The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bamford6 on June 04, 2010, 10:20:40 pm

Title: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: bamford6 on June 04, 2010, 10:20:40 pm: 70 pence each to have them sext ............well out off 500 there was just 287 cock birds whot a blow carnt do eney think with them using pullet eggs is the problem first yere birds .should have sold the eggs in the sale .after the first yere it is 50 /50 .naw i need another 300 birds not cocks .will take 2 to 3 months to do it .
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: Roxy on June 05, 2010, 12:12:05 am: Are you saying that because it was pullet eggs that hatched, thats the reason there were more cockerels? I only hatch small amounts every year, but usually find the ratio is more cockerels in every hatch.

Fingers crossed you get more hens next time.
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 05, 2010, 11:06:35 am: thats costing you a lot gary. could you not learn the skill yourself and save a few hundred quid a year. we use the wing feathers at two days old pretty accurate but i dont cull until im sure. but were getting slighly more hens than cocks this year. at your scale it should be roughly 50% anyway.
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: bamford6 on June 05, 2010, 11:42:41 am: the silkies are hard and some off the other breeds i mite go with a sex Link line but some rare breeds are hard .they eat so much 500 chicks 2 bags a week at 11 pound a bag .and with orders its 4 hens and 1 cock that still leaves 3 cock birds in every order .
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: cairnhill on June 05, 2010, 02:42:01 pm: My god Bamfords and there was I fretting that my 5 young black orpingtons could all be cocks. Drop in the ocean compared to you. You do seem to have a tough time of things judging by some of your posts. Best of luck in all your endeavours. :)
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: shetlandpaul on June 05, 2010, 03:27:11 pm: you would expect roughly 250 so gary has been a bit unlucky. but i totlly agree they cost a fortune to feed. most are not even worth growing for meat very little on most. we have roughly 40 chicks at diffrent stages and once im sure there will be about 15 culled. the sex linked route is best for general but some of the others are a pain. were trying to grow brahmas and cochins and crossing them with our red girls. that wy we may just get a useful bird.
Title: Re: iv just had 500 chicks sext haw meney cock birds were there
Post by: Wizard on June 05, 2010, 03:47:32 pm: Read what you have written Bamford :D are you sharing W.P.'s fallin down water? :D :D :D :farmer: :wave: