Chick(IN)Breeding?

[MTNRGR]

I don't know how to word this without it sounding nasty but I will try.....If I only have 1 rooster and 19 hens, should I be concerned with him breeding with any of his offspring should they not end up as breakfast, and in the same sense, if I let another hatched rooster get to full size is there a sibling/ mother hen mating issue? Or are chickens pretty much just all inbred and it doesnt matter.....its not pretty but I had to ask because I don't know and I just ordered 20 chicks from TSC and thought it might be important down the road.

[burntmuch]

I dont that you will have a problem. But I have read somewhere about introducing a new rooster to your flock every couple years.

[Empty Quiver]

The answer is simple. Eat more eggs. I'm betting you have enough friends who will help you out too.


How close are you to Mn.? 

[Ranger99]

inbreeding isn't a huge
issue with barnyard fowl, although
you'll likely want to upgrade your
rooster every couple of years before
he gets too old to use. you'll have to
boil the older hens and cocks because
they get stringy and tough after a few
years. any slackers in the egg factory
get flayed and frozen too. don't forget
to put out oyster shell for the girls.

[MTNRGR]

Oyster shells?

[Ranger99]

you buy sacks of crushed oyster shell
at the feed store or co-op and put out
for the chickens to peck and pick up.
they naturally pick up rocks and such
by instinct for their craw to work and
by putting oyster shell out it gives the
girls an advantage when it comes to
having calcium on board to help make
a superior eggshell. i've used eggshells
too, but they are better roasted lightly
first before crumbling up and putting out.
i prefer oyster because it keeps the idea
of pecking eggs out of the pea brain of
the hens. if you get an egg pecker, you'd
best put it in line at the chopping block.

[MTNRGR]

Didn't know that, thanks for the info

[Oldshooter]

Did you order st8 run or just pullets?

[Ranger99]

i don't think something-something supply
offers sexed chicks, do they?
don't forget a red light bulb for your brooder.
and eventually you'll need some wormer
if you're in a warmer clime.
i think now they have wormer that goes
in the drinking water.
when they get big enough you'll be able
to cull the stags anyway. you can swap
some off or put 'em in their own pen
to feed them up for the pan. it should
make it easier to find your dominant rooster
to keep for brood stock.

[Ranger99]

and the shell is for mature birds

[Oldshooter]

and the shell is for mature birds

yep and just feed em starter for now. maybe a little scratch for a treat!

[MTNRGR]

Pullets on the two breeds of chickens, buff orpington, and new Hampshire red. The Peking ducks are stiaght run

[Ranger99]

ducks?   
you ever raised any ducks or geese?
don't forget some rubber boots and earplugs.
good luck.

[Oldshooter]

 Ranger, I prolly dont have to tell you this but.........keep an eye out for varmits, i.e. skunks, minks, coyotes etc etc. They will clean your clock for you.
We keep em housed at night and let em in the runs and in the yard during the day when we are here. JUst FYI. 

[blind ear]

You may soon have a hawk posting a stand nearby also. He can put you out of business by himself or herself if the chicks are free run or thier run isn't wire covered. ear

[Ranger99]

                   ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
            these two things! ! !

[MTNRGR]

Roger that, Ive got so many rabbits on my property that its a coyote and hawk mecca already, oh and owls too. Ive seen hawks flying with rabbits and the coyotes have a party in my fields every night, which is why I just bought the Handi in .223. I expect to loose animals, just as long as my calves are ok. Yeah the wife wanted ducks I have the land and a huge empty barn so I thought what the heck, if they are a pain in the but they will get the hatchet sooner than planned.

[MTNRGR]

Oh, and Ive got pheasant chicks coming from the New York State day old chick program. They give away chicks each spring if you have the land and resources. I expect to loose a lot of birds to preditors this year cuz I'm not going to camp out at the barn, its not gonna break my heart, It'l actually help me figure out how to do it right next year I guess.

[blind ear]

Ducks won't be too bad "IF" you have a pond away from the house and the pond has some size to it.  Build roosting islands floating out in the water 20 yds or so from the bank. If a preadator swims out the ducks learn to just swim away. The poop and feathers are the biggest thing, thus "away from the house. Do any feeding at their place not at the back door of the house.
-
Now, the cayotes sound like pure fun. They can hear you whisper at 200 yards. ear

[MTNRGR]

Yeah um.....no pond.

[Bugflipper]

Cage traps are handy to have if you're raising little critters. I keep one baited all the time. It's a lot easier than standing guard. Once you get the predation under control they will save you a lot of trouble with the odd varmint that wanders up.

[Dixie Dude]

Sounds like you need to do some rabbit hunting to thin the rabbits, then do some coyote hunting to thin them out.  This will help with the chickens.  Hawks and Owls are protected, but fewer rabbits, and they move on.  I've heard that using a White Leghorn rooster with Rhode Island Red hens, the offspring always ends up with white roosters and red hens for easy seperation later.  Like someone said, get a new rooster every couple of years and freeze the young roosters and the hens who quit laying, let the new hens take over.  My grandfather always penned up the young roosters for a month or so before they were full grown adults and fed them corn. Made them tender for eating.  Older layers can be penned seperately also to do the same.  Be sure you have neighbors or family who can and will take care of them if you want to vacation.  Same with a milk cow or milk goats. 

[MTNRGR]

Bugflipper, good idea with the traps, I will do that.
 
Dixie Dude, I shot rabbits all winter and have a freezer full of them, I even had buddys over that have dogs and they took there fair share too. It didn't put a dent in the population, I have thousands, but Im not complaining, good eating. And I will definately look into a Leghorn rooster. I was planning on separating the roosters once I can identify them, and only keep a couple and freeze the rest....thanks for the info.

[AtlLaw]

I've heard that using a White Leghorn rooster with Rhode Island Red hens, the offspring always ends up with white roosters and red hens for easy seperation later.

Now ain't that sumpin!  Two of my favorite breeds!      Raised 'em both at one time or another.  I wonder if the chick color thing is true though... 

[Oldshooter]

Me 2

[blind ear]

If you had wild Easter bunnies then you wouldn't need chickens,  - - - - - for eggs ya know.      ear

[Ranger99]

i thought that was just the chocolate eggs. . . .

[blind ear]

oh, you prolly right. ear 

[MTNRGR]

Dixiedude, I just bought 3 Leghorn chicks, I hope you are right about the color thing, ....and I hope at least one is a rooster, they were straight run.

[FPH]

Dixiedude, I just bought 3 Leghorn chicks, I hope you are right about the color thing, ....and I hope at least one is a rooster, they were straight run.

I don't believe leghorns are sex linked........you have a crap shoot foe sex of your chicks.