Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Deerfield Acres]

There is a limited supply of homes for chickens. Why not fill those homes with the real thing rather than the wham bam birds that aren't preserving the breed properly for future generations? I dream of a world where money doesn't matter and hatcheries breed to standard.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

There is a limited supply of homes for chickens. Why not fill those homes with the real thing rather than the wham bam birds that aren't preserving the breed properly for future generations? I dream of a world where money doesn't matter and hatcheries breed to standard.

Seriously, all kidding aside. Who would rather have this...
(my hatchery BR girls that are in my layer flock)


When they could have this instead....
(one of my Good Shepherd Barred Rocks who weighs around 8 pounds and is as big as many of the hatchery type roosters I started with)

 

[Fred's Hens]

There is a limited supply of homes for chickens. Why not fill those homes with the real thing rather than the wham bam birds that aren't preserving the breed properly for future generations? I dream of a world where money doesn't matter and hatcheries breed to standard.

And hens don't blow ova ducts and get ascites after 6 months of laying.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Exactly, or meat birds that are doomed to a very short life of pain and hunger.

 

[jonih]

I just got my first chickens! Originally had planned an order from McMurray of twenty-five different birds, but I realized I'd ordered the shipment for the few days around my wedding anniversary. My husband informed me I am the "guy" in our relationship (having also blown off Valentines Day this year), and I cancelled my order for marital happiness. I think I'll be much more comfortable with the five chicks I got from my local feedstore. I got three barred rock pullets and two red sexlink pullets...along with two ducklings just for luck. The Barred Rocks are ADORABLE! Every time I put my hand down they all three come running and climb right up. SO excited to have my first chickens in adulthood. I had them as a kid and loved them then too. Here's a picture of one of my lab mixes taking it all in (don't worry...no unsupervised time and the chicks were safely locked away after I got their overnight hotel set up). The dogs are MYSTIFIED by these little buggers...especially one of the ducklings that squeaks when I pick it up.

 

[lualshannon]

Mark is a super nice guy and his birds are just awesome. Pics don't do them justice. His lights are always show stoppers, although I love the darks, here are the SC that I have from him.

Oh, wow! Simply gorgeous birds!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

I just got my first chickens! Originally had planned an order from McMurray of twenty-five different birds, but I realized I'd ordered the shipment for the few days around my wedding anniversary. My husband informed me I am the "guy" in our relationship (having also blown off Valentines Day this year), and I canceled my order for marital happiness. I think I'll be much more comfortable with the five chicks I got from my local feedstore. I got three barred rock pullets and two red sexlink pullets...along with two ducklings just for luck. The Barred Rocks are ADORABLE! Every time I put my hand down they all three come running and climb right up. SO excited to have my first chickens in adulthood. I had them as a kid and loved them then too. Here's a picture of one of my lab mixes taking it all in (don't worry...no unsupervised time and the chicks were safely locked away after I got their overnight hotel set up). The dogs are MYSTIFIED by these little buggers...especially one of the ducklings that squeaks when I pick it up.

I agree with you -- those babies are adorable! And so is your labbie!

My first birds were hatchery birds and they were very lovable. I absolutely loved them and spent literally hours with them. They were so tame I could go to the brooder and they would flock to me instead of away. Once they were bigger and outside I spent hours just watching them. I had several that would fight for a spot on my lap and some would perch on my shoulders. The problem was my hatchery birds were extremely fragile. I worked myself to death keeping them alive and still, it seemed the favorites are the first to go. I had Speckled Sussex and they are rather notorious for just dropping dead for absolutely no apparent reason. That is directly related to how they were bred. I've had extremely vigorous chicks who never got a sniffle with the same diligent management practices I used with the second group of chicks. (The first group was a whole other story!) Not a problem in anyway. Being new, I had no idea that hatchery birds were anything but good quality (not show quality) chickens of good vigor and health, they aren't.

Once they reached maturity it wasn't as difficult to keep them alive but periodically one would just drop. It was heartbreaking. For all the love I could give them, I couldn't give them soundness of body. I started with 55 of these because I did know birds don't come in show quality, you have to take less than perfect birds and work toward a better bird. I thought I would cull down to the best 5 and be set. Cull being defined as rehoming or processing birds I couldn't rehome. I didn't even know how to process but I was willing to discipline myself into learning and doing what was necessary, in order to provide healthier food for the table and a purpose for the excess roosters I would get from ordering straight run. At least the roos would have a life and not be ground up to nothing because all I ordered was pullets. I live on 5 acres so I don't have restrictions against roos. I do understand that many people do. But I could do my part and that's what I chose. I loved my hatchery birds and that love came with a ton of commitment.

