, you are probably right about being prepared, Biz, but, it is what it is at this point. I will have a brooder to put the little ones in, except they are about 2 months old. It is 4 ' long and about 3' high. The guy selling it to me said it would fit 15 +. Hope he is right. The width is that of a large tote. So when we put up the fence: would we divide it in half, for the RIR on one side and the others on the other side. Could they all go in the same coop at night? I am totally confused as to how that would work, with the Roos in with the hens at night.....or don't they fool around once the sun goes down?

 

[Firstchic]

So, it has to be an inside pen?

 

[irishrovr]

Well, you are probably right about being prepared, Biz, but, it is what it is at this point. I will have a brooder to put the little ones in, except they are about 2 months old. It is 4 ' long and about 3' high. The guy selling it to me said it would fit 15 +. Hope he is right. The width is that of a large tote. So when we put up the fence: would we divide it in half, for the RIR on one side and the others on the other side. Could they all go in the same coop at night? I am totally confused as to how that would work, with the Roos in with the hens at night.....or don't they fool around once the sun goes down?

Don't mix them in with each other until you get the eggs you want to hatch. Separate them into a designated pen day and night. Like someone said earlier, eat the eggs they lay for a week or so to make sure they are all from the chosen rooster. The eggs line up in production inside the hen so you want to be sure they are from a single breed. After you collect the eggs you want to hatch you can re-integrate them into the larger flock.

 

[irishrovr]

So, it has to be an inside pen?

Inside would be safer. Is there any way you can divide up a section of the coop?

 

[Firstchic]

Ok I'm thinking this chicken stuff is way over my head. How would I know the eggs I have eaten for a week if from the chosen rooster? An egg is an egg to me when I am eating it. And yes, we can divide the coop, Irishrovr. Thanks for joining in. I'm thinking I will need all the help I can get. Well, I bet many on this site tonight are have a rib-tickling good time. But, hey, I am a box of rocks with this chicken stuff, but, I will figure it out some day.

 

[Firstchic]

Ok, I bet I just figured out about the egg thing. The size and color of the egg, correct? I have four hens now who all lay in the same box, I can sometimes tell who layed what unless one lays and egg and another hen goes in right behind the first, so when I go pick the eggs, other than knowing who was in the box, I can't tell who layed what.