Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[bnjrob]

Sarah,

Everyone wants to make a new color in most breeds. While I understand the interest with newbies, it does nothing to improve the breed. I would have to say it runs the breed into the ground, as all these hybrids get put back into the good stuff. I have seen this for many years, but the new folks in poultry now are the absolute worst I have seen.

I don't know why, but for some reason, everyone seems to want the non-standard color Javas (Auburns, Whites, Silvers) - or blacks. That's great, but we need people to keep on going with the Blacks and especially the Mottleds too. We ended up with some cockerels turn up with Auburn coloring - out of our Black flock. They are living separately so as not to be breeding. We will probably "play" with them at some point, but we don't want them in our regular breeding flock. We ate the other two cockerels that turned up with auburn-y feathers.

 

[bnjrob]

Here are some of our Mottled Javas at 6 months old.



One of the Mottled cockerels this month - 10 months old.



One of the Mottled Pullets this month - 10 months



Black Javas - 7.5 months



Compared to the Mottleds, the Blacks have a LOT more faults. The Black pullets have worse pinched tails than the Mottleds and their tail angle is too high - pretty atrocious - with one of them having somewhat of a squirrel tail. The Blacks need considerable more work.

 

[3riverschick]

I found one, interesting, I wonder if anyone has any pics of some Blacks too?

This is going back in time for sure, compared to what breeds are normally posted up on this thread.

Jeff

=====================
Hi,
Judge Card says that when breeds are left to their own mating devices, they get lighter in color. Ok, there's white on the wing of the male. I presume it should not be there? (as it is not supposed to be there in anther mottled breed, Speckled Sussex). Plus the girls (unless the breed is supposed to be extensively mottlee), should have more black than white on them (per Judge Card). So... knowing we already have a Black Java, why couldn't the Mottled be crossed to the Black to insert more black producing genetics? Then wouldn't the black and white ratios get back to normal for the breed?
Karen

 

[fowlman01]

That's the case with any careless breeder regardless of their objectives or lack thereof. Anyone not breeding toward the standard is going to end up with some funny looking chickens.

My breeds are Appenzeller Spitzhauben and Brabanters. Both are available in only two colors in The USA. (Greenfire Farm has recently brought in several colors of Spitz, but they're not widely available yet). There is no APA standard for either currently, but the breeders I know trying to develop the other colors available in the EU are doing their best to breed toward the standards of the home countries.

I think a Tolbunt Appenzeller Spitz or Brabanter would be cool so long as everything else is according to standard. There are a number of colors that no longer exist even in the EU I'd love to see brought back.

Your comment struck me as ironic because poorly bred Spitz and Brabanters look like Polish.

I haven't seen any of those two that have a crest shaped like this. The Tolbunt is a Polish and should have this shape. If the other two poorly bred specimens look like Polish they probably have Polish in them.



Walt

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: The poorly bred Spitz and Brabanters don't look like good Polish, but the crests should tilt forward, not back like a Polish crest. They almost certainly have Polish in them.

 

[galanie]

I think once people calm down and no longer "want" all the pretty colors, they realize they need to be breeding blacks or some other basic color. I know with me, I started out wanting nothing but BBS. But no more colors. Even just this one seemed overwhelming to get right. Since then, I'd rather concentrate on a solid color. It is my hope that all new people such as I will eventually arrive at the same point. I do love looking at them, and Jubilee Orps are my all time favorite color. But I'll just be looking, thanks.

 

[hallerlake]

I think once people calm down and no longer "want" all the pretty colors, they realize they need to be breeding blacks or some other basic color. I know with me, I started out wanting nothing but BBS. But no more colors. Even just this one seemed overwhelming to get right. Since then, I'd rather concentrate on a solid color. It is my hope that all new people such as I will eventually arrive at the same point. I do love looking at them, and Jubilee Orps are my all time favorite color. But I'll just be looking, thanks.

When may I expect that to kick in? I had enough trouble limiting myself to two breeds. I love my polka dot birds. The solid colors don't interest me at all. Some day, when they become more available and affordable, I want chamois (white spangled gold).

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: The poorly bred Spitz and Brabanters don't look like good Polish, but the crests should tilt forward, not back like a Polish crest. They almost certainly have Polish in them.

This is an example of what a crest should not look like. I've seen much worse, too.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh but that crest is really cute! And an added bonus is that they can see out from under that puff.

 

[hallerlake]

Oh but that crest is really cute! And an added bonus is that they can see out from under that puff.

This what the crest should look like; upright and taller in the front. The Spitzhauben crest tilts forward a bit. One of the reasons I decided on Spitzhaubens and Brabanters is that their crests do not impeded their vision.