Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yellow House Farm]

Well, in the vain of posting pics, here are some of our 2013 Dorking pullets. Those in runs are older; those on range are younger. There are about 14 weeks of age difference between the oldest and the youngest birds.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Well, in the vain of posting pics, here are some of our 2013 Dorking pullets. Those in runs are older; those on range are younger. There are about 14 weeks of age difference between the oldest and the youngest birds.

WOW....if I could get some front ends on my Rocks like you have on these!!

 

[Yellow House Farm]

WOW....if I could get some front ends on my Rocks like you have on these!!

I'm sure you will. Your birds are coming beautifully. It's all a numbers game--of course presuming backdrop of correct selection criteria. Have you spent a fair amount of time on the ALBC website in the educational materials? Don Schrider did a great job assembling them, and they really help to get a handle on selection for meatiness.

I definitely look forward to photos of your birds each time. Between yours, the new Buffs and Jeremy's Barreds, I get my Rock fix.

 

[Extra Java]

Yellow House these are beauties!
Thank you for all you do.

 

[Robert Blosl]

if only the folks knew how many chicks you have to hatch to get to this level to get white pure birds. Great photos. It pays to be patient strange traits will come and then go. Thanks for the pictures.

edit my point years before he had to hatch 500 chicks plus to get chicks with white down color. The others could not be used and that was he had to use a colored dorking to help for type.

When he told me this story I was amazed. Now with years of patients will not have to put so many eggs in the incubator to get the numbers he needs to raise.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

if only the folks knew how many chicks you have to hatch to get to this level to get white pure birds. Great photos. It pays to be patient strange traits will come and then go. Thanks for the pictures.

Indeed! This year, I only had a dozen color culls--down from say, oh, 60%-80% when I first started the project--and then there were the other points of cull. THis kind of reclamation project does not come hatching 20 to 30 birds out per season.

 

[AletaG]

Indeed! This year, I only had a dozen color culls--down from say, oh, 60%-80% when I first started the project--and then there were the other points of cull. THis kind of reclamation project does not come hatching 20 to 30 birds out per season.

Lurkers, *this* is why I'm going with HRIR to start! I would LOVE love love love to help with a breed that needs lots of work. But I'm new to breeding, and limited on space. Think it through!

Oh, and just to be a pain, has anyone ever tried these:
http://truenorthfarm.ca/mistral-gris/
Fascinating.

 

[3riverschick]

Lurkers, *this* is why I'm going with HRIR to start! I would LOVE love love love to help
with a breed that needs lots of work. But I'm new to breeding, and limited on space. Think it through!

Oh, and just to be a pain, has anyone ever tried these:
http://truenorthfarm.ca/mistral-gris/
Fascinating.

I know TruNorth is 4 breeders working together with different breeds. I think Salt Springs Poultry is one of them.
It's my educated guess the birds in the url's below are ( or are related to ) the birds TruNorth is offering:
http://www.saltspringabattoir.ca/category/poultry-faq/
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/Mistral-Gris-Chickens_16442356
(yup, I was right, see URL's below. Thanks "call ducks" ! Apparently, as a 4-way cross, they do not breed true.)
Best,
Karen
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=449332135144499&id=371229649621415
Don Shaver began raising chickens at the age of 12 in Ontario in 1932.
http://curiousfarm.ca/poultry/mistral-gris/
http://harropshens.com/KOOP/index.php?topic=128.0
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/683888/mistral-gris-meat-birds
===
From poster : call ducks:
Hey Guys and Gals
Mistral Gris come from PA, a four way cross created by an Amisha (sorry can't spell) breeder that has bred barred rocks all his life he is now 82. The Mistral Gris is not a french breed and is not a breed at all. It is simular to the Cornish Cross with out the bad legs etc. When the breeder started in devloping Mistral Gris he talked to Don Shavier (again not sure i spelt that right) who is an exepert in four way and sex link crosses. The breeder of Mistral Gris produces 110 thusand chicks a week. Another hatchery hatches 120 thusand a week.
-Cheers!

 

[wekiva bird]

Here is the "great, great, great grandsire" of my flock that I am trying to get a male that looks like

 

[thedragonlady]

Wow. That just answered a question of mine. I have seen certain birds of certain heavy breeds who struggle with low wing carriage. Is this why? Because they aren't encouraged to roost/fly? How interesting, how enlightening. Thanks for that ! I love this thread...

I agree too with Walt that some lines of large heavy breeds have inbred wing issues. I really do firmly believe that some of this genetic, but it is also intensified by management, or the lack of it.

I raised huge English Mastiffs for years. My pups were never kept on newspaper, from day one. I used cotton thermal blankets so they would have traction. My line was known for very good rear ends, in a breed where poor ones were the norm. No problems with Hip Dysplasia either. Mastiff pups weigh about a pound to a pound and a half at birth, and by 8 weeks, a good male pup should weigh 30 + pounds.If the muscles are not being developed during all that growth and weight gain, joints suffer. I see any pups, of any breed, being raised on slick paper, and I shudder. Resistance exercise is key with pups, just as flying is with young poultry.