Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Chris09]

Quote:
A breeder is someone who puts a male with a female & produces young. That's all there is to it, right?

Anymore I think that is what people think.

Chris

 

[Chris09]

If I could give all the new comers to the would of poultry that are thinking of breeding and showing poultry a word of advice.

A breed of poultry is no more stronger or better than the breeders knowledge of that breed, his or her knowledge of the art of breeding or his or her knowledge of poultry husbandry.

In short, do you homework on the breed on the art of breeding and on poultry husbandry.

Chris

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Ok I'm talking about breeding show birds. you don't need to breed hundreds of chicks to get good birds

You might want to check that theory with someone who has actually bred some good birds.

I did from Bob Blosl but I probably misinterpreted it...
punky

 

[saladin]

A thorough understanding of the Standard is essential, IMO, in breeding better birds. It starts in the selection of your brood stock, but by no means stops there.

One of my dear friends was a Show winner with Silkies more than 20 years ago, Vicki Karesh. She use to take 1 or 2 birds to a show and would be on championship row every time (she's got an attic full of trophies to prove it!). I asked her once how many chicks she'd hatch to get those 1 or 2. Her answer: 'for every bird I show I've hatched 300 chicks!'

Sure, on Show day, it's about the condition of the bird. But, it is also about selection, lots of chicks, and culling. The Standard was written by folks who were interested in the best utility value of the fowl being shown (whether meat, eggs, gameness, or even beauty). A top quality show fowl should be able to do what it was supposed to do: thus, the best of the best. To get that it takes more than mere good genetics of the brood stock.

 

[punky rooster]

Uh maybe when Bob gets on here he can clear this up for me.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
You might want to check that theory with someone who has actually bred some good birds.

I did from Bob Blosl but I probably misinterpreted it...
punky

From what I understand is that he line breeds so he almost clones the birds that he is breeding but I could be wrong tho.

 

[saladin]

Line breeding is the best way to go if you've got good stock, but it also requires breeding lots of birds and culling hard or your line will fail on you.

Personally, I think some breeds hold up better under line breeding than others. I don't know any breed that holds up better under such intense breeding than Games.

I line breed all my stock, but some more closely than others. I've found you have to keep lots of cocks to do it though. For example, with my Cubalayas I keep 16 brood cocks at a time. With my Asil I keep 12 brood cocks. All these are related, but to varying degrees.

 

[kathyinmo]

Boy, this is enough to scare off a few interested potential new breeders, isn't it?

Are there any words of encouragement for the backyard hobbyist, regarding keeping quality stock that want to help preserve them? Or, are they only for the elite "breeders club?"

Seems to me, one has to start somewhere.....

Maybe the backyard hobbyist should just stick to hatchery stock?

I think I understand what punky is referring to. He can't keep 12-16 brood cocks at a time. He can't hatch our hundreds of chicks a season. So, should he just forget his dream of becoming a breeder of fine quality birds? Would his efforts to help preserve them, though on a smaller scale, be less important and not even worth while? How can a small scale operation be of assistance in the preservation effort?

 

[saladin]

Quote:
If I was limited on space (1/2 acre?), I'd keep one breed, maybe bantams. My good friend Monty Bowen lives on less than an acre and he keep large fowl Javas. He hatches 300 or more a year. It can be done. You simply cull from the time they go in the brooder until adulthood.

You don't have to keep them all until adulthood.

It is important to lay out your goals from the start and to realize your limitations: we all have them. Mine is not space, but time. Fortunately, I have 2 sons left at home that help with our stock every day. When they are gone, I'll either have to cut back, retire, or hire some help. But, the fact of the matter is if you want to improve your stock it takes lots of chicks. That translates into time, money and space. That is not an 'elitist club' by any means. It's just a fact.

 

[kathyinmo]

Personally, I have 4 acres, and 16 coops and pens currently, with 2 acres not being used at all. I have room. I have time. I have interest. I will continue to research and study, and do the best I can.

I don't know how much space many backyard hobbyists have, but I do know there are many that are interested in preservation efforts, and would like to know what they could do....... if it is possible.

I may be way off base here, but it seems to me that many (or most) on this site are merely backyard hobbyists (and some have an interest in preservation). I think they appreciate encouragement and education. Many simply can not afford to hatch and feed hundreds of chicks. What can they do?