Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[3riverschick]

I feed mine alfalfa leaves, and when bale alfalfa prices spiked I gave them pelleted alfalfa soaked in a little water. Didn't know it helped with conditioning, seems to keep the egg yolks nice and orange.

Decided to stop over thinking and just try a few varieties this year. See if I like them then I can worry about narrowing down next year. I'm looking at GS Hamburg, RC RIR, and either a buff or, gasp, white Wyandotte or Chantecler.

The rub, I have to either find local sources so I can get a few of each, or order from one location. I can get the first three through Mr Urch but I am a little concerned about the distance and climate change (I'm in Oregon). Input?

Oh , White Dottes sound nice. Single color and maybe you can find ones from a winning show line. That way while you are working to understand the multi-colored breeds you'll have a simpler breed to work with in the beginning. I started out with wild-type. A tough color to winnow to pure-breeding state. Finally just got discouraged and went to a two-color breed which happened to be Colombian. Much easier to understand, smile. There's a great old article about acclimatizing fowl from early last century.. Basically it says to ship the birds to you location at the time of year when you have several months weather the same as the place they came from,. You and Urch are on about the same latitude, aren't you?
Karen

 

[Yellow House Farm]

I feed mine alfalfa leaves, and when bale alfalfa prices spiked I gave them pelleted alfalfa soaked in a little water. Didnt know it helped with conditioning, seems to keep the egg yolks nice and orange.

Decided to stop over thinking and just try a few varieties this year. See if I like them then I can worry about narrowing down next year. I'm looking at GS Hamburg, RC RIR, and either a buff or, gasp, white Wyandotte or Chantecler.

The rub, I have to either find local sources so I can get a few of each, or order from one location. I can get the first three through Mr Urch but I am a little concerned about the distance and climate change (I'm in Oregon). Input?

Hmmm.... there are ome nice GS Hamburgs in NY. Warren Carlow has excellent RC RIR. There are excellent WHT Wyandottes and Chanteclers in New England. So you're in NY, huh? I'm not sure whp ships, but they'd be great line to get a hold of. The first breed, the GS Hamburg, is fundamentally different from the others. It would be a geat combo with one of the others in that respect. I've enjoyed the dichotomy of the Ancona and the Dorking. Their difference feeds diverse interests.

Don't worry about the climate change. They're going to an easier one.

 

[RiddleMe]

I feed mine alfalfa leaves, and when bale alfalfa prices spiked I gave them pelleted alfalfa soaked in a little water. Didn't know it helped with conditioning, seems to keep the egg yolks nice and orange.


Decided to stop over thinking and just try a few varieties this year. See if I like them then I can worry about narrowing down next year. I'm looking at GS Hamburg, RC RIR, and either a buff or, gasp, white Wyandotte or Chantecler. The rub, I have to either find local sources so I can get a few of each, or order from one location. I can get the first three through Mr Urch but I am a little concerned about the distance and climate change (I'm in Oregon). Input?

 Oh , White Dottes sound nice. Single color and maybe you can find ones from a winning show line. That way while you are working to understand the multi-colored breeds you'll have a simpler breed to work with in the beginning. I started out with wild-type. A tough color to winnow to pure-breeding state. Finally just got discouraged and went to a two-color breed which happened to be Colombian. Much easier to understand, smile. There's a great old article about acclimatizing fowl from early last century.. Basically it says to ship the birds to you location at the time of year when you have several months weather the same as the place they came from,.  You and Urch are on about the same latitude, aren't you?
 Karen

Good point Karen, I hadn't thought of that but we are pretty darn close in latitude. I'll have to look into their weather patterns.

 

[Marengoite]

I know that eggs laid by hens fed marigolds are supposed to be rather healthy to eat.

Is there anyone in New England with some poultry wishes? There are some strong breeders around here:

White Wyandottes
White and Barred Rocks
SS Hamburgs
Langshans
White Chanteclers
Salmon Faverolles
SC and RC RI Reds
Buckeyes
SC White Leghorns
Andalusians
Dorkings
RC Anconas
La Fleche
Australorps
Cochins

Yellow House Farm,

Who is your local SSH breeder? I was going to order some chicks from Paul Hardy this spring if I was able to make some money off my DIY incubator. Was wondering who else had them as I only saw one pair of LF SSH at the Ohio National this year. Plenty of bantams, but I'm interested in the LF.

Thanks,

rick

 

[Bluetick340]

So what do we need to to do as fer as breeding methods to grade up average birds? Have been gathering eggs to set out of an ok australorp roo and my best 4 Pullets. I guess my plan on them this year is to to hatch as many as I can afford, and cull hard for a start next fall. Any suggestions? New breed is in the old reviled the new is in the old concealed.

 

[3riverschick]

So what do we need to to do as fer as breeding methods to grade up average birds? Have been gathering eggs to set out of an ok australorp roo and my best 4 Pullets. I guess my plan on them this year is to to hatch as many as I can afford, and cull hard for a start next fall. Any suggestions? New breed is in the old reviled the new is in the old concealed.

Well, I'll leave the breeding system advice to someone else. However, depending on the color of the Australop, you may be able to cull quite a bit by chick down which will enable you to hatch more chicks without needing to raise them for 6-8 weeks. I don't know Australop chick down, however, I am sure there are others on this thread who can wisely counsel you.
Best Success,
Karen

 

[Maggiesdad]

So what do we need to to do as fer as breeding methods to grade up average birds? Have been gathering eggs to set out of an ok australorp roo and my best 4 Pullets. I guess my plan on them this year is to to hatch as many as I can afford, and cull hard for a start next fall. Any suggestions? New breed is in the old reviled the new is in the old concealed.

For basic info, start with the ALBC's improvement PDFs here .

For details, go back and read this whole thread.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Yellow House Farm,

Who is your local SSH breeder? I was going to order some chicks from Paul Hardy this spring if I was able to make some money off my DIY incubator. Was wondering who else had them as I only saw one pair of LF SSH at the Ohio National this year. Plenty of bantams, but I'm interested in the LF.

Thanks,

rick

APA Judge Erik Nelson has been breeding them for ages.

 

[Marengoite]

APA Judge Erik Nelson has been breeding them for ages.

Thanks. Will look him up. The "for ages" part is the most interesting. I've not found very many people that care much for the LF Hamburgs. Glad someone is.

Thanks again,

rick

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
This is a great little reference. I usually end up going thru it each year to see what's going on at the very small hatcheries.
Missouri is a great poultry State.This annual yearbook is a great place to find small flocks of poultry,
starting on page 13 of 66 . .:
2012-1013 : http://mda.mo.gov/animals/pdf/poultry_yearbook.pdf