Excellent information.
Just a few years ago there were still several different Java lines out there. They still exist if you know where to go and who to talk with. Monte took Duane some birds because the size on Duane's can't match Montes'.
There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, but...
Don't know about this year, but last year when Duane sent me his price list day old chicks of standard breeds were $6 each with a minimum order of 25. I'm guessing they might be even higher than that this year.
That comes to a good sized bill for a bunch of day olds. Duane does have good Javas...
Actually it is very unusual for other colors to show up. Both Monte and myself have raised Javas for over a decade (he still has his: I let mine go last year); we have both hatched in that time more than 1000 birds and never a color except Mottled or Black.
The other colors are coming from...
Yes I'd wait until they are one year excepting for obvious faults like crooked beak and such.
In the meantime get a copy of the Standard and beginning studying the Java. Impossible to do this right without the Standard.
Also you need to join the SPPA and learn everything you can from Monte...
Marty,
I would suggest that you need to contact and visit Monte Bowen in Plevna. He can help you on putting your breed pens together and with excellent stock.
Talk about being ignored? LOL.
As I stated before, Craig Russell used Dr McGraw's birds with 3 other strains to produce the birds that he sent out to others including birds that went to Garfield Farms and Sandhill Preservation (Glenn Drowns).
You can surely make progress this way though I'd keep more like 10% as you never know what could happen to them. The only trouble you'll have is that if you are using only one line then what you want must be in the gene pool to begin with or you have shot yourself in the foot before you even...
Grading is the traditional breeding program whereby one breed is transformed into another. Though often accomplished in 5 or 6 generations, most who practise it successfully consider 8 generations to be 'pure' or 'straight-bred.'
For example, say you start with 6 diverse hens which include...
Not sure what breeding method y'all are utilzing with your Javas and there certainly is more than one way to do it.
The easiest method (to me) is the Rolling Mating method.
What you don't want to happen is happenstance copulation.
Are any of you Grading? If so, to what? (Just curious).
Sounds like you have a good start. If you can secure some Java hatching eggs from Monte then you'll be set for sure. Generally speaking, Monte's hens will be bigger than the Urch cocks!
I spoke with Craig Russell yesterday. Here is what he told me.
He started with 3 different strain of Javas: Urch, McGraw and one other in the late 80s early 90s. To these he added Henry Miller's black chickens which were, as he stated, 'very Java like.'
The Javas at the point Craig began...
Since many do seem to be interested in the Java breed here are some basics that should help as you read what others post.
Dr Albert McGraw was 'the' Java man in American for many years. He raised his line of Javas for many decades in Alabama. He has since passed away. I am not certain what...
A good story goes a long way doesn't it! That post is absolutely incredible.
Here are the facts:
Dr Albert McGraw, whom your article doesn't even name, is THE MAN responsible for the rescue/saving of the Java breed... at least the best flocks out there.
How could they be genetically...
As to the Auburns:
It is just as likely that the Auburns resulted from infusions of RIR or some production breed as to long latent recessive genes. As a matter of fact it is MORE LIKELY that they came from RIRs or Production Reds than those long latent recessive genes!!!
Call them what they...
As to Java Standards in other countries:
Any country has the right to have their Standard read as they like. To argue otherwise is ridiculous especially since Americans/Canadians have done this very thing for years with our own Standard. Though it may seem to make sense that the country of...