The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[KF0002]

Idk they were cool but just not super exciting to me. My females wanted to go broody to often. They'd hatch 2 or 3 broods a year. I never knew they were a broody breed. Must admit a hen with a string of chicks is unbeatable for cuteness but that cuts down on egg production.
I never had mite issues though. But seems everyone's soul focus was on egg darkness. It's cool but not long term fun for me.

I enjoyed the dark brown eggs and will probably always keep a few in my flock just as layers. They are a pretty broody breed and we are constantly breaking hens up hens this time of year. Our Game hens are the broodiest hens we have though. They like to hide and set in secret and hatch off a bunch of weed chicks all the time. lol

My husband didn’t care for the Marans so we both agreed on Leghorns since they act and look similar to the Games. I joke with him that some of his Game stags resemble Brown Leghorns. lol

 

[NagemTX]

@The Moonshiner my favorite thing about Chooks man (Joe) was that he believed in using the birds you had, imperfections, defects, and all. He didn’t see a bad comb, a squirrel tail, etc and immediately say “cull him and buy better stock.” He would help us pick out birds to mate those birds to that would balance out their flaws in the progeny. I learned a great deal from him, and learned that you can breed any line to SOP as long as you know how to balance your brood birds with complementing birds. It may take a while but you will see the offspring improve every season. I like that mindset, and seeing the good qualities a bird has instead of focusing only on its flaws.

That's a good breeder! I read some articles from a top breeder of Rosecombs and that's her thing as well. She said if you want a color creat it your self so we can add more bloodlines and diversity to what we have already. It's a better way to preserve breeds than what the trends are currently.

 

[KF0002]

That's a good breeder! I read some articles from a top breeder of Rosecombs and that's her thing as well. She said if you want a color creat it your self so we can add more bloodlines and diversity to what we have already. It's a better way to preserve breeds than what the trends are currently.

Agreed. And I have purchased “better” stock before in the Marans only to bring in a whole other new set of problems like vulture hocks, side sprigs, etc. So at least if you work with what you have, you are already pretty familiar with the issues in the line.

 

[Amer]

Ah ok. I never win anything.

I got like, two years worth of PFMs from contests, I would just stack them on top of each other. It must be close to running out, though.

The person I gave the Buckeye eggs to candled them because she was taking the quail eggs out of the incubator anyway. She said 9 out of 14 were fertile. They go into lockdown tomorrow. 9 out of 14 isn't a great percentage but 9 free chicks is a good start (but lets not be hasty and count chickens before they hatch.)

 

[KF0002]

I got like, two years worth of PFMs from contests, I would just stack them on top of each other. It must be close to running out, though.

The person I gave the Buckeye eggs to candled them because she was taking the quail eggs out of the incubator anyway. She said 9 out of 14 were fertile. They go into lockdown tomorrow. 9 out of 14 isn't a great percentage but 9 free chicks is a good start (but lets not be hasty and count chickens before they hatch.)

Wow, that’s awesome on the contests! I will have to look when I have time and see if there is any I could do.

And yes, 9 out of 14 eggs developing is pretty good. Hopefully at least 6-8 hatch for them. Any amount hatching is good when they’re free.

 

[Amer]

Wow, that’s awesome on the contests! I will have to look when I have time and see if there is any I could do.

And yes, 9 out of 14 eggs developing is pretty good. Hopefully at least 6-8 hatch for them. Any amount hatching is good when they’re free.

Well it was the Standard Bred contest that happens in the summer and also not a contest but I got one for a member interview.

 

[Amer]

Wow, that’s awesome on the contests! I will have to look when I have time and see if there is any I could do.

And yes, 9 out of 14 eggs developing is pretty good. Hopefully at least 6-8 hatch for them. Any amount hatching is good when they’re free.

They do seem to have good health and vigor once hatched anyway. And they grow like weeds.

 

[Amer]

I enjoyed the dark brown eggs and will probably always keep a few in my flock just as layers. They are a pretty broody breed and we are constantly breaking hens up hens this time of year. Our Game hens are the broodiest hens we have though. They like to hide and set in secret and hatch off a bunch of weed chicks all the time. lol

My husband didn’t care for the Marans so we both agreed on Leghorns since they act and look similar to the Games. I joke with him that some of his Game stags resemble Brown Leghorns. lol

View attachment 4100733

Personally, we keep large fowl Welsummers in our laying flock. I find them to be the ultimate normal layer chicken, all rounders. Average in temperament (not so docile to be stupid, but they don't run away from you, assertive but not agressive), very healthy and hardy (I don't think the roosters would be as hardy), good free rangers, and they are our best layers. They go broody occasionally. They lay nice dark eggs without breeders obsessing over it.

 

[KF0002]

Personally, we keep large fowl Welsummers in our laying flock. I find them to be the ultimate normal layer chicken, all rounders. Average in temperament (not so docile to be stupid, but they don't run away from you, assertive but not agressive), very healthy and hardy (I don't think the roosters would be as hardy), good free rangers, and they are our best layers. They go broody occasionally. They lay nice dark eggs without breeders obsessing over it.

I may have to get a few Welsummer hens when my old Marans hens all die off. I’ve never owned any but I’ve always liked the way they look.

 

[KF0002]

Gosh this night is going by so slow! I can’t wait to go home and see how many Buff chicks have hatched.