Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Canieldonrad]

They may not be heritage to some people. But they are certainly an older breed with a rich history in Germany. I had 5 Russian Orloffs hatch out. I had ordered Mahogany(or Red), and had 3 come out almost White. However I am still very happy, and even more so if it is more than one variety to be honest.



My guess is that they will end up a shade of Red, maybe light maybe dark. But either way they will be something interesting. Of course I would be delighted to see a buff or white come out, it would be something neat to work with in the future.



This will be a project breed, something to tinker with. I will likely breed them regularly but not in great numbers. In the next few years, if I have something to work heavily with, I may sell eggs at local shows to anyone else interested.

 

[Pathfinders]

Hello Pathfinders. Please forgive my ignorance, I am new to poultry. I am reading everything I can find trying to learn all I can. Can you please tell me what is F5? Please explain so a newbie can understand.Thank you

Generation notation:

The original members of a mating are referred to as the parental (P) generation. The first generation of progeny from the parental cross is referred to as the first filial generation, F1. The progeny of a cross in which one or both of the parents are from the F1 generation is an F2 generation (F1 x F1 = F2) and so on.

So F5 is the fifth filial generation.

 

[gjensen]

Sorry for the hijack, but I was just discussing "station" with a friend offline.

I'm curious what folks will say about this - how important is station in poultry? Is it something that's a bit of an "afterthought" so to speak, or are there folks who pay very close attention in their breeding choices to it? If a bird is supposed to posess, say, a medium station and has, instead, a high station, would they be faulted for this at a show? And what of a bird that is heavier than the standard calls for; would this bird not naturally have a higher station? Would he then be faulted twice (heavy/high station), or would this be looked at as one thing?

Station, as I understand the term, is more about posture than type. It is directly related to the position of the legs. Station is more often discussed with game breeds, especially with thos that have especially high stations. For examples moderns.

 

[chickadoodles]

ty

 

[chickadoodles]

Generation notation:

The original members of a mating are referred to as the parental (P) generation. The first generation of progeny from the parental cross is referred to as the first filial generation, F1. The progeny of a cross in which one or both of the parents are from the F1 generation is an F2 generation (F1 x F1 = F2) and so on.

So F5 is the fifth filial generation.

Thank you so much Pathfinders. I appreciate your help.

 

[gjensen]

I agree with YHF.
Without proper station ( as defined above), I cannot have a proper bird. Personally, for me it is key to a proper bird. In Sussex,
if I could only select for one thing, it would be "station". Because in Sussex, the station is so closely aligned
with production qualities, " if it isn't stationed like Sussex, it is not a Sussex."
Best,
Karen

The Sussex have a low station. Their production potential is in their type. Their realized productivity is in unseen genetics. Cut the head/neck off, the legs and thighs off, and remove the tail from the Ideal Sussex and what is left is what gives the bird productive potential. Still might not have it though, because a bird can look the part and not play the part.

 

[gjensen]

Reese/Jwhip/KathyinMo



Here's two cockerels to look at. The one in the center, facing the camera. His legs weren't quite as bad as the photo shows because the click caught him shifting his weight. Nonetheless, he was culled and didn't make the final round of selection.

The other cockerel on the far right is worth noting. Hopefully you can see just nicely he is stationed. We liked this guy enough that he became our Beta, or #2 breeder. His leg stance wasn't the only reason, but it sure helped his chances.

The little cockerel, sort of hiding behind the pullet on the lower left? Look how small he was. But we never lost track of him. He wasn't even in the running for selection until his 10th or 11th month. Then? KaBOOM. He just exploded. I think a lot of folks not used to the way these birds mature might have culled him as a runt.

I am spending more and more time looking at the legs, and watching how a bird walks. I rid the flock of all structural deficiencies without apologies.

I found with big birds like that strain of Rocks, that the potential for weak legs can be greater. I also found that the same strain when raised more naturally, and fed a ration not quite as "hot", I had less birds reveal the weakness.

I had a Catalana cockerel that I had hopes for that had to go. Weak legs. Otherwise he had many improvements over my starter birds. I rid myself of the temptation. The solution is hatching more I guess. Can't have that in an already inbred strain.

I had a similar experience with those Rocks. If you can't give them a year or a little more, you cannot give them enough. The pullets did not require the same level of patience.

 

[AletaG]

Well, it's a critically listed breed by albc http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/russian_orloff.html and while they aren't exclusive to N. America, why would that remove them from the list? good luck, if they are on that list, you may have quite the challenge ahead!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I am spending more and more time looking at the legs, and watching how a bird walks. I rid the flock of all structural deficiencies without apologies.

I found with big birds like that strain of Rocks, that the potential for weak legs can be greater. I also found that the same strain when raised more naturally, and fed a ration not quite as "hot", I had less birds reveal the weakness.

I had a Catalana cockerel that I had hopes for that had to go. Weak legs. Otherwise he had many improvements over my starter birds. I rid myself of the temptation. The solution is hatching more I guess. Can't have that in an already inbred strain.

I had a similar experience with those Rocks. If you can't give them a year or a little more, you cannot give them enough. The pullets did not require the same level of patience.

Very well said, George.

 

[thedragonlady]

Wynette....thanks for posting this.

She and I were discussing these pictures this morning of my 7 month old Columbian Plymouth Rocks (NOT great pix, just cell phone shots after I let them out this morning)














Several pictures of the same 4 cockerels. The question we were discussing was "whether they were too large in station/too tall" for the Plymouth Rock standard. NO DOUBT they still have some filling in to do, and they currently range in weight from 8lbs to 9 lbs 2oz. They do look a bit lanky

Now maybe with a few pictures behind the inquiry, someone can help us better answer this question

THANKS

I know which one I'd swipe... The second photo, K on the right