Coffee anyone ?

[fuzzi]

@fuzzi I love the Spangled pics. I almost got Spangled Cornish instead of my Dark Cornish and recently got 6 Spangled old english game chicks. One nice thing about the hens color is that it is different than all the other breeds so it's easy to let them free range as chicks until it's time to separate and pen into specific breeding pens. I'm not sure how many of the other varieties hens are the same color as each other. Also a speckled pattern is good camo for predators and a "pretty" color to people.

Thank you! They're actually bantam Speckled Sussex. They're hatchery quality, though I'm trying to breed the best to the best. I rehomed two "orangy" roosters, but kept one hen despite her yellow shanks. I don't breed her due to that fault, but she still provides me with eggs. And conversation.

Esther

 

[CLSranch]

They're hatchery quality, though I'm trying to breed the best to the best. I rehomed two "orangy" roosters, but kept one hen despite her yellow shanks. I don't breed her due to that fault, but she still provides me with eggs.

Rip Stavely (last name may not be spelled right) famous for his RIR says keep the 1 in 10 rule. Out of 10 chicks you'll only get 1 that goes into the breeder pen. Some get straight culled as chicks then those who pass that may still end up in freezer camp or as egg layers or whatever just NOT in the breeding pen.
That's how you get better breeding stock. By NOT breeding those who are borderline, you only have the above borderline and eventually all your birds are better for it. Good nutrition and hard culling can help all breeds AND species really