Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yard full o' rocks]

Scott thanks for showing us your Plymouth Rocks. The males are tighter in feather quality and looks nice in color. I have seen some of your pullets and the hen from last year that had the big extended keels. Need to locate that old hen last years pullet and maybe some of her daughters and mate them to the best colored male you have this year. Should have good color next year and the fronts on the males will improve in time. The good females should help you.

Also, in regards to birds coming out of Canada the Original Trio that Scott got was a trio a good breed brought to the Ohio National Poultry Show in November. A friend of Scott's paid for the birds then brought them down south and then Scott drove to her house and picked them up. I had to choose between Scott and another fellow. I am glad I choose Scott. He is a true Preservationist and has all ready shared some of these birds to others which was my goal. They are home made birds made from a cross of White Rocks and Light Bahamas a few years ago. They had a little problem with loose feathers from the Brahma blood but in time with good selection we will see a Rock bird with good type and the light Brahma color pattern.

If you want a great all around Heritage Large Fowl, easy to raise, easy to hatch, easy to brood and lays eggs very well plus the beauty of the color contact Scott this spring. We need help getting this strain into the hands of people who want to do their part to help large fowl from going extinct.

Hope you will post pictures of your females latter. Job well done.

Bob

Thank you for the kind words BUT, MOST OF ALL, thank you for entrusting that original trio to ME, and for all of your mentoring help in helping me get a flock going and established!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of re-establishing this variety in the US. As a novice breeder in the hobby I am still learning a lot by trial and error. I was able to hatch around 125 chicks this year (just think, 125 chicks in year 2 of breeding after starting with just 3....it can be done!!). I am down to my best 7 cockerels (in link from yesterday) and about 30 pullets.

Here is a link to them, but they were MUCH more interested in feeding in the green field than posing for any pictures. I will try to get more individual pullet pix tomorrow in the early AM when they might not be so intent on eating (sorry).

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz39/ScottBrazinski/CR pullets group pix/

Also, here is a link to some "Black rocks"....although not recognized in LF. They are a result of a Wheeler BR female mated to the original CR male from Canada. Hoping to utilize their type to help my CRs (or at least establish a LF Black rock flock, LOL) There are only 2 females, just multiple pix

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz39/ScottBrazinski/Black Rock pullets/

Off to bed.....stay cool y'all

Scott

 

[kathyinmo]

Also, here is a link to some "Black rocks"....although not recognized in LF. They are a result of a Wheeler BR female mated to the original CR male from Canada. Hoping to utilize their type to help my CRs (or at least establish a LF Black rock flock, LOL) There are only 2 females, just multiple pix

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz39/ScottBrazinski/Black Rock pullets/

Off to bed.....stay cool y'all

Scott

I like this black pullet, Scott!



This is a good picture, too! Congratulations on your progress, Scott!

 

[fowlman01]

Walt--Is the inspection free as in paid by US government?

I think they pay coming in to the US and going out, but I have no idea what it cost. I don't know what paperwork is necessary, but It can't be a big deal as they do it all the time.

Walt

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
THank you.

 

[Arielle]

I have a basic question, that is complicated . Perhaps those of you that have put your hands on a lot of different breeds and lines can chime in, and any one else of course. All input welcome.

I am looking for a heritage breed that is meatie. For all the effort to clean a bird I would like a reasonable reward. ANd I don't want to spend 15 years making a good meatie. I'd rather start with a bird that already is partway there. I do like the SS, but I am opened minded. ANd if anyone can comment on the carcass of the SS, that would be icing on the cake.

I've dressed out a only few birds and I am always surprised at the lack of muscling. Egg layers by design are lightly muscled and put all their effort into eggs. Geese while big are not heavily muscled.

Or am I asking for Perdue and heritage lines cannot meet that level of muscling.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I like this black pullet, Scott!



This is a good picture, too! Congratulations on your progress, Scott!

Thanks Kathy

Here are a few more "individual" shots from this AM before they all hit the field. Front ends on the females seems to be much better than the males. In my opinion, the biggest thing I'm fighting in the females is the tail/length of back. I've tried to keep females with a nice LONG back (like my original hens from Canada) but darn near every one of the offspring with long backs has a flat tail (well spread but no lift). One of the original hens is the same way except hse also has no front end. Pullets with nice tail lift seem to have shortest length of back. Any of you have suggestions for breeding to overcome that? I certainly don't want to give up size as its too hard to get that back....

