Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Robert Blosl]

Thank you, Bob, I am glad you are feeling a little better.

Thank you, Joseph, yes, this is my first year, a batch of 30 McMurray SG Dorkings. Tonight was my 10 week weigh-in night. The cream-breasted pullet, along with the lighter-weight pullets and cockerels have been moved to the "free-range" pen first, just in case I discover I have a predator problem I did not know about. The heavier birds are still in their safe pen. I do have a trio from Urch coming after the weather cools off.

Best wishes,
Angela

I see you got these Dorkings from Murray McMurry and they are only 10 weeks old. I don't know this or not but these are chick feathers you are worried about. You got to focus on adult feathers the last sets of feathers these guys put on befor you worry about color issues or culling. You need to focus on type your first two years and not color in my view. Just like the folks who are working on our Mottled Java project. Fix the shape or build the barn first. Then we will work on the color in a few years.

Also, what is the grade of these hatchery Gray Dorkings compared to the other strains that are being breed by the diehard Dorking folks like the lady in Calif who has breeding her heart out for the past six or eight years in this color pattern. We will have to see what they look like when adults to compare.

Enjoy raising them learn from them and then you can realize what you have and what they look liked when full grown.

 

[Robert Blosl]

I got a personnel message a few days ago asking if I was getting a old Heritage Breed What would I go with
One of the breeds and strains is a Duckworth Barred Rocks from N. Carolina . About all American as you can go and a great male line of Birds.
Full of vigor. Outcrossed by three strains six years ago. No need to introduce new blood or outcross for any reason.
Of course I don't know what that reason would be any ways.
So surprised its not R I Reds. bob

 

[Wisher1000]

I think some of those need to come live at my house!

 

[thedragonlady]

I got a personnel message a few days ago asking if I was getting a old Heritage Breed What would I go with
One of the breeds and strains is a Duckworth Barred Rocks from N. Carolina . About all American as you can go and a great male line of Birds.
Full of vigor. Outcrossed by three strains six years ago. No need to introduce new blood or outcross for any reason.
Of course I don't know what that reason would be any ways.
So surprised its not R I Reds. bob

Nice bird !Love to see those wings up though.

 

[Lacy Blues]

We were talking about mites a while back and I mentioned that I had some birds that were pretty badly damaged on their wings and tails. I have checked over and over but cannot find a single mite on them. They're only like this in one pen.

This is the wing of one of my bantam girls. Her tail was in similar condition. I'm wondering if this could be from mice?

 

[fowlman01]

We were talking about mites a while back and I mentioned that I had some birds that were pretty badly damaged on their wings and tails. I have checked over and over but cannot find a single mite on them. They're only like this in one pen.

This is the wing of one of my bantam girls. Her tail was in similar condition. I'm wondering if this could be from mice?

It looks like mice, but they usually get the tails first.

w.

 

[chickadoodles]

Mice eat chicken feathers while they are still on the chickens?

 

[thedragonlady]

Mice eat chicken feathers while they are still on the chickens?

Rats and mice crave protein. Yes, they will munch on your birds' feathers at night when they are on the roost. Rats can inflict nasty wounds around the birds' feet and vents then too.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Starting a home study program on the Rhode Island Red Tread. A guy who is getting started a LURKER who has been reading this tread and the Red Thread but does not want to waist valuable time, money and energy on things such as line breeding, color on the birds and other issues that he feels beginners are deviating onto. So her is the link. My point in all of this is what I plan to teach him to do can be done on other breeds of H poultry. Just make this a simple venture and you will do just fine. It seems so many beginners are making this such a big deal yet when you get your hatchery chickens from the post office or the feed store you don't do this. You just raise them up nice think you got something good and you are happy. We got to stop making this complicated. So maybe this lesson with this guy will help a few of you. KISS. bob

post #5474 of 5478

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site/5470

 

[NanaKat]

Great advice!

Do you have the judge's test pictures for Wyandotte in your arsenal of information?
I have my SOP and make black and white pictures for comparison for type. I like the filled in silhouette too.

Had a night time visitor to the keeper pen last night. Took the head and neck off one of my saved Blue Columbian Wyandotte project cockerels. Fortunately it left my good Columbian Wyandotte pullets alone. Can't think of anything other than a skunk that would leave the carcass, but didn't know a skunk would climb over a 4 foot 2x4 inch wire fence. Going to set a trap tonight.