It sets off small warning flags, mostly for the TM and the use of "Heritage". I get suspicious when people feel the need to fluff up their birds with a story or marketing catch words like that. It's not a big enough flag that I'd run for the hills, but it would certainly put me on alert.
Try attending some local poultry shows and make connections. Your general area is one of the poultry hot beds in the country.
Your APA District Director is Dick Horstman who can be reached at [email protected]
Edit: NJ State Meet is -
Sussex County Poultry Fanciers New Jeresy Oct...
That's a really cool old picture! As far as what breed of chicken, It's either a Mottled Java or a Speckled Sussex (without color they'd look similar). Guessing by the amount and shape of the white, I'd guess Sussex. Both would have been around in the US at the time.
Definitely build your own, it's much cheaper. As far as winter, if kept dry and well ventilated chickens can handle extreme temperatures much better than most give them credit for. Dry and ventilation is the key to preventing frostbite. If breeding on a small scale, I'd build a bigger...
You could do that but it's slowing down progress most likely. The genetics getting "too close" is simple to avoid and there's literally hundreds of different line breeding methods, charts and plans that will let you do that. The reason so many hatch in greater numbers is it does simply allow...
The guys I know that do small matings typically don't let the birds range much or at all during breeding season. A 4'x4' pen is just fine for a breeding pair, for smaller large fowl or bantams I know plenty of folk that even use the larger dog crates (like great dance size), heck I'm a big fan...
Just going to piggyback here and say this is totally possible. It takes immaculate record keeping and single mating so you know exactly what birds produce what in their offspring, but I've known some very very good breeders that don't hatch very many birds, and I mean about 25 or less total a...
I just mean different ages, doesn't even have to be that far apart. I guess basically what I meant is you might be able to funnel 50 or more birds through that 12'x12' grow out pen, but by the time the birds reach 6 months of age, I wouldn't have more than 25 in there, but you might have 15 that...
I'm obviously not Scott, but I can share how I do some of these things. I don't typically make any culls before 6-8 weeks (preferably 8) when they go off lights, and then it's only for obvious things (leg color, twisted combs, side springs, foot deformities, breed specific stuff that might show...
Agree on the advice about the wild birds, but...DE does work for killing intestinal parasites. Have used it with success on horses, cats, dogs and chickens. I don't know what could have been different but I do know it has worked for me on multiple occasions, so this isn't just me saying "I...
It all depends on what you need to work on. Many large fowl do have issues with being undersized, in this case it'd be a bad idea to use a smaller bird. If your birds are over the standard weight but lacking type, then a smaller bird with good type is the way to go. You want to avoid doubling...
The only birds I have ever raised that it was too short for were my Langshans, would put boards underneath them at shows to keep cocks tails from getting torn up on roof of cage. I'd imagine large fowl modern game/shamo/asil might have issues too. Everything else fits pretty well. I would not...
As the others have said it does vary by breeder, around these parts for fully grown adult large fowl of good quality (actual good quality) you're in the $50 - $100 a bird range, barring special circumstances.
I would breed from the pullets only, but if you have space to hold onto hens I would. In case something happens, or longer term if the pullets don't produce better offspring. They should continue to produce better, but...it doesn't always happen for whatever reason.
I know from talking to folks that there's multiple inspectors down here. I haven't done it yet because I'm not done acquiring birds so it's much less hassle to get all my birds done and situated and then get the NPIP before next spring so I can ship.
It's a state by state thing. That's why everyone has different experiences. Just like some states test for more stuff than others and so on and so forth. I think whomever you talked to about the 30 bird minimum was just being lazy though, according to regulations it's just if you have less...
First cockerel is the superior bodied bird. Don't over complicate. Fix type first, then worry about color fine points. Although obvious color culls like the pullet on the right should still be considered. Backs seem long to me in pictures. Almost more Plymouth Rock then Wyandotte. I have always...
Honestly could be either. Length of body could conceivably help with the drop tail issue which would mean less cushion appearance. I do not see how depth of body could be connected.
However I could also see it being just a comment on the state of the birds at the time without it being connected.
It was a general comment. In 20+ years I've bred over 70+ varieties and breeds. Not something in proud of because I never focused like I should. Doing that now, with Langshans, Dorkings and probably Campines as a third breed although that's up in the air.