Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

Yard full o' rocks said:

Holly

When is the show when you will be showing the Columbians? I'm anxious to see what the judges have to say

I've settled on my breeder male for next year, I'll post a pix later this weekend. He is a STUD

Thanks

Scott

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3riverschick said:

Thread Foundation thoughts from Bob:

"You all have some good thoughts on these old and rare breeds. I hate to tell you the gene pool on a lot of breeds you may talk about are all watered down. Many hatcheries have them and sell them but if you got 25 from four different sources you are going to cull down to say twenty young birds and when you get done you are going to have a line that if scored on the old method of judging the point system you may get 85 on most of them and one maybe a 90. If you would take every trick in the book and line breeding chart it would take you 20 years and 100 chicks per year to get them up to say 94 points.

Some breeds out their are just gone. Some are washed up many are hanging at the 90 to 92 mark and have a chance. You have to look into the future and ask yourself how much time do I have to invest into this breed. Can I get partners and two or three of us work on a project and share birds. Can we import this same breed from Europe legally and save us some time if they are available?

In regards to a organization working to help improve a breed like the APA there are no programs. Only dedicated breeders will bring back these birds to what they where in the glory days. In many cases beginners want to get involved to save a breed and lack skills in breeding and hatching and rearing and wont make it to the three year mark. Many breeds are the most difficult to breed for color even for a seasoned veteran of 20 years let alone a rookie.

We have a old saying in the Rhode Island Red gang. Here Today Gone tomorrow. As popular as this endangered breed is most people are out of Reds in three years for they disobey the rules of breeding and color.

My hope by starting this thread is pick ten breeds of rare chickens study them and put them in order of importance of value worth fooling with. Then if you find three breeds worth working with try to find the best line of that breed you can locate and hope you can hook up with that breeder for guidance.

http://www.ezfshn.com/Tides/USA/Alabama


Having a breed and hatching them each year ,but not improving them wont help the breed.

Just for the fun of it, what breeds have you been thinking about to help and rebuild?????????????????????

Just my thoughts. Bob"

Edited by Robert Blosl - 5/5/12 at 6:09pm
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Yard full o' rocks said:

Here is one of the two Ks I'm holding over.....I have named him "Chief" after Vickie said he was in the "Chief 2 feathers phase"

Unless something changes, this is the cockerel I will be putting back over his mother and an aunt in December

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Fallchick said:

Nice!! I swear his twin lives here. How old is he? Are you going to show any? I'm excited to be working with them. Already had some peeps drooling over them. Still haven't ousted the other 2 cockerels yet. I've figured out that these birds are really slow to mature. If i still have room will keep them for a while and see what they look like say at 12 months. Hey?! What is the weight of that bird? Holly

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Yard full o' rocks said:

Here is one of the two Ks I'm holding over.....I have named him "Chief" after Vickie said he was in the "Chief 2 feathers phase"

Unless something changes, this is the cockerel I will be putting back over his mother and an aunt in December

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Fallchick said:

Quote: Bob was always trying to inspire interst in these birds-- and he succeeded.

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Yard full o' rocks said:

Holly

He was born in Jan 2013....he is pushing 10lbs. Your "twin" could have come from the same breeding pen. Does yours have any "stubs" between his toes?

I may show this guy and a pullet at Newnan....not sure yet

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