Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Fentress]

Hmm. Good point. I know that if I lose the production value in the carcass of my Buckeyes, I've lost a lot. Some lines do better, some not so much, in that regard. I know I try to keep a balance between show quality and production, while I breed to the Standard. It's not easy, but satisfying to do so. I don't believe in throwing one thing out the window just to improve another.

Thanks for your replies everyone, as has been said before, this is just an awesome thread!

I would gladly post pictures of the culled spring cockerels (dressed) with breed, weight, management method etc., provided, but my brood is late this year. I will not cull until at least September. IMO, It would be interesting if others wanted to do this.

Mark

 

[NanaKat]

Just caught back up and want to chime in....
Breeding LF Columbian Wyandotte and BBS Cochins to the SOP and keeping egg and meat production in mind while breeding for preservation. Also run a flock of hatchery Australorp and Maran hens for egg/meat production. The Bantam selection of Rosecomb and OEGB are for both preservation and to maintain the bloodlines of a friend who has won show honors. Showing will not be out of the question some where in the future as my LF and Bantam breeders came from nicely shown bloodlines. And for the challenge of the process, I'm working on both a LF Birchen Wyandotte and a Blue Columbian Wyandotte. Because I like their personality..a few d'Anvers...thanks to a gift cock from Bob Bridges a few years ago.

So SOP first, dual purpose, preservation, enjoyment, challenge and a sense of contributing to the bigger picture. And we have the time, space and means to continue.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I think for me it was just "the challenge"....wanting to take a variety seldom seen and bring it back, as close to the SOP as possible and to spread the variety across the US again

Having fresh eggs is great and weather permitting, I enjoy a cold adult beverage and a sit with the birds

Not sure if I'll ever show or not, however, my youngest son is determined to show a pullet somewhere in the 2014 season (we'll see)

 

[ocap]

I enjoy coffee in the morning with chickens that just got out of the coop and are running to beat the others to the best tasting ticks, eggs are second and meat a distant third. I ordered nine different breeds because I enjoy the beauty and personality of the different kinds. Yesterday I was in the coop with the four week old chicks when a raccoon looked in and spooked the flock, glad the hardware cloth was in place. Nature at its best !!

 

[Robert Blosl]

I think for me it was just "the challenge"....wanting to take a variety seldom seen and bring it back, as close to the SOP as possible and to spread the variety across the US again

Having fresh eggs is great and weather permitting, I enjoy a cold adult beverage and a sit with the birds

Not sure if I'll ever show or not, however, my youngest son is determined to show a pullet somewhere in the 2014 season (we'll see)

NORMALLY THE PARENTS HELP THE KIDS WHEN THEY SHOW AS YOUTH THEN AFTER THEY GROW UP AND GET OUT OF THE HOBBY THE PARRENT MISSES THE FUNOF GOING TO THE SHOWS. SOME TIMES I GET EMAILS FROM MOMS AND DADS WHO USE TO SHOW AND THE KIDS SEE THEIR OLD PICTURES WHEN THEY WHERE KIDS OR HERE FROM GRANDMA THAT THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN SHOWING IN 4H THAT THEY WANT TO DO IT.

SCOTT U DO NOT HAVE TO SHOW YOUR BIRDS YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL FOR YOU AND SOME DAY WE WILL SEE ONE OF THEM IN THE POULTRY PRESS. LOVE THE POSTS SO REFRESHING TO SEE. THATS A JOKE I GOT CAPITAL LETTERS ON THIS POST AND JUST RELIZED IT. GETTING BETTEER ABOUT A WEEK AWAY FROM MAYBE NORMAL. BOB

 

[cluck-cluck]

LOL, I'm glad you're feeling better Mr. Blosl!

I'm wondering if anyone has ever calculated the cost of raising egg laying chicks for 5 months which lay 6 eggs a week only to have them lay for 2 years then discarded vs raising a chick 5 months which lay 4 eggs a week and last 6+ years? I mean, those 5 months of feeding with no productivity? Hummm maybe I can answer my own question:

5 mo. no eggs at 4/wk = 86 eggs
6 years 4 eggs / week = 1248 eggs
total eggs laid 1162
total eggs per year = ~ 180 eggs from birth / per year total for all the feed they eat

5 mo, no eggs at 6/wk = 129 eggs
2 years 6 eggs /week = 619 eggs laid
total eggs laid = 490
total eggs per year = 245 eggs from birth

I'm trying to incorporate the cost of feeding 'em into the equation here in a round about way. I guess the big egg producing facilities do make more by going through a bunch of birds. But for someone like myself, a healthy bird, laying moderately for a long period of time is worthwhile. But it looks like, if I were selling eggs, I would definitely lose the edge

 

[Fred's Hens]

Of course I've done the math.

If one is in this only for the eggs or you have an egg business that nets amounts of money that truly make it worthwhile, say 25-30 layers or more, producing $40 a week in sales and if this money is really important to your business or family's economy, then having the super layers, fast to lay, and lighter on feed hybrids is the way to go.

However, if eggs only really "net" you, not gross sales, but net $15 bucks a weeks, say $1 profit on 15 dozen eggs sold, then it just wears you out after awhile. You can only sharpen a pencil so many times. Crunch the numbers and be serious all, and I do mean all, true costs and margins and ask yourself if working this hard for less than a buck an hour on the egg hamster threadmill is really worth it.

To some folks, perhaps it is, so I judge no one.

Anyhow, I've "done the math" on the whole egg sales things for years and years. A few years, I decided that as I got older, the answer for me had changed or evolved. I have tilted much more to the enjoyment and satisfaction side of this. Heritage birds produce good poop too, so the gardens don't care. LOL Live birds constitute a much large portion of our farm report and true bred birds return pretty good returns on that score.

My values/goals today are not what they were even 5 year ago. I mostly want to look at gorgeous birds the rest of my days on this earth. It is just a simple pleasure. Time in life kind of thing.

That is my personal story. Everyone has come to their conclusions about this keeping of chickens.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I was kind of "thinking out loud" and wondering if there might be hope of the industry changing, but I see it is highly unlikely :/ Since I give away all the eggs we don't eat to family and friends, it really doesn't matter to me either

 

[cbnovick]

• I love quality birds. Chickens especially!!
• I believe in the SOP--aka 'poultry bible'
• Feathers are so amazingly beautiful!!
• Eggs are amazing---essential to baking and cooking plus nutritious and beautiful!
• Good Chicken stock/broth is hard to beat in the universal culinary realm...historically significant as well. Chicken soup is perhaps some of the most widely held 'comfort food'...and how about crispy fried chicken or buffalo wings?? up there with Filet or ribeye for me!
• As Scott has mentioned before...nothing beats 'chicken T.V.' either with morning coffee/tea or evening cocktails--that much better
  

I love everything about raising chickens...from egg to adult....I have shown before with 4-H and FFA when younger...I am looking forward to entering a few select shows this year. I would love to get my birds hands on evaluated by an expert. I am looking forward to my Buff Rocks growing out and going from there. Still enjoying my ringlet barred rocks...At some point we will relocate to a real acreage and then I can really start to 'hone' poultry breeding/husbandry on a more intense level.

I have learned so much from this thread....I appreciate all the veterans helping out us enthusiastic amateurs ( insofar as SOP breeding)

BEST THREAD ON THE BYC IMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Hi Bob,
If you want to use caps , we don't mind, We know you aren't shouting.
Best,
Karen