Thepoopsmiths
In the Brooder
- Apr 21, 2021
- 6
- 13
- 41
Hello All,
We have had poultry for many years, but never production-oriented hybrid layers (blue gem, novagen, copper dominant, golden sex link, etc) for more than 2 years.
This is because we mostly kept ducks, meat chickens, turkeys, or the more "heritage" breeds of chickens. When we did buy hybrid chickens more recently, we ended up having to cull the entire flock due to avian flu - before they got to 2 years old (July 2022).
Anyway, what I am hoping more experienced hybrid chicken keepers will share with us, is how they have approached hybrids in their 3rd year.
First, what should I expect?
Do they just almost completely stop laying? Do most of them experience reproductive problems (egg bound, etc) and need to be culled for welfare reasons? Is their feed conversion WORSE than a standard chicken in their 3rd year? Do they disappear, taken by a secret society wishing to conceal their 3rd year production? Seriously, finding info online about egg production in their third year is ridiculous!
Second, what is your approach (sharing the scale of your operation would be helpful to understand your context)?
Do you use nest traps and cull anyone who isn't producing enough? Do their legs or combs reliably change color if they are laying in their 3rd year, or are they all kinda bleached? Do you let them go a full 3rd year and THEN cull as a rule? Did you try letting them go another year at one point, and will never try that again due to a bad outcome? etc?
Thank you to anyone who might pass on some hybrid chicken wisdom!
Rachel
We have had poultry for many years, but never production-oriented hybrid layers (blue gem, novagen, copper dominant, golden sex link, etc) for more than 2 years.
This is because we mostly kept ducks, meat chickens, turkeys, or the more "heritage" breeds of chickens. When we did buy hybrid chickens more recently, we ended up having to cull the entire flock due to avian flu - before they got to 2 years old (July 2022).
Anyway, what I am hoping more experienced hybrid chicken keepers will share with us, is how they have approached hybrids in their 3rd year.
First, what should I expect?
Do they just almost completely stop laying? Do most of them experience reproductive problems (egg bound, etc) and need to be culled for welfare reasons? Is their feed conversion WORSE than a standard chicken in their 3rd year? Do they disappear, taken by a secret society wishing to conceal their 3rd year production? Seriously, finding info online about egg production in their third year is ridiculous!
Second, what is your approach (sharing the scale of your operation would be helpful to understand your context)?
Do you use nest traps and cull anyone who isn't producing enough? Do their legs or combs reliably change color if they are laying in their 3rd year, or are they all kinda bleached? Do you let them go a full 3rd year and THEN cull as a rule? Did you try letting them go another year at one point, and will never try that again due to a bad outcome? etc?
Thank you to anyone who might pass on some hybrid chicken wisdom!
Rachel