Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[kowgurl62]

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I can attest to hybrid vigor. I had a hatchery columbian wyandotte set some eggs that I didn't know about, and one of the results of her crossed with a hatchery white orpington was a very nice heavy, typey rooster who looked better than either parent, and when I had a broody hen I let her set some eggs that were a cross of him and most likely my delaware hen and a black sexlink. He produced nice size, and type, and I kept one roo who was a carbon copy of him.

edited to add: of course, this was two different breeds, I don't know how well that would work within the same breed

 

[Yellow House Farm]

We breed SQ Rose Comb Anconas. Heritage RC Anconas were only available from two sources. Of those two sources, only one is still extant. Both of the sources were in clear need of new blood. We outcrossed to hatchery stock. Four years later we have some exciting birds. They certainly have needs for improvement, but they're getting there. This year we showed our line for the first season and have won some fun awards including RV Champion Large Fowl at Little Rhody.

We started with multiple pairings. The first seeason we bred the Breeder birds to Hatchery birds. The following year, we bred these back to their Breeder parents. The following season we bred these back up to those of a different pairing. Now they're established into matrilinear clans.

We also work with White Dorkings. However, there aren't any strong Breeder birds to use. So we have been building slowly with what is available. It has taken a lot. Here, too, we needed to outcross to SG Dorkings, it has been excellent for vigor and fertility, but it loosed many characteristics that have been difficult to control. Each season, though, brings positive steps.

The trick to both of these has been breeding in number and a strong commitment to some serious culling.


Yes, I'm proud of where these birds are, but I only did all of this because I had to. There was nowhere else to go. If I were going to work with Partridge Rocks, or another breed that still has population, and if I were intent on outcrossing, I'd combine two established breeder lines. The resultant cross would enjoy the benefits of heterosis, aka hybrid vigor, but would be much more likely to share in aspects of color quality and conformation. Outcrossing to hatchery birds will literally make a mess. The breeder to breeder cross would be crazy enough. I certainly wouldn't take the breeder to hatchery route unless I were going to raise up at least 100 birds. Even if you have to invest a couple of hundred dollars in chicks, the important amount of time you would save would certainly make up for any initial investment.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

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Were they by chance toe-puched so that you know who comes from which mating?

 

[Yellow House Farm]

With the idea fo keeping a pen of pure and a pen of mixed, I'd keep two pens of pure and two pens of mixed. Otherwise simple necessity will have them all mixed in a few short seasons.

 

[kowgurl62]

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Ok, I have a question about that. What would be the purpose of the two pens of each? I think I have an idea, but I may be wrong.
Thanks

 

[capayvalleychick]

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Were they by chance toe-puched so that you know who comes from which mating?

No, these were from hatching eggs.

Kim

 

[ruffles]

I have RIr's my two year old RIR's are hefty, nice looking. also,I love Barred Rocks, great personality and large eggs. Actually comical birds.

Australops are also very friendly, I find them slim lined. We also have a silver lace, white rocks, nice hefty birds,

I would like to add to the 26 we already have, but, being in Mass, (this winter so far is very very midl) last winder right around Thanksgiving the deep freeze and about two snow storms
a week, so the hefty birds to best.

SOO, what would be my options?/ My or our chickens are for egg laying only.

I suspect that the 8 month old chickens we have are White New Jersey Giants, as they are much larger than the year and a half white rocks, ,
the younger ones are much larger and heftier.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Quote:
Were they by chance toe-puched so that you know who comes from which mating?

No, these were from hatching eggs.

Kim

Well, had the eggs been marked, you would have been able to mark them. The risk that you have is pairing siblings, which can break you down pretty fast. Try to establish three or four clans coming out of different females.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Quote:
Ok, I have a question about that. What would be the purpose of the two pens of each? I think I have an idea, but I may be wrong.
Thanks

There are various breeding patterns that you can run if you have at least two pens. If you only have one pen of anything, you'll be forced to outcross to another pen of something. If you have one pen of mixed and one of pure, you'll be forced to switch cock birds sooner or later, depending on your breeding pattern, thus making your whole flock mixed.

 

[catdaddyfro]

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But in reality here though. 100 pullets(partridge rocks) is going to cost 200+ bucks and then your going to throw 90% of that down the toilet along with feed and time(at least 8 months grow-out time or more) (all=$'s). Then buy a quality cock(partridge rock is in ques. here I think right)? from say Dick Hortsman(a good one too)= say $50more>or<less. Work for 5 years to maybe get back to where Dick is already at. IDK I think I'd take all that cash and buy me about 4 or 5 pullets from Dick and a good cockerel from him too, and go on my merry way of producing some stock worth putting out the efforts to cull, grow, and breed to my liking.

And another thing to add about adding in new blood(outcrossing) I would think if Dick's birds need or have needed any thing new mixed into them he's already done it a long time ago wouldn't you imagine. I'm sure he knows enough about how to breed and maintain a breeding flock to handle all of that kind of stuff.He's not putting out crap around his place for sure.

Jeff