The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on October 18, 2015, 02:01:37 pm
-
So as you all know I have been trying to sell my faverolles, well I bought them origionally to breed from them, but due to the fact that they are not laying as much as I hoped I wanted them to go as they were costing me a little much in food to keep. I would still like to breed from them. Problem is I have had to take on my brothers hens, due to unforseen circumstances. Over the months i have become attached to the faverolles and dont want to sell them, but breed from them, which is what i intended to do. Question is should i keep my brothers mixed flock of good laying hens for eggs, or the faverolles which dont lay a huge amount, for breeding? Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks
P.s I can't keep both as I haven't got masses of space, id in breeding them
-
Depends how old the laying flock is? They may not lay for that much longer. Faverolles taste really good and were once an expensive Parisienne delicacy -they are on our list of 'would likes'.
-
Could you do a bit of both? Keep the very best and youngest of the Faverolles and of the laying hens and sell the rest. Fertility and number of eggs should be highest with the young birds and they'll cope better with the approaching Winter weather.
-
The Faverolles are 2 years old, so if I am going to breed them the latest would have to be early next year. Apparently the two warrens are good sitters, so i might keep them. The problem is space really, maybe if I could divide the flock in half and keep half and sell the other half, maybe that would work? The flock are 4 light sussex, 2 warrens and 2 buff orpingtons, all quite docile. The other flock are between 1 and 2 years and were very prolific layers, they have paused for the winter though.