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Advice for newbie on breeding!

Tue, Jan 3 2012 03:14pm GMT 1
doverbeckchickens
doverbeckchickens
4 Posts
Hi,
I'm new to this site, i've been breeding chickens for about a year now as a bit of hobby, we have about 60 chickens and 10 ducks. It's always been for pleasure and i don't know too much about breeding so any advise would be appreciated as we trying to turn this into a business!

I have noticed our hens dont lay all year round, we have a mixture of breeds, can anyone recommend which breeds are best for laying? Which are good for sitting for hatching? If there are books you would recommend of sites to look at for more advise that wouls be great, as had a look at books but so many not sure which to get!

Thanks Doverbeck Chickens x
Tue, Jan 3 2012 03:30pm GMT 2
Jordan
Jordan
5 Posts
Hey Doverbeck Chickens :D. If you are looking for egg layers, then the hybrids are certainly the best, as they should lay all year round, producing 350 eggs a year! For broodiness, the purebreeds are more what you need, which you probably do, due to your birds not laying all year round. If you want a good broody though that goes broody frequently, then the pekin is a good one to go for, or pure breed light sussex are also one that people seem to think go broody quite often. Well, like you say, where do you start with the books! One that I have read, and think is quite good is entitled "choosing and keeping chickens" http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diary/263/choosing-keeping-chickens/ - here is the website about it. My dads website and mine also offer information about chickens. (www.henhousepoultry.co.uk) or (www.truebantams.co.uk). Hope this has helped.
Tue, Jan 3 2012 05:59pm GMT 3
Lewis
Lewis
113 Posts
You need to select the best birds (breed standards etc) and breed from them - try not to inbreed too much, buy in or swap cockerels to bring in new blood.

Pekins are easy to start with. Maybe get an unrelated trio of a good colour and set some eggs. You will be able to sex the boys from a few weeks old, then the girls can be sold - along with a couple boys if you're lucky.

Hybrids are the best for eggs, around 330 eggs a year and great to sell to beginners as pets.
Pekins will go broody, along with silkies and other pure breeds but the best broodies are Goldtop (Silkie X Sussex) which are really reliable. You may need an incubator and brooder if you want to set up as a business.
Do think carefully before putting all your money into it - keeping them all will be a lot of hard work and money and it will take a lot of time to build up a good reputation and make a lot of money from it.

Katie Thear has a few good books which are a good start Smile

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