Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[punky rooster]

I'll have to consider that but then again I really want those Reese line birds!
*it also says shiping to the lower states I'm not lower* oh well..........

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
lower 48 states aka not Alaska or Hawaii

 

[punky rooster]

oh oh oh Now that makes sence

I will think about it
thanks
punky

 

[saladin]

To continue with Breeding.


If you have some initial success (first and second year), don't think too much of yourself or your breeding abilities. Wait until the 3rd generation and beyond to judge your success. That first and second year you are moving forward on the coat-tails of the fellow/gal you bought them from.


By the way, I've never considered a trio 'deep enough' to maintain any breed of fowl. A minimum to begin with is 2 cocks and 6 hens: more is better.

Line breeding is great if you have great stock. If you don't then you'll just further ruin what you have.

 

[danhonour]

The newer composit breeds.I read where I think it was F.L.Sewell who said on this very subject about 1910,"Some of them were not made that well the first time,that they could not be remade better all over again". I am sure that was true in some cases.Other cases came about gradually over a long time,perhaps doing it the hard way by trail and error without a prior plan,(like the Barred Rock). Others came more from selection from the tough survival landraces,(like the RIRed).

I think with the prior road map,some could be re-made faster and perhaps better by avoiding the pitfalls from the first time,the Lamona comes to mind,perhaps using White Dorkings instead of Silver Gray.The salmon breasts and pile markings were persistent.

I think if we are careful,we can preserve and improve the composite breeds and then any idea of remaking them would not be needed. There are just some ingredients that are no more and perhaps the final product would not be as good.For example the old utility Buff Cochins,utility Light Brahmas,and single mated old fashion Brown Leghorns,are no more and they were key factors in many American breeds. There are many more examples,but the point is,if we can breed them right and share the stock with others,we can truly preserve what we have.Learning the art of breeding is paramont and it requires a lot of thought and effort. This goes equally to the composite breeds and the old original races.

 

[saladin]

Quote:
Absolutely. Unfortunately, we have lots of folks keeping chickens today. What we need are breeders.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Absolutely. Unfortunately, we have lots of folks keeping chickens today. What we need are breeders.

Breeders are like chickens, it is hare to find the good ones.

A lot of people are self proclaimed breeders.

Chris

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
if your breeding numbers

 

[danhonour]

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for many,is the lack of knowing proper shape in the breeds.This is a must in selecting the breeding stock.It is also where the Standard of Perfection helps.One of the best illustrations was done by A.O.Schilling in 1921 for the RPJ book "Fundamentals in Breeding",toward the back of the book is a great detailed chart of the eight popular breeds ,one page with females another the males,showing breed type and shape using a rectangle to denote length,size,height ,with outlines for back line and underline.For those who need to visualize,it is an excellent way to see type.

 

[saladin]

Quote:
if your breeding numbers

Absolutely NOT!!! I'm talking strictly about good sound breeding. Period.

If you want to keep, maintain and IMPROVE a breed over a period of years, then you cannot hope to do so with merely a trio.

By the way, in case you didn't read what I said earlier, one of the secrets to good fowl is to breed lots and lots of chicks. If you want to call that numbers then go ahead, but you better cull those numbers hard if you want to succeed with chickens.