I'm not in anyway criticizing hatchery birds for being a part of your life. I loved mine so much. I'm criticizing practices that encourage newbies to believe they are buying decent birds only to find they cannot even sustain a normal life span. Everything about the soundess of a bird contributes to its quality of life and the continuation of the breed. I loved my hatchery birds so much that I wanted to do better by the breed.

I ferment their feed, have them on grass, sprout grains for them in winter. In summer we chopped and froze chunks of vegetables, provided wading ponds and misters in order to keep them alive through the unusual triple digit heat that we experienced last year with no rain. We did that every single day for 2 months. Some of the most heat stressed birds ended up spending the night in my shower stall so they could cool off. That's how much I love my hatchery birds. There's no lack of love or commitment on my part for a hatchery bird and that's what has driven me toward a sounder one.

The real problem I have with hatchery birds is that there are only so many homes available for chickens. How many people get their hatchery birds only to decide they, themselves, are the reason their birds drop dead and they give up on keeping chickens? That's what makes me mad. With proper management, chickens should be simple to keep.

I wish you all the best with your chicks. Your BR's aren't notorious for dropping dead like my SSX and they are known to be fantastic layers due to other breeds bred into their line to keep their laying up. Hatcheries cannot possibly trapnest and cull for poor layers so they have to introduce leghorns into the line to keep production up. One of my good friends (not on this thread) has hatchery BR for layers. I took her along up to Frank Reese's place and she was stunned. There is such a huge difference in what they are supposed to look like. Her mouth was literally hanging open. She didn't hear me ask her a question because she was so shocked. She finally stammered out "I'm sorry, I had NO idea they were supposed to look like these!" Frank's birds look sound! You can just see it. She bought a pair of his 16 week olds. He helped her choose them. She is ultimately planning to replace her hatchery layers with Franks birds. She raises and shows Silkies and thinks she may show these as well. Frank's birds are not that expensive. Sixteen week old birds are only $12 each. Chicks are $5 each. That's a heck of a deal. Wouldn't it be lovely if your hatchery birds cost this much and were just as sound as his?

It's truly okay with me if you don't care about anything I've said. I don't know that I would have when I first started. I just want to encourage you that if your hatchery birds break your heart, don't give up. Keep trying and keep learning.

 

[ronott1]

I just got my first chickens! Originally had planned an order from McMurray of twenty-five different birds, but I realized I'd ordered the shipment for the few days around my wedding anniversary. My husband informed me I am the "guy" in our relationship (having also blown off Valentines Day this year), and I cancelled my order for marital happiness. I think I'll be much more comfortable with the five chicks I got from my local feedstore. I got three barred rock pullets and two red sexlink pullets...along with two ducklings just for luck. The Barred Rocks are ADORABLE! Every time I put my hand down they all three come running and climb right up. SO excited to have my first chickens in adulthood. I had them as a kid and loved them then too. Here's a picture of one of my lab mixes taking it all in (don't worry...no unsupervised time and the chicks were safely locked away after I got their overnight hotel set up). The dogs are MYSTIFIED by these little buggers...especially one of the ducklings that squeaks when I pick it up.

You will have so much fun with them! Congratulations!

Now you can spend some time researching breeds and deciding which Heritage types would be best for you.

Welcome to the world of BYC!

 

[Robert Blosl]

Does anyone know where we can locate some Rose Comb Dark Brown and Light Leghorns?

A guy is getting back into chickens who is now retired and wants Brown Leghorn. He would like Rose Combs if you know who has the top birds in the USA let us know?

Look above I need ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS. Hatcheries don't normally sell ROSE combs in the first place. Heck I do not know anyone who has ROSE COMBS. Maybe if I went to the OHIO Natioanl or Lucasville Ohio show. Urch should have some I think.




When someone asks me for H type Chickens I only can refer them to breeders I know or maybe Dewayne Urch or Dick Hortsman off the top of my head. I at least know the birds are true to breed and they will be happy with good stock like they have. Also, I do not know a lot of Leghorn people and this is the breed he wanted. I think once he get the bug and has birds like the Dark Browns shown in this picture he will venture to show his birds. Those are stunning and many of you have never seen such leghorns like this.

