Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Piet]

I thought you were in BC Call Ducks, yes east coats is even more money for grains. I live just south of Calgary and cerial crops are about all we can grow here. Gjensen, yes its enough wheat, but the cows and pigs like it too and so makes it easy for us to play with recipes. So we are fortunate here for certain things, but we pay for it with these hard winters, it is so cold, long and just dragging. Piet

 

[3riverschick]

20 acres is a lot of wheat.

I wonder what would happen if you planted spelt instead of modern hybrid wheat?
I wonder if the birds would do better on a more primitive wheat like spelt? Also of
you could sell any extra spelt to people would time what for their cooking?
Maybe help offset the cost of the endeavor?
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

but we pay for it with these hard winters, it is so cold, long and just dragging. Piet

You got that right, Piet. We were going fine here prepping for Spring hatching. Then those 2 polar vortexes hit in Jan. and everything is out the window,

. Warm and cold extremes played havoc with their laying season. Frostbitten combs, etc.

So my schedule is out the window. The birds need time to recoup and I will be hatching late this year. I was prepared for 10 below, but not 30 below .

What frustration,
Karen

 

[gjensen]

I thought you were in BC Call Ducks, yes east coats is even more money for grains. I live just south of Calgary and cerial crops are about all we can grow here. Gjensen, yes its enough wheat, but the cows and pigs like it too and so makes it easy for us to play with recipes. So we are fortunate here for certain things, but we pay for it with these hard winters, it is so cold, long and just dragging. Piet

We have our upside in the south eastern US. Everything comes at a cost though.

 

[gjensen]

I wonder what would happen if you planted spelt instead of modern hybrid wheat?
I wonder if the birds would do better on a more primitive wheat like spelt? Also of
you could sell any extra spelt to people would time what for their cooking?
Maybe help offset the cost of the endeavor?
Best,
Karen

I do not know what spelt is. Well, I think I do, but not certain.

 

[hellbender]

I do not know what spelt is. Well, I think I do, but not certain.

Spelt is great..I love it but what would it cost to feed even a small flock of birds? Or just for snack time?

 

[3riverschick]

I do not know what spelt is. Well, I think I do, but not certain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt
http://www.jovialfoods.com/einkorn/einkorn-genetics.
html http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/benefitsofspelt.htm

The US started hybridizing wheat in 1951. Before that, we had been eating the same wheat since circa 1700. It was called Spelt. Modern wheat has been hybridized so many times, now the human body can be reactive to it instead of assimilating the modern wheat. Maybe some have noticed the recipes don't work as well now for baking in cookbooks made before 1952? I know my Betty Crocker 1951 Picture Cookbook, the recipes my mother made for me as a child don't work so well anymore. I was born in '51. When the book was written, we were cooking with spelt or spelt which had only been hybridized once. Within the last decade, spelt has become a food sought by those who cannot tolerate modern wheat or simply want to avoid modern wheat. It makes lovely baking. Biscuits come out light golden brown with a warm, nutty flavor.
Best,
Karen

 

[gjensen]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelt
http://www.jovialfoods.com/einkorn/einkorn-genetics.
html http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/benefitsofspelt.htm

The US started hybridizing wheat in 1951. Before that, we had been eating the same wheat since circa 1700. It was called Spelt. Modern wheat has been hybridized so many times, now the human body can be reactive to it instead of assimilating the modern wheat. Maybe some have noticed the recipes don't work as well now for baking in cookbooks made before 1952? I know my Betty Crocker 1951 Picture Cookbook, the recipes my mother made for me as a child don't work so well anymore. I was born in '51. When the book was written, we were cooking with spelt or spelt which had only been hybridized once. Within the last decade, spelt has become a food sought by those who cannot tolerate modern wheat or simply want to avoid modern wheat. It makes lovely baking. Biscuits come out light golden brown with a warm, nutty flavor.
Best,
Karen

I get you. Guess I did not know it by the name.

I have toyed with the idea of planting wheat for home baking etc. I was looking at the heirloom varieties for interest and the ability to save seed. Must not have wanted to do it too much.

 

[hellbender]

I am going to look at two flocks within the next month, one of Chanticleers and one of Naked Necks (both white), both are used for meat birds by some local farmers - gonna go and asses what the flocks are like - maybe adding two new breeds this year. That would give me choice between three breeds to use for 4-H this year. Thinking I will be coming home with chicks.... I should really look into some battery style brooders ohh and buying the feed by the ton! ($500 for a 1000kg's of feed or 0.5/kg or 22 cents/pound)

I'm happy you are considering the NN breed but keep in mind, If you are looking for egg production, be certain to access the flocks carefully because, like any other trait, egg production can be lost quickly if proper standards are ignored for even a generation.

 

[call ducks]

Quote: I will be assessing for egg production - but I can get that back in three or four generations. What I am more concerned about is assessing the frame of the animal - how wide the back is, how broad the breast is. How sturdy the legs are. Because correct me if I am wrong but is the Naked neck not more of a Meat dual purpose VS. and egg dual purpose?