First time hatching chicks

[wrathsfarm]

Speaking of pressure, I have about 10 BCM cockerels that need to not be here anymore. The hens and pullets sold within 24 hours of ads being placed but these guys who have these wonderful genetics behind them are destine for less fortunate futures. The rooster the flock has now is not perfect but has the majority of traits worth keeping plus he's a gentleman.

Are you keeping any cockerels for future breeders?

I sold over 20 last year, I have a few buyers that process them and usually when I text them at 19-20 weeks old, they come within the next few days. It is harder trying to find forever homes, I sold 3 this year to good homes but the free rooster market is flooded, for sure.

 

[Island Coppers]

Are you keeping any cockerels for future breeders?

These were all from relatively young hens that had small smaller eggs so the next hatch will be bigger eggs that I will select more carefully. I've culled a few of the hens too, so no eggs from the smaller hens or a couple that didn't have feathered feet. I've found the stock from Raising Phoenix Farms are really the birds I should focus on.

 

[Slothinc]

These were all from relatively young hens that had small smaller eggs so the next hatch will be bigger eggs that I will select more carefully. I've culled a few of the hens too, so no eggs from the smaller hens or a couple that didn't have feathered feet. I've found the stock from Raising Phoenix Farms are really the birds I should focus on.

Random question but if chicks hatch from smaller eggs (due to hens being younger and the eggs not full size yet) does that make a difference in the final size of the eggs laid in the chicks that hatch from those smaller eggs? Will they be smaller than typical even after full grown?

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Random question but if chicks hatch from smaller eggs (due to hens being younger and the eggs not full size yet) does that make a difference in the final size of the eggs laid in the chicks that hatch from those smaller eggs? Will they be smaller than typical even after full grown?

There’s some talk of this occurring in bantams, as to breed the smallest bantams, but it’s generally untrue, as the size difference is hardly noticeable after a few weeks. Genetics, health and feed determine adult size, big eggs just give them a head start.
Someone correct me if they think I’m wrong, I’d love to here if people have been successful in reducing size this way.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Random question but if chicks hatch from smaller eggs (due to hens being younger and the eggs not full size yet) does that make a difference in the final size of the eggs laid in the chicks that hatch from those smaller eggs? Will they be smaller than typical even after full grown?

Glad you asked this! I hatched a few from really small eggs this year and was wondering about them as well.

 

[Island Coppers]

Slothinc​

Surely, all else being equal, the better start a chick gets the more likely it is to grow larger? I have absolutely no facts to back that up.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Maybe you guys have advice, this one chick is such a bully! She chases the others around pecking at their feet! She isn’t nice lol. I’m not inclined to keep her, but I’ve already given away the two that I know are roosters so don’t have any buddies that I’d want to send with her. Do I just ride it out until I hear of someone wanting an extra chick who only hatched one? Ask my friend who has chicks to take her and subject her to this menace? Send her by herself? Sell her when she’s older? Try to correct this naughty behaviour? Lol

She’s messing with the vibe here!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Hello those of you who keep marans! Are these copper flecks showing up on my chicks wing feathers already at a week and a half old? Are we thinking rooster?

 

[Slothinc]

Hello those of you who keep marans! Are these copper flecks showing up on my chicks wing feathers already at a week and a half old? Are we thinking rooster?

I would also love to know!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Hello those of you who keep marans! Are these copper flecks showing up on my chicks wing feathers already at a week and a half old? Are we thinking rooster?

Can you post a comb pic for this one?
The copper flecking could go either way so not a sure fire gender identifying rule.
Males will show copper flecking much sooner than females in Marans. But, I had a few females last year that were mossy and popping that same flecking early. In most Marans lines unless the breeder is working on smaller combs, this is the biggest identifier by far for gender.