Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[jenjscott]

But pics will have to wait. I was going to uncrate them tonight, but as I pulled in the driveway at the "Annex", two racoons ran out from the shed where we feed the cats, through the barn and down to the creek. I don't have the electric fence installed yet, so thought I better not leave the chickens.

I left at 7 am, stopped at TSC. Looked at the chicks and said to the clerk, " I have 4 brooders going at home, 200 eggs in the incubator, why am I even looking at these chicks?" She thought it was funny. After filling Jims spot in the car with some goodies for my goats, I drove on to Eufaula (Stidham), packed the chickens (no time for pics) and made it back to the house (approx 750 mi) by 8:30. I think I did pretty good. Its a wonder the hens aren't all nekkid, there were 7 roosters in with 22 hens, guess they wanted to make sure they were fertile. Color is off, don't know if its genetics, sun or dirt until I get a chance for better inspection. The eggs are definitely white. I think the roosters are bigger than the one grown one I have. Will know better tomorrow. However, saw enough to know I need a copy of that book...what was it?....start with what you have? I need a black Australorp roo.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Glad you made it home safely!

Would a Black Giant male work? A certain Baptist preacher over on Hwy 88 may have one he would loan you. His is out of the Miller Strain.

 

[jenjscott]

Australorp is what was used in creating barred Hollands, and the body type as near as I can tell comes from them. So, really need to stick to Australorp.That and barred rock and leghorns, Won't need the leghorns I can breed back to the hollands. Might not need the barred rocks if I can get the size out of the Australorps and if their barring is good enough. I would like to keep the cross breeding to a minimum.

In my reading I read that the rooster actually passes egg color better than the hen. Anyone have any personal experience with this?

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Jen, That's some kinda road trip you took! Racoons..........ugh! I've seen one a couple of evenings traveling across the front of our property between a neighbor with a drainage creek to our other neighbor with a pond. It seems to travel along a set path that is not too close but you never know so I told the neighbor with the creek, whose driveway runs close to my free range area, to feel free to let his boys get some target practice in if he sees it or any other "varmit" getting near my fence (using caution of course). I don't ever want to find what many here have described following a racoon attack. Getting that electric up is job one for you today!!

I've read on the Ameraucana thread many times that the roosters from the bluest eggs should be used to keep the best color in eggs but don't have any personal experience. Maybe one someone who raises them will chime in. Hoping you have great success with your Barred Hollands.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Dan Honour would know about the egg color. He has used brown egg layers to improve Buff color in Leghorns, then culled for white egg color.

Seen a coon a few days ago near our house. He did not make it. Someone left him in a grease spot. Then on Hwy 35 we passed a possum that got hit. Between the PLGDs and the cars, our flock is safe

 

[Delight in Dominiques]

I remember reading on this thread about special handling. After getting "burned" by the post office due to poor handling on my shipment of hatching eggs (not one out of 24 developed, cracked shells, ruptured air cells) I decided to look into the special handling that Bob Blosi was referring to. I contacted the post office via email and here is their reply:



It states on your website that in the DMM 503 extra services section 12.0 Special Handling "Special handling services provides preferential handling, to the extent practable in dispatch and transportation. I understand that shipping 'live chicks' it is mandatory that this service be provided. If I ship a package with special handling applied is that package placed in the same category as would be shipping live chicks?



Thank you for contacting the United States Postal Service to inquire about special handling for Priority Mail Service.



John, I have checked my resources and have provided some information below that may be helpful to you.

Priority Mail has an estimated delivery time of 2-3 days. However, Priority Mail items are not guaranteed to arrive by a specific date. You can find more specific estimated delivery times by using our postage calculator at the following link:

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Special Handling does NOT provide:

Insurance against loss or damage
Tracking or tracing
Expedited delivery
Guaranteed delivery time
Mailing or Signature receipt (unless an additional service is purchased)
Special handling service provides:

Preferential service to the extent practical.
additional care for plants, animals and sensitive merchandise
Travels at the same speed of the class of mail it was sent.
If we can be of assistance to you in the future, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for choosing the United States Postal Service.



Regards,



Jennie





I am going to go to my PO and get the explanation of "Preferential service to the extent practical". As you can see they really did not give an answer to were the package would be placed. Will keep you informed. All the Best, John

 

[jenjscott]

 

[phasianidae]

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Nice

Congrats

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
Yay! I cannot wait to see how you progress with them! Please keep us in the loop