Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Knight Family on November 04, 2010, 14:28

Title: Breeding?
Post by: Knight Family on November 04, 2010, 14:28

Ok am I mad,

I picking up 6 POL's and 3 Ex batts this weekend to add to my reduced flock of 7 girls. but looking at the cost of buying the POL's (a fair bit of csash). I've started thinking is it worth getting a cockrell and make my own chicks.

Now Pro's:

* No POL purchases
* Kids get to see chicks

Now Con's:

* Noise bird (In country side so no real issue
* What do I do with Cockrells that are extra.....

I know this sounds daft and I'm sorry if its a stupid question, but if we have a cockrell then wont most of our eggs get fertilised. So does this make a difference for gate selling them? Would I need to test ?

Thanks for the help in advance

Title: Re: Breeding?
Post by: joyfull on November 04, 2010, 14:37

if you have a cockerel running with your girls always advise you buyers to keep refigerated and to use within 21 days.
Please bear in mind that you could be unlucky and end up with all boys.

Title: Re: Breeding?
Post by: evie2 on November 04, 2010, 14:41

Wouldn't it be better buying eggs or young chicks, some cockerels can be very noisy and if you have neighbours they might complain.

Remember that question I asked all those weeks ago about gender and heat when incubating eggs :lol: :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: Breeding?
Post by: Knight Family on November 04, 2010, 14:46

Thanks Joyfull,

I have a feeling we wont bother, as it would be only me eating chicken. Plus not sure its worth the hassell with me selling the eggs.

Title: Re: Breeding?
Post by: orchardlady on November 04, 2010, 19:31

I don't own an incubator and so rely on the occasional broodie. Having chicks is delightful especially if you have a broody hen doing all the hard work. You don't need a cockerel there are plenty of breeders who sell fertile eggs so it's nice to do it once for the children. As for excess cockerels that is always a problem...finding a new home is difficult.

Title: Re: Breeding?
Post by: death of rats on November 06, 2010, 20:47

I send my purebred silkie cockerels and hens to livestock market. No money in it but it pays for some feed and I get to choose the hens i want to keep.