The primary goal of incubating eggs is to have an optimal hatch. One of the most influential factors in the incubation process, aside from management and breeder nutrition, is storing eggs prior to setting them in the incubator. Storage of eggs is completely within our control as flock owners and if we intend to be […]
Storing Eggs for Incubation Read More »
Part 2 of 2 in a series of articles about identifying healthy chicks by Clayton Botkin. Rump, Vent and Cushion Ensure the birds are clean from buildup of droppings or dirt accumulations around the vent. This tells you a lot about the conditions the babies were kept and reared in. Any indication of blood could
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Part one of two in a series about identifying healthy chicks by Clayton Botkin. This article is meant to address a common problem I see more and more among people purchasing birds at sales and auctions. Sales and auctions, while providing a great service to the small–scale poultry producers, also facilitate the sale of perhaps
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Often production characteristics are overlooked in exhibition birds, which is to the detriment of the flock. Productivity, livability and fertility are all tightly coupled and when you lose one, you tend to lose them all. One measure of a good, productive bird is abdominal body capacity. Birds with good body capacity have the abdominal capacity
Body Capacity: A Trait to Remember Read More »
This is part two of Clayton Botkin’s article regarding tips for buying a new incubator. Below are another 7 incubator tips to consider when buying a new unit or your first incubator. Be aware of warranty requirements. If registration is required, follow manufacturer instructions as soon as it arrives so it is not forgotten. It
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Bird keepers in any way, shape or form usually want to keep an incubator on hand in the event that their birds are at least one step of the way to successful reproduction in producing eggs. Here are some tips to consider if you are buying an incubator: Ask questions! The sales rep should be
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Breeding Cochin Bantams can be accomplished through normal mating procedures (Natural pen mating) or through a process of Artificial Insemination (A.I.). The vast majority of cochin breeders today use A. I. Once learned its easy, fast and in most cases gives one 90%+ fertility. I have been asked by many and often, “how do you
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Are you working with a breed that calls for muffs and a beard? Would you like to learn more about the genetics of muffs and beard (Mb)? Muffs and beard (Mb) is known as an autosomal incomplete dominant trait. It is an observable physical characteristic involving elongated feathers that form on the side of the
Muffs and Beard: The Genetics Read More »
Thought of the day is: Goals Without setting goals I have no idea if I am making progress in my breeding. I can be losing at shows but still meeting my goals for progress. I can only control the breeding and selection decisions I make. I cannot deny I dislike losing but losing forces me
Setting Goals In Your Breeding Program Read More »
Corrective mating of poultry is mating a bird that is weak in one area, to a bird that can offset that particular weakness. In some circles, this is referred to as “compensation mating.” Corrective Mating practices have been used for many years by a wide variety of animal breeders yielding amazing results. Lloyd Bracket, a
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