The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding

year of the cockerels

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HarryS:
Depends on the strain.  I make sure all my breeder birds I have no matter what breed have small combs on the males.  Still possible to sex them at young age on most birds. 

Tailfeathers:
I've got well over 50 Wheaten cockerels growing up that I'm sorting through too.  Not sure what the hatch ratio was because a lot of my imbalance probably has to do with me selling pullets at an early age to those who can't have cockbirds.  I'm finding more people this year wanna wait until the chick can be sexed rather than buy straight-run.

A quick note on the size of combs.  No doubt there's genetics involved but I have read a couple articles that tie the size of the comb to the temperature a bird was raised in.  It seems there is some evidence that the hotter temps create bigger combs.

God Bless,

Beth C:

--- Quote ---articles that tie the size of the comb to the temperature a bird was raised in.  It seems there is some evidence that the hotter temps create bigger combs.
--- End quote ---

Oh, I hope not!! If that's the case, I'm doomed! :o

I haven't actually done a head count to determine the ratio, but I sure do see a lot of cockerels running around out here.

Lee G:
Well I think you guys having a year of the rooster are lucky! If you consider the fact that males contribute as much (if not more) genetic diversity to the entire flock as their female counterparts, well, having an over abundance of testosterone to select from can only be a good thing.   ;)

I had hoped to have lots of cockerels to choose from myself, but now that everyone is grown up enough for me to sex, it has become clear I'm firmly in camp pullet for 2014. Grumble....lol


And nothin' like a nice, tight pea comb to complete the look of a well turned head. Oh lala!  :-*
It will be interesting to see if my import chicks from Maryland develop larger combs than my own home flock, born and bred in colder climes. And if so, if I can get the combs back down in size in a few generations…epigenetics is pretty fascinating stuff.  :)

John:

--- Quote ---If you consider the fact that males contribute as much (if not more) genetic diversity to the entire flock as their female counterparts,
--- End quote ---
That is such a great point and too often we just think about one cock over several hens, instead of several rotated over several or more pair and trio matings.

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