I had a dark male about 6 years ago this spring that survived a dog rade after I was out with surgery. I gave him to a friend in Okla and he said this male was one of the best he ever saw and mated him to this same line and got three sons as good as him. I had five light brown killed by the dog. How did it happen. I left the door open and let them run out during the day time not fenced and a five month old puppy came from out of no wear and killed all of them. They came from Atwood line from another friend. So much for my venture in Brown Leghorns.

I am glad you all feel that if a newbie asks for a source we try to find them the best we can. A lot of the super star breeders don't sell eggs or chicks period. It is the sub or customers of these breeders who might share there birds like so many have done with Reds, New Hampshire's and Plymouth Rocks these past two years. I would never tell a person to go to a hatchery unless and sometimes Mr. Fox at Ideal will send you some darn good birds. He has made

progress on some of his breeds and got good stock to share with beginners. We still need him and others to suppy the thousands of people who want poultry. There is no way we can get everybody into H chickens. First of all there heart is not in it and if you don't have the passion to be a preservationist there is no reason to do this. I like dogs like the one that is looking at the baby chicks. I don't need a Registered Dog or Cat I am happy with my shelter dogs and I raise money with my Pen Projects to help spade these poor dogs and cats. But when it comes to Standard Breed Chickens if you want them I will find them for you.

Thanks again for the nice pictures and those New Hampshire's look fine. That German Male don't have a lot of big time faults. I really like the pure Germans over the USA New Hampshire's. To me they look like the ones I saw that Kenny Bowles use to sell in the 1960s. and I am sure these are the ones he sent to Germany in the 1940s to help those people who lost all their chickens to WWII.

 

[Pozees]

Does anyone know where we can locate some Rose Comb Dark Brown and Light Leghorns?

A guy is getting back into chickens who is now retired and wants Brown Leghorn. He would like Rose Combs if you know who has the top birds in the USA let us know?

Look above I need ROSE COMB BROWN LEGHORNS. Hatcheries don't normally sell ROSE combs in the first place. Heck I do not know anyone who has ROSE COMBS. Maybe if I went to the OHIO Natioanl or Lucasville Ohio show. Urch should have some I think.




When someone asks me for H type Chickens I only can refer them to breeders I know or maybe Dewayne Urch or Dick Hortsman off the top of my head. I at least know the birds are true to breed and they will be happy with good stock like they have. Also, I do not know a lot of Leghorn people and this is the breed he wanted. I think once he get the bug and has birds like the Dark Browns shown in this picture he will venture to show his birds. Those are stunning and many of you have never seen such leghorns like this.

I had a dark male about 6 years ago this spring that survived a dog rade after I was out with surgery. I gave him to a friend in Okla and he said this male was one of the best he ever saw and mated him to this same line and got three sons as good as him. I had five light brown killed by the dog. How did it happen. I left the door open and let them run out during the day time not fenced and a five month old puppy came from out of no wear and killed all of them. They came from Atwood line from another friend. So much for my venture in Brown Leghorns.

I am glad you all feel that if a newbie asks for a source we try to find them the best we can. A lot of the super star breeders don't sell eggs or chicks period. It is the sub or customers of these breeders who might share there birds like so many have done with Reds, New Hampshire's and Plymouth Rocks these past two years. I would never tell a person to go to a hatchery unless and sometimes Mr. Fox at Ideal will send you some darn good birds. He has made

progress on some of his breeds and got good stock to share with beginners. We still need him and others to suppy the thousands of people who want poultry. There is no way we can get everybody into H chickens. First of all there heart is not in it and if you don't have the passion to be a preservationist there is no reason to do this. I like dogs like the one that is looking at the baby chicks. I don't need a Registered Dog or Cat I am happy with my shelter dogs and I raise money with my Pen Projects to help spade these poor dogs and cats. But when it comes to Standard Breed Chickens if you want them I will find them for you.

Thanks again for the nice pictures and those New Hampshire's look fine. That German Male don't have a lot of big time faults. I really like the pure Germans over the USA New Hampshire's. To me they look like the ones I saw that Kenny Bowles use to sell in the 1960s. and I am sure these are the ones he sent to Germany in the 1940s to help those people who lost all their chickens to WWII.

Bob, just wanted to say how happy I am to see others interested in RC Brown Leghorns. I am (sort of) patiently awaiting RC Light Brown Leghorn chicks from Duane Urch, and would like very much to locate RC Dark Browns later this year or next year. With unlimited resources I would raise all colors of RC Leghorns, but that isn't reality for me.