Recent content by SE_Gardener

Andrew Christie developed a meatbird strain of New Hampshires with egg production not the focus so naturally Christie's strain produced approx 180 eggs per year. Clarence Newcomer went the other direction and developed a strain of NH improving egg production. As a std dual purpose chicken the...

Privett is nonetheless the supplier of Welp layer chickens. My point was don't bash Welp for the subpar poultry coming out of Privett. You were lucky.

Welp Hatchery sources all their layers from Privett Hatchery out of AZ. Welp was bought out a number of yrs ago and is now owned by WinCorp Intl a subsidiary of Aviagen (#1 broiler genetics/breeder). WinCorp sells breeding Cornish Rock cross to South America and offer the #1 and #2 Cornish...

But it's the W that determines sex

Approx weight? Point of Lay?

Production vs. utility strains. The lighter colored production strains are the problem children in my experience. I stick with the dark, dark red mahogany and find them to be more docile, but Rhode Island Reds are not shrinking violets.

My experience is Rhode Island Red hens can be domineering but when they are the ones being added, there may be some scuffles over pecking order, these hens will settle in close to the top. However future additions to your flock may be met with those Rhode Island Hens getting a little rough with...

I've bred Crabbett Arabian horses through strict Serafix bloodlines (an imported Stallion from the Crabbett Stud of England direct from a Bedouin tribe). I owned a Reserve National Champion Fine Harness Stud and Natl Top 10 Reining stud. But Arab breeders wanted bigger horses and crossed with...

Here's pics of 2023 Top Rooster and Top Hen selection at 19 wks this week -1st week June hatch. I select both NH and Del breeding stock with substantive blocky body - balanced leg/thigh and breast with wide back and deep chests. Likewise I select pullets with that same block style body with...

The Delaware is a breed long recognized by APA. The F1 progeny between Delaware and NH would be hybrid. What's interesting the original breeding of NH on Barred Rock actually sets up a type of "spiral breeding" when Delaware on NH are crossed producing Indian River which is similar to how the...

True, good advice. But you must maintain strict cull criteria otherwise what could be a promising dual purpose flock can quickly revert to smaller, longer maturing and less flesh. I try to emulate commercial meatbird producers and have found in breeding manuals hatching chicks out-of-season is...

Raised Bresse for two years and didn't find they met the hype - in fact the breasts were slighter than heritage dual purpose. I now cross Delaware on New Hampshire, cull for meatbird criteria and maintain smaller F1 to cross back on NH for fabulous layers (real Golden Comets). IMHO the Bresse...

I have raised Eng Springer Spaniels over the years and with "bird" stamped on their foreheads at birth, keeping harmony and safety around the chickens (roosters, hens, chicks) as well as the dogs is a necessary goal. It would be far too easy for a hunting dog to flush birds and capture them in...

Your comment was interesting to me as I've come to the same conclusion as you. When Henry Noll retired he sold his core New Hampshire and Delaware breed stock to Hubbard who likely rolled them into their "slow growth" broiler program. Freedom Ranger hatchery picked up the Noll's New Hampshire...

I keep two breeding flocks and everyone gets along. I've only had two roosters that met the processing cones in nearly 10 yrs. I hatch 40-50+ eggs per year but don't really dawdle over the chicks. I do handle them when I weigh each week and make it a point to be slow and deliberative avoiding...