Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

Walt did this bird also get champion large?

I believe the Brahma was champ LF. Best of show was a African goose and res a black Rosecomb.

Don't you have some pics of the large fowl Zack?

w.

 

[ChickChickChicky]

Some folks have been talking about lice and mites, I have also used ivermectin pour-on, but am now using wood ashes for my birds to dust in. They seem to love dustbathing in the ashes and I haven't seen any lice or mites since I started providing it for them, I believe in doing things the easy way whenever possible, and as long as this is effective I'm all for letting the birds treat themselves. I don't have a woodstove but a quick post on craigslist got me a continuing source for all I'll ever need.

 

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by 3riverschick

=============================================
Hi snowbird,
Looking at your photos. What a lovely set-up. Love the barrel idea. Who do yu put in them and for what purpose? this might be one way for me to stretch the space I have if the purpose fits. Thanks so much for sharing! For me, the trick is to do it without overcrowding the ground.Howdo you handle birds in the barrels in wintertime? or don't you use them then?
Thanks for sharing,
Karen
==============reply by snowbird:
Karen, I built the Barrel wall about 10 year ago to house Brahma Bantam Males and the winter does not hinder their use at all. I wish I had of used only two barrell high and raised the bottom up to a starting point of 36". I have a good woodworking Vacuum that I use to clean them out and put the shavings back in with also. These can be used for any of the Large fowl except the larger males in some breeds. I have kept the Marans in these without a problem. The Buff Brahma bantams done better in these than if they were inside in winter. I have RIR bantams and White rock bantams and they do good in the barrells. The RIR bantams are taken out during winter months as their combs will freeze. These are setup facing the north so no water gets into them here in Michigan.
================================= new question:
That's sounds real good. What purpose do the birds have that live in the barrels? is it every day accomodations? Or breeding pens? Rooster condos? sitting hens? In the winter, how do you handle foul weather, wind and rain? Do you put an overhang up? Burlap over the opening or?
Thanks,
Karen

Karen, When you start showing fowl you will find that you need extra cages to seperate out the birds. A male coming out of a male pen will not show as well as one that has his own quarters. The barrels are only used for holding cages. I have other inside cages I do all the single matings in . In my location if you face the wall to the notrh you will not get the rain and snow blowing into the Barrels as the wind comes from the south west. The mosthealthy fowl I have ever owned came from these Barrel cages. This wall was copied from the Gamefowl breeders setup.

 

[3riverschick]

Karen, When you start showing fowl you will find that you need extra cages to seperate out the birds. A male coming out of a male pen will not show as well as one that has his own quarters. The barrels are only used for holding cages. I have other inside cages I do all the single matings in . In my location if you face the wall to the notrh you will not get the rain and snow blowing into the Barrels as the wind comes from the south west. The mosthealthy fowl I have ever owned came from these Barrel cages. This wall was copied from the Gamefowl breeders setup.

=====================
Ah. Thanks, snowbird!
Well, it will be a bunch of months before I think of showing. I have to get the breeding season behind me first. It should be finished by the end of March. I was thinking of letting the girls go broody, if they wanted to, after that and raise some of their own chicks. I read a bird who has raised her own chicks, then moulted out, has better new feathers grow in for shows later on. Whatdayathink?
Karen

 

[snowbird]

=====================
Ah. Thanks, snowbird!
Well, it will be a bunch of months before I think of showing. I have to get the breeding season behind me first. It should be finished by the end of March. I was thinking of letting the girls go broody, if they wanted to, after that and raise some of their own chicks. I read a bird who has raised her own chicks, then moulted out, has better new feathers grow in for shows later on. Whatdayathink?
Karen

Karen, I do not hatch chick under a hen, Nothing can be here at my place that has not been vaccinated for Mareks. During season I hatch one day a week and vaccinate when I take chicks out of the hatcher at day old. As for the letting the hen hatch and grow out the chicks to be better prepared for showing feather wise. I have found that plenty of space and not crowded. All of my young males are penned when they think they are grown up. They just develop better without having the Alfa male knocking them around.

 

[winniem13]

Walmart has 18 gallon storage containers (red or green of course) for $2.50. I saw a lot of people transporting birds to shows in them ( with ventilation holes)--stackable, lightweight and holds stuff like shavings. Why didn't I think of that? Dog kennels are heavy and awkward. I wouldn't put a LF crested bird in the 18 gallon size, but others should fit. Does anyone else have any other transportation tricks? I'll be sporting RED. ones this year!

 

[Lacy Blues]

How about a collapsible wagon to load them all onto?

 

[winniem13]

Some folks have been talking about lice and mites, I have also used ivermectin pour-on, but am now using wood ashes for my birds to dust in. They seem to love dustbathing in the ashes and I haven't seen any lice or mites since I started providing it for them, I believe in doing things the easy way whenever possible, and as long as this is effective I'm all for letting the birds treat themselves. I don't have a woodstove but a quick post on craigslist got me a continuing source for all I'll ever need.

I've read about that too, and we've sprinkled it on the roosts, but should I dump a big pile for dust bathing?

 

[winniem13]

How about a collapsible wagon to load them all onto?

Do you mean like the red rider wagons?

 

[The Old Yolks]

Awhile back I read a post about kids not wanting to eat the birds your family grew. This was my solution to that potential problem with my Grand-daughter. Get them involved in the process. We harvested 50 birds in Dec, she was there for the entire process and was even given the job of putting them into tubs after cleaning. The child is amazing and she likes how they taste "they are better then the store Grammy". I love hearing those words. Sorry it's a little off track Bob, but they were from a flock of hatchery Orpington's. I'm doing my part to convert all my friends over to SOP birds so we cleaned out a neighbors coop, does that count

. Thank you all for continuing to make this forum one of my favorite sources of information.