Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Taylor]

The connatser's show their birds all over the U.S, and yes they breed to the standard! they are not inbreeding them, they have been breeding them over all these years and they haven't switched to the production type chickens, they still have the old variety, like they had in the old days. they don't ship their eggs or birds, if ypu want them you have to drive there and pick them up yourself, and expect to pay a high price too!!! these ae true heritage birds!!! probably older types than anyone has now.

 

[centrarchid]

I am formulating plan to select for laying performance in my domique hens. Hens will not have honor of being selected as breeders to replace themselves as females until 3 years of age. Males will be selected from 1 year old hens so selection on males will be faster and geared more towards growth rate and SOP. Females will be selected initially on SOP with egg production given priority thereafter. Hope is to have it so long-term productivity is promoted. I do not think practical to record all eggs produced but intend to get periodic sampling made to get estimate.

Anyone delaying selection to "advanced" age? Trying to figure out tracking egg production by individuals without influencing egg production.

 

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
If you have them banded and keep good records by the female families you'll know who lays the best the longest. Toe punch them by what hen they are from single mate and you'll know without waiting so long to find out if you don't like a hen it's easy to get rid of her daughters they'll all have the same toe punch....

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
You can track egg production without disturbing the hens by trapnesting them.

Walt

 

[sewandgrow]

Quote:
You can track egg production without disturbing the hens by trapnesting them.

Walt

Walt,
I would love to trap nest some pullets to see who is laying what egg but haven't come up with a good plan for a trap nest and am assuming to buy them would be more than I care to pay. I love having my chickens but this has not been a cheap hobby for me. Thank goodness it is my retirement pleasure. Do you know of a good trap nest to build or a reasonable place to buy them??
Thanks

 

[centrarchid]

I would like to see some designs for trap nests as will be needing about 20.

 

[jmc]

Do 'colored' so-called heritage breeds (eg RIR, NH, B-eye,,etc. etc.) ever produce offspring that are slightly off colored or slightly misshapen from the desired 'standard' color and/or conformation?

OR,

can one count on some off-colored or 'misshapen' offspring on a more or less regular basis (which are then culled or otherwise disposed of)???

hopefully, some of you pros can offer some data!

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
You can track egg production without disturbing the hens by trapnesting them.

Walt

Walt,
I would love to trap nest some pullets to see who is laying what egg but haven't come up with a good plan for a trap nest and am assuming to buy them would be more than I care to pay. I love having my chickens but this has not been a cheap hobby for me. Thank goodness it is my retirement pleasure. Do you know of a good trap nest to build or a reasonable place to buy them??
Thanks

If you search "trap nest chickens" online, you should be able to find several designs that are inexpensive to make. I remember seeing some designs on this site.

Walt

 

[WallTenters]

Have you checked width and flexibility of pubic bones? That should tell you who's laying. We check all our hens at about 9 months of age. If they aren't laying well by then, they go in general population for one more chance but are not put into breeding pens until we're sure they are productive. We check again about every 6 months. This has been really reliable for us and in a very short time frame we have greatly increased egg production in our flock.

 

[saladin]

Quote:
Please forgive my argumentive nature.

1. You can't have a flock for that long WITHOUT INBREEDING them. No way: IMPOSSIBLE.

Nothing wrong with inbreeding. You just can't do it for that long without the addition of new blood periodically.

2. What kind of papers? Birds are not pedigreed like with other livestock. Are you talking letters of some sort from the original breeder? Just curious.