Silver Pullet Poultry

Well, this has been one strange spring for us. The weather has been RAINY for months, and now, the last few weeks have been much drier and normal thank god! All the birds were sick, and I had a few die unexpectedly, but all in all, its been okay. Kept 8 Rhode Island Red pullets and two Rhode Island Red rosecomb rooster to start my breeding program with next year. Sold my Ameraucana rooster so now done with breeding those. The rest of the Ameraucana hens will just be layers if  I keep them and for this year, I probably will.

I have raised a lot of silkies, though had a bunch of unexpected birds. I tried to put a blue male over buff hens as I was told I would get buff, and possibly blue, but all I got was blue with buff coloring leaking through all over the place. They look like a birchen, but with gold instead of silver. All will be sold as pets. I also hatched some whites from a black pair, but those whites have red combs and yellow beaks so all of those will be sold too. I do have one silver gene white I intend on keeping, however, it also has a bit of pink in its comb so I think I will try to keep it anyway to see what happens.

Hatched out only 4 Dutch chicks, 3 for sure are roosters. Fertility has been awful after the birds finally started laying, and I figure its because my rooster is old. So, one of the newly hatched ones will be my new rooster for next year.

Also hatched something that Hubby marked as a buff egg, well, the chick looks splash, which should not be at all possible with the birds I have. I own no splash.

I am not sure how many chicks I hatched, but feel I have about 20 blue/black chicks outside, and about 15 or so whites. I do still have a few in the house and two more incubators left to hatch out of. I think I will try a shipment in of buff eggs to try to get a new rooster, but that will be the last for this season. We have cabinets to paint and install in the laundry room, and crown molding to install there so we need the hatching to stop.

Was going to paint the house this year but had to postpone that idea till we have some more money. At least we are both still working, which in this economy, is a blessing I guess. I heard on the radio today that the recession is slowing down. I hope they are right.

Hoping to get to the Feather Fanciers show this year in October, but due to work, will likely be the only show I get to, until next year when I can get some vacation time.