Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Chris09]

Quote:
I don't know these people, their birds or their farm. Are they telling you they've had a closed flock since the early 1900s? If so, then it is nothing more than a sells gimic: trust me.

Just because you've had some hatchery stock on your farm for a generation or two doesn't mean squat. Do they breed to the Standard? Do they have the Show records to prove it? How have they improved the breed?

Those are the type of questions you should ask. Not saying they aren't good; they may be the best of the best. I'm just interested in their story.

I agree. A flock like that is generally known to other breeders. Would love to see pictures of their birds.

Walt

I agree with saladin and Walt on this.

Chris

 

[WallTenters]

Quote:

Very good. You do have to remember; a bird that conforms to standard should produce to its purpose. Now, you can improve upon them by using the ALBC "improving productivity" articles along with the standard.

Good luck,

I agree with both of you on this, but perhaps it would be better to try to improve the line than cull it altogether. As far as productivity and chick viability, that could be simply from having a closely bred flock for too many generations. As far as the slow feathering, that too could be improved with some outside blood. It is possible that the birds you have were accidentally selected for slow feathering if the original breeders only culled as adults instead of as chicks, juveniles and then adults. This could be rather easily fixed by adding some new blood in.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:

Very good. You do have to remember; a bird that conforms to standard should produce to its purpose. Now, you can improve upon them by using the ALBC "improving productivity" articles along with the standard.

Good luck,

I agree with both of you on this, but perhaps it would be better to try to improve the line than cull it altogether. As far as productivity and chick viability, that could be simply from having a closely bred flock for too many generations. As far as the slow feathering, that too could be improved with some outside blood. It is possible that the birds you have were accidentally selected for slow feathering if the original breeders only culled as adults instead of as chicks, juveniles and then adults. This could be rather easily fixed by adding some new blood in.

It is also very possible that the slow feathering is an environmental influence that has nothing to do with the line of birds. Chicks not being able to get off their backs would be a huge problem to me though.

Walt

 

[OwensMom]

Ok here is a question from a rank novice. I know nothing about showing birds and believe that the show ring in general has done much to ruin perfectly good breeds. Animals are bred for beauty and not the purpose for which they were intended. That being said, in poultry does correct conformation lead to adaquate egg laying? When the judge picks a nice looking bird, how does he know that that bird lays a good amount of eggs? How does the show ring preserve the traits (besides looks) of a particular breed?
I'm not trying to be controversial but I hear so much about showing. It makes sense that the beat birds in a region would be well know to the best breeders in that region. The birds would have a reputation for being good representatives of their breed.
Just a question

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Let me see what I can do. Walt & others will answer it better.

"These historic standards were written at a time when chicken breeds were being used for commercial production within several production systems. Input from the top breeders of each breed was used to establish the particulars of size and other qualities that would produce the best specimen for the role each breed was designed to fulfill."

- Don Schrider, Master breeder of Brown Leghorn chickens.

When the judge picks a nice looking bird, how does he know that that bird lays a good amount of eggs

A good judge should be able to get a good idea on egg laying by the length between the pubic bones on the pullet/hen, comb (hens in production will have larger red-er combs) and things Walt can tell you more about.

Here, you can see a great site on how to improve productivity This was designed for the Buckeye Recovery Project and can be applied to any Heritage Large Fowl breed: http://www.albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/chickens.html

Good luck,​

 

[OwensMom]

Thanks for your answer. I need to get an education but didn't know where to start. Appreciate it.

 

[josh44]

What Class Would an ASIL Be Shown under ???

I have Large Fowl Silver Duckwing ASIL & am wanting to show them.

This Is my first year with them, so needing to know more as far as showing them ?


Thank You

 

[josh44]

OH YEAH !

Are Asil Considered a Herritage Breed ?

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
The American Standard of Perfection 2010 lists them as "Aseels" and has them in the "ALL OTHER STANDARD BREEDS" Class on page 193. It list the following colors: Black breasted red; Dark; Spangled; White; and Wheaton.

So you would show a Silver Duckwing under:

Class: "ALL OTHER STANDARD BREEDS"

Breed: Aseel

Variety: AOV...All Other Variety

 

[Taylor]

I have found out my problem, they are picking each-others feathers!!!!

i separated them into separate pens and their feathers seem to be coming in now, really dark feathers on the RIR's WHAT A RELIEF!!! i thought i had duds for a while, there ain't nothing like good heritage birds, they are already as big as my ISA-Browns at 13 wks old. No the connatser's have papers on them to show that they are true heritage breeding these birds. they are not hatchery stock!!!!! they have been in the family for close to 90 yrs. what won me over on them is back in 2008 i bought some of their adult stock and i say that they lay real good, not like a hybrid chicken, but enough to keep us going!

then i went to hatcheries last year and this year i bought some baby chicks from the connatser's farm, and i will stick with them from now on. i'll post pics later