The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: langdon on March 18, 2010, 08:35:57 pm

Title: some better at breeding
Post by: langdon on March 18, 2010, 08:35:57 pm

my freind said today some chucks are better at breeding than others,
e.g. those that are for laying espically might have less chance of those that are good for breeding.
hope that makes sense.
our are lohman brown and these chucks are layer birds, we are trying to hatch eggs from this breed at mo,
has anyone ever had any luck in hatching eggs from this breed?
thanks for reading langdon ;) :chook:

Title: Re: some better at breeding
Post by: whitby_sam on March 19, 2010, 08:34:45 am

I think your friend was referring to how often they go broody and not the viability of their eggs. I keep Marans and Warrens (ex-battery type). Marans are prized for their looks where Warrens will lay upwards of 300 eggs per year. I would expect each type to have an equal chance in an incubator but if left to their own devices I would put my money on the Maran to go broody more often and for longer. I would be suprised if one of my Warrens went broody at all.

Title: Re: some better at breeding
Post by: shetlandpaul on March 19, 2010, 08:57:51 am

i agree with witby sam. the eggs will be as fertile as any other chuck. its just that most won't go broody. saying that we had a hyline and a pekin share a nest last year. they hatched but the hyline lost intrest a week or so latter.

Title: Re: some better at breeding
Post by: bamford6 on March 19, 2010, 09:57:20 am

hatch some copper tops silki cross sussex will onley lay 20 to 30 then broodey leave her 2 weeks then put the chicks under at night no light fuss just leave her to it .

Title: Re: some better at breeding
Post by: doganjo on March 19, 2010, 11:33:38 am

I've moved Lucky(not sure if she is an ex-batt or Lohman - Jock, can you help here?) to the duck shed as she was being hassled by Jamie, so she wouldn't come out of the coop.  Now she's staying inside the duck shed too and sitting on what seems to be a nest - no eggs in it though at the moment. (the ducks don't use, so I haven't given them, a nesting box) I wonder if it would be worthwhile putting a couple of eggs under her?  The ducks are fairly gentle souls especially Jack, so I don't think they'd harm chicks if they hatched.  Funnily enough since she went in tehre only one of the ducks is laying and it's always outside in their little run when I go to let them out into their wee paddock.