How many could you raise

[njk4597]

I've used the search feature but havn't found what I'm looking for.
How many would you guys say i could raise from two hens in a breeding season.
My plan it's to try to get em laying by Dec/Jan and collect all eggs to incubate once per week until march/April. I get 90% + hatch rates with my incubator/brooder set up.
How many would YOU expect to Pen. Thanks fellas

[Golden Buddha]

Originally Posted by njk4597

I've used the search feature but havn't found what I'm looking for.
How many would you guys say i could raise from two hens in a breeding season.
My plan it's to try to get em laying by Dec/Jan and collect all eggs to incubate once per week until march/April. I get 90% + hatch rates with my incubator/brooder set up.
How many would YOU expect to Pen. Thanks fellas

Two things to consider:

1. Productivity of your hen: If the hens are productive. a hen will lay about 5 eggs/wk, i haven't have a hen lay everyday.
2. The ratio of male to female: you may hatch 90%+ and say you have a 10% mortality. But how many males will you have from the ones you hatched?!

Hope this helps, Good Luck!

[Autkast]

I do that evey year. I get 20 to 30 eggs before she stops or wants to set on her eggs. I get two setting per year.

So lets say you hatched 40 eggs. Half are pullets, and not all are going to make it.

I get about 10 stags per hen a year that are worth keeping.

I hope that helps.

[springwater]

I usually put mine under lights around december and start hatching around late december or early January and hatch through April usually. It really depends on your survival rate and what kind of hatching percentage you are able to get, but I usually figure about 20 stags per hen if she is a good layer.

[Cossatot]

Anywhere from 10 -30. I let the hawks thin out the stupid/slow ones when they are, so I'd get about 15-18 six month old roosters to pen.

[njk4597]

Thanks guys. Buying a trio this year and I've always had 5to10 hens to lay for me. first year incubating this way as well. I can Pen about 30 and was debating a second trio. Think ill focus on one.

[DIESEL2007]

This year I bred two hens single mated to a cock. Got at least 60 stags out of them. There were more stags then pullets but I was shocked by how many came out of those two hens.

[chessykent02]

Originally Posted by Autkast

I do that evey year. I get 20 to 30 eggs before she stops or wants to set on her eggs. I get two setting per year.

So lets say you hatched 40 eggs. Half are pullets, and not all are going to make it.

I get about 10 stags per hen a year that are worth keeping.

I hope that helps.

If i understand the above correctly, it means that we can let a brood hen/pullet lay eggs 2 sets a year? Can someone confirm it to me, i am about to start breeding gamefowl.

[blades61]

i never raise for qaunity just quality but i am just a backyard breeder i would rather raise a dozen that i trust and could take better care of than a hundred that i couldnt give the proper care one of our most common mistakes trying to have to many breeds to quickly

[Rogelio Monzon]

Originally Posted by chessykent02

If i understand the above correctly, it means that we can let a brood hen/pullet lay eggs 2 sets a year? Can someone confirm it to me, i am about to start breeding gamefowl.

its recomended to let the hens do 2 settins per year ive let hens have 4 sittings per year..lol...

[turd ferguson]

Originally Posted by blades61

i never raise for qaunity just quality but i am just a backyard breeder i would rather raise a dozen that i trust and could take better care of than a hundred that i couldnt give the proper care one of our most common mistakes trying to have to many breeds to quickly

i'd agree with you, my creedo since i'm a backyard breeder too and have no space for wack ass birds.. also the birds deserve the good time to care for to set them for their full potential. i have a pair and have never bred so will be my first time but i would think like you, keep my flock small so i could give my undivided attention...

[PeterJBen]

Originally Posted by turd ferguson

i'd agree with you, my creedo since i'm a backyard breeder too and have no space for wack ass birds.. also the birds deserve the good time to care for to set them for their full potential. i have a pair and have never bred so will be my first time but i would think like you, keep my flock small so i could give my undivided attention...

While having a small flock is good because you can give them all the attention they deserved on the contrary you do not have much to choose from to show or breeding material. On my opinion and this is my opinion, I would breed as much from a good selected proven birds, this way I will a better chance to select much more better birds and then cull the rest. But like I said this is my own opinion and also it depends on the size of your place.

[turd ferguson]

Originally Posted by PeterJBen

While having a small flock is good because you can give them all the attention they deserved on the contrary you do not have much to choose from to show or breeding material. On my opinion and this is my opinion, I would breed as much from a good selected proven birds, this way I will a better chance to select much more better birds and then cull the rest. But like I said this is my own opinion and also it depends on the size of your place.

yes definately!!! if i had a farm like alot of you guys in more rural areas i would totally get more like you said to choose from just i only got an acre lot and in the city so my flock must be kept small! but thats why after graduation will definately get a bigger place!

[Rogelio Monzon]

Originally Posted by turd ferguson

yes definately!!! if i had a farm like alot of you guys in more rural areas i would totally get more like you said to choose from just i only got an acre lot and in the city so my flock must be kept small! but thats why after graduation will definately get a bigger place!

i also have an acre and have the farm in the city i really dont care i raise as many as i want to...when the code enforment come to your house just kick them out......

[turd ferguson]

Originally Posted by Rogelio Monzon

i also have an acre and have the farm in the city i really dont care i raise as many as i want to...when the code enforment come to your house just kick them out......

Haha yes! Just some acreage i have i use as horse stables as well maybe if my dad gets rid of some i could make
More space for more birds.... Also, with my work and university schedule i cant have too many