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Post by mjc on Sept 5, 2010 16:51:51 GMT -5
And as far as it goes, the lethal gene seems to be present only in the tufted, rumpless South American 'true' Araucanas...
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Post by Alan on Sept 12, 2010 23:42:06 GMT -5
Well, that is our flock precisely. So, Alan, our flock is currently divided with the Rocks and RIR in one coop and the Amerucauna (really Easter Eggers according to standards) and buff Orps in the other coop. How would you start breeding them out? Quite litterally I would do exactly what I do with any breeding project, plant or animal, when it comes to a mass cross. I would write out an ideaotype of what I want and get a good visual image of what you want your flock to be and represent in your head. I would then begin mentally scoring each individual of each type by their represented traits and by how those traits match up with what I want or how they could possibly recombine with traits that I am seeking. I would elliminate any animal that you see which doesn't represent at least 75% of your needs for meat and egg production (as well as fertility) as soon as possible, or at least isolate them from breeding. I would keep 4-5 hens (more if possible, but less is ok too) of each type and 1-2 roosters of each type (one for a backup), I would then procede to let them run amuck as controlled breeding is no longer necessary (you have already eliminated what you don't want) and begin hatching eggs, selecting only the most thrifty and lively of the young chicks to keep while young. Raise the best 5-10 (20-30 if possible) out of the first hatch of mixed offspring and sell or eat the others. Evaluate them as they come into maturity (or before if you immediately see a trait you do not want) and repeat the process. I would not get rid of any of your first generation keepers (the pure breeds) until you have had a chance to look at the expressions of the third generation (great grandchildren). I would even allow and encourage some amount of line breeding between the adults and the second generation, particularly if I were trying to intensify particular triats. I would also every four or five years order in new stock (in very small numbers, or just roosters is so needed) which show personal promise to your desired goal, these could be from the breeds you used in the original cross or from a breed you may have overlooked. There are lots of options really, but just remember, all roads lead to Rome. Coming up with your ideaotype and searching for it will get you there faster than torturing yourself with the science and "odds" of dominant and recessive gene guessing games. Your ideaotype might even change from time to time as well. |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 13, 2010 6:04:06 GMT -5
Sounds like we are heading in the right direction then. I'm really looking forward to seeing how yours are set up. I won't really be "invested" in doing to much of anything until next spring when we are ready to start hatching again. We really can't afford to hatch now because we aren't set up for cold weather and I'm tired of having chicken poop in my bathtub! ;o)
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spud
gopher
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Post by spud on Sept 21, 2010 13:40:11 GMT -5
Neat thought process on crossing breeds alan. I don't have the space or the support of the family to do such a project.
My family is not fond of dual purpose chickens for meat. I have found that CC forage nicely when allowed to free range and started on grass at an early age. I just started 25 CC this summer and were never inside. They were outside in a portable pen with a heat lamp at night. Them seem to just as well foraging and good activity going for bugs and stuff.
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Dec 20, 2010 17:45:54 GMT -5
Golden Comets are excellent layers of extra large brown eggs, mine are borderline pets or pests. They love to follow me around and are very inquisitive. Gold Lace Wynndots are somewhat skittish and are slower to develop than the Comets. Our Turken is a good layer, and a great conversation piece. She is somewhere between inquisitive and skittish. Would not recommend Comets as a meat bird, but great with our Grand Daughter.
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 21, 2010 7:45:16 GMT -5
I love my GL wyandottes. But they aren't the greatest layers. I got them because I like the patterning not for egg production. I got 6 of those Red Comets this year. I bought them from a girl who rescued them from a bad situation. Their beaks are all screwed up. supposedly they were 5 years old. I doubt that highly, maybe a year. I had them laying eggs within 2 days and every day I got 6 eggs. I'm still getting a few. The eggs are dark brown and some are too large for a jumbo carton. One thing is that the yolk is very small for the egg size. It's a good egg if your looking for mostly whites. They Wyandotte eggs have a good size yolk for a medium egg.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 21, 2010 13:59:16 GMT -5
Gold Lace Wynndots are somewhat skittish and are slower to develop than the Comets. . Comets are a smaller bird to begin with, and yes Wyandottes as well as many of the larger breeds take longer to mature than the hybrid egg layers. I find it interesting that you say Wyandottes are a skittish breed? Never had that problem with them. I loved raising Wyandottes because of their mellow attitudes; no nasty males and the hens I could pick up and carry around like no other. |
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Post by johno on Dec 21, 2010 15:27:21 GMT -5
I haven't eaten many of my birds, so I'm mostly judging by looks, not flavor. For good (looking) dual purpose birds, I like Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, and Buff Orpingtons. The RIRs are very reliable egg producers, friendly, and just big enough for a meal. The BAs look to be meatier and larger, and are one of the best dual purpose layers. BOs are good setters, good enough layers, and quite meaty.
I keep dual purpose birds in my laying flock (though I always have at least one Leghorn for a sure egg supply) so that if need be, we can get a good meal from them.
For just layers, I really like brown Leghorns. They camouflage well in this environment and are very wary. Those qualities make for survivors when free ranged in this predator rich land.
I want to do some breeding, but I'm not allowed to keep a pet rooster after the last one... I might rent one.
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Dec 25, 2010 12:39:01 GMT -5
BLR Thanks for the comment on the Dots. We just assumed they were a skittish breed, we bought all the birds at the same time from a lady that raises various breeds. All were transported together and placed in the pen at the same time. Well except for Ugly Betty (our turken) we couldn't stop talking about her when we got home and went back the next day to get her. Don't know why they would seem skittish then, since they were all kept under the same conditions and loved equally. They are known as the (girls) here. Again thanks for the input.
Merry Christmas to all...
John and Lisa
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Dec 30, 2010 17:43:49 GMT -5
hope i did this right, thought i would add some pics of our chicken set up, in case you were interested in the eggs aspect. Attachments:
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Dec 30, 2010 17:50:33 GMT -5
ok , just as i thought I did not do it correctly. Oh well, will have to keep trying. Attachments:
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Post by flowerpower on Jan 1, 2011 6:45:04 GMT -5
That's a really cute coop. Did you build it?
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jan 1, 2011 8:45:30 GMT -5
That coop is adorable! What did you do wrong? I really like the white box in front, is that the feed container?
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Jan 1, 2011 9:02:39 GMT -5
Thanx Flower, yes i did . It's 4ft. by 8ft. and accomidates 6 chickens comfortably. Half of the materials were left overs from building our home. Thanx Jo. The white box on the front is the nesting box. Three in all, which is more than enough for six chickens. The window has hinges on the left side, for access to the feed and water, also acces for cleaning. Was cleaning the coup out yesterday and the wind ripped it off. Lucky enough I had one left of that almost same size. Attachments:
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baby daddy
gardener
Laugh when you can, Apoligize when you should, Let go of the things you can't change.
Posts: 132
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Post by baby daddy on Jan 1, 2011 9:10:52 GMT -5
That coop is adorable! What did you do wrong? I really like the white box in front, is that the feed container? Well , I was trying to post pics like Bunkie, as in Bunkie Doings, the non clickable one after another with captions. I tried using photo bucket, but I could only get one pic. with a couple of boxes with a pic of a camera on it saying basically no photo |
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