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

I have a basic question, that is complicated . Perhaps those of you that have put your hands on a lot of different breeds and lines can chime in, and any one else of course. All input welcome.

I am looking for a heritage breed that is meatie. For all the effort to clean a bird I would like a reasonable reward. ANd I don't want to spend 15 years making a good meatie. I'd rather start with a bird that already is partway there. I do like the SS, but I am opened minded. ANd if anyone can comment on the carcass of the SS, that would be icing on the cake.

I've dressed out a only few birds and I am always surprised at the lack of muscling. Egg layers by design are lightly muscled and put all their effort into eggs. Geese while big are not heavily muscled.

Or am I asking for Perdue and heritage lines cannot meet that level of muscling.

If meat is more important than color or egg production, I would suggest the Buckeye. Most of the dual purpose breeds (Orpingtons, RIR, Plymouth Rock etc) are about the same as for meat. Just different body types. I always suggest to newbies to consider several things. Eye candy is more important than you think. Check out http://www.cafepress.com/jackynet. Diane Jacky has some beautiful prints. Check out the body types and colors. Stay away from the Leghorns etc. They are less meaty than the American, English and Asiatic Class. Nothing heritage will compete with commercial. But some will serve your needs. The Delaware that kathyinmo is working on was originally the commercial broiler. The hatchery supplied chicks will never be what a good breeder has.

Frank Reese at http://www.goodshepherdpoultryranch.com/ is producing and selling heritage poultry. Check out his website and study it. Here are some photos of his birds.

Two or Four Fresh Heritage Jersey Giant Chickens

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Fresh Heritage Jersey Giant Chickens like your Grandmother and Great Grandmother use to cook. Our Heritage Chickens will have a much richer and fuller flavor than commercial chickens. Jersey Giants are good for roasting.

Click photo for more information
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• Price: $30.99

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Two or Four Fresh Heritage New Hampshire Chickens

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Fresh Heritage New Hampshire Chickens like your Grandmother and Great Grandmother use to cook. Our Heritage Chickens will have a much richer and fuller flavor than commercial chickens. New Hampshires are good for frying.

Click photo for more information
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• Price: $30.99

• ​

Two or Four Fresh Heritage Plymouth Rock Chickens

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Fresh Heritage Plymouth Rock Chickens like your Grandmother and Great Grandmother use to cook. Our Heritage Chickens will have a much richer and fuller flavor than commercial chickens. Plymouth Rocks are good for frying.

Click photo for more information
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• Price: $30.99

• ​

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[Robert Blosl]

For your climate I can think of two types of birds. One Urch strain Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds. One of my friends Charlie V. hatched a ton of them and dumped his R I Whites.

Next the New York Reds strain of Rhode Island Reds. They have lived in the New England for over twenty years a great strain and big meat birds. Sure there are others that have more meat but this is a Heritage Tread trying to help save breeds that are nearly gone. Dont go wild and get a breed that is almost totally gone like most people do you will end up with scrubs as they are not true to breed anyway. Buckeyes is a great come back story. In less than ten years they are on the move and even get on Champion Row sometimes at shows.

Scott do you have a picture of the pullet from last year siting in a gate way? Do you have any pullets that have that length of body and the full breast this year. If you used her as a breeder I bet you will have two or three like her. Don't worry about color on these girls the best colored male will take care of that and heck for two years I would worry about feather quality no Brahma feathers and shape. Then once you get the shape where you want it then hammer on the color. You are young and have the time. I only have the ideas and getting old. I think I will one day drive into your yards and see what I in vision. bob

 

[15littlem]

Do you know anyone in Tennessee who raises good heritage breed chickens? If you do, can you give me their websites? I'm a teen who is thinking about breeding some for meat and show? Which are the best for meat? excluding cornish.

 

[Arielle]

THanks Jim and Bob. A lot to think about while I feed this morning.

Eye candy--yes, I am drawn to specific breeds for the eye candy. Buff ORpingtons. SS and a few others. I pass by a black astralorp and don't give her a second look. But pretty is as pretty does. Yes, for generall layers, hatchery is fine and I get the eye candy there.

RIR--DH is a fan of them, something about his grandmother in NY.


I'm starting to realize to make reasonable progress, a few breeds is better rather than many.

Much to think about.