Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

I feel a lot better about being visual, although it was years of art school that taught me I was global. I can't find Brahmas that aren't Light here and no German New Hampshires either, but I'm still learning so its okay. I'm a bit excited to try Dorkings etc. I'll have a taste of them and Brahmas that aren't industrial this spring once these ones I'm getting grow out a bit.

I have an important question here: A breeder told me that manipulating light makes a difference during growth to the bones/pelvis of chickens. If they aren't pushed with artificial light to become layers they develop their skeleton better. I read above about combs growing longer and wonder if the same wasn't true for other parts of the body. Would some of you speak to that? Where I am trying to work with these dual-purpose birds I want to let them get as big as they can before their hormones kick into high gear.

I have never noticed light affecting the skeleton....could be. There is no doubt in my mind that the more natural the growing environment, the better the bird will turn out and that light dramatically affects comb growth. The comb is a lot different than the skeleton however....I don't know.

Walt

 

[call ducks]

@ChooksChick Have you ever thought about trying to get some from up here (Canada?) There are some great breeders up here.

I have a friend out west who is workin on an actual Miniature Chanti. Not a composite breed like the bantam Chantis are.


She spent five years test breeding her white wyanndotes, and 3 years the chatis she is using. So far it's coming along great! Still has a long road ahead of her though.



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I am very excited! I got 5 Light Sussex (4 hens, 1 cock) from a friend in BC two weeks ago. The 10 eggs in the incubator all have something in them!

 

[ChooksChick]

@ChooksChick Have you ever thought about trying to get some from up here (Canada?) There are some great breeders up here.

I have a friend out west who is workin on an actual Miniature Chanti. Not a composite breed like the bantam Chantis are.


She spent five years test breeding her white wyanndotes, and 3 years the chatis she is using. So far it's coming along great! Still has a long road ahead of her though.



I am very excited! I got 5 Light Sussex (4 hens, 1 cock) from a friend in BC two weeks ago. The 10 eggs in the incubator all have something in them!

I have considered it, but I'm just spread too thinly to go through the work right now- my job is growing like mad and I can't pass it off, so I have had to cut waaaaaaaay back on the time I can put into birds. It's been sad, really. If someone else brought them in, though, I'd buy!

 

[ashandvine]

I have never noticed light affecting the skeleton....could be. There is no doubt in my mind that the more natural the growing environment, the better the bird will turn out and that light dramatically affects comb growth. The comb is a lot different than the skeleton however....I don't know.

Walt

Another question: Since these birds get larger than the average industrial, what would be the recommendation on feed amount and protein ratio? I saw one man here giving Safflower to his, as stated in an earlier post, and will do the same, but if there are other things that will help them to grow and stay healthy I want to know that.

As I head into winter I have planned for cold hardy breeds... with just one exception and they will be soup if they don't sell so they will be nice and warm. I don't plan to insulate anything here, just make sure its wind and water proof. The birds will be in a couple places-- a coop and the barn basement all divided up by wire. Has anyone got pointers from having kept their birds in lots of snow? We used to shovel them a path and they lived in the barn with other critters when I was younger but I don't really know what I am supposed to do now that chickens have rights... or nearly.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I have pictures from a friend to share. These 3 White Rocks were hatched in February.

Hey they got tails!!

Sweet and nice there Mrs. Kathy
I see they have received many wows so far
Walt has already signed in and gave a good remark, I wonder if any of the other esteemed judges and poultry breeders will comment/critique on them as we are here learning all the ifs, ands, buts and what fors on ALL sorts of heritage types. Sometimes it seems toget stuck in ruts here with the same ol same ol, I like to see variety.

Kudos to the breeder of these wonderful looking white fowl.

Jeff

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I love the German site for looking at a zillion images of Marans: http://www.marans-selektion-club.de/

I pore over photos and compare SOP descriptions with images to make it click. There's a button for translation if you like. Another wonderful site for images and comparisons is from the Netherlands: http://www.kippenencyclopedie.nl/php/index.php?title=Hoofdpagina and it's parent page, http://kippen.startpagina.nl/ These can be translated easily if you use Chrome for your browser- well worth it for the ~4000 pics.

While they won't demonstrate the American Standards, each page does demonstrate a lot visually and give you things to consider. They clarifies lots of qualities you might find you have trouble finding images of in our sites, and are well organized and densely packed. There are slightly differing names for some of the breeds, but great breeding info, nonetheless.
THank you.

I don't suppose Marans count as a heritage breed, since they just arrived recently. Sorry.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Chickens have rights here too. THe housing requirements by my town require particularly tight housing, WTH? Kill them with kindness apparently. Three sides and a roof--not much ventilation in summer to my way of thinking. Hope the experts will weigh in.

 

[bnjrob]

Right now, I'm trying to hone my skills by comparing 4 roosters. To see each one well enough to know which boy I"m looking at--they all free range and I can run into them anywhere on the farm. Makes me look at tail carriage, hackle coloring, comb, body. Starting with a new breed like the marans is more difficult for sure. I wish I had a 3-D model on my computer screen as a reference for body type.

Something that I've found helpful is to take photos and then turn them to black & white and sometimes change the contrast ratios to get different body parts to pop out more. Going black & white gets rid of all distracting chicken and background colors, letting me concentrate on the shapes - especially when I have tried comparing one of my boys to the old black & white illustrations.

 

[hunter109]

it would have to be 100% the breed you wat wouldnt be any mixed style bird

 

[fowlman01]

Another question: Since these birds get larger than the average industrial, what would be the recommendation on feed amount and protein ratio? I saw one man here giving Safflower to his, as stated in an earlier post, and will do the same, but if there are other things that will help them to grow and stay healthy I want to know that.

As I head into winter I have planned for cold hardy breeds... with just one exception and they will be soup if they don't sell so they will be nice and warm. I don't plan to insulate anything here, just make sure its wind and water proof. The birds will be in a couple places-- a coop and the barn basement all divided up by wire. Has anyone got pointers from having kept their birds in lots of snow? We used to shovel them a path and they lived in the barn with other critters when I was younger but I don't really know what I am supposed to do now that chickens have rights... or nearly.

I don't feed anything special. It is all off the shelf poultry food....along with what they get when they free range. While feed is certainly important, my position is that I believe that a good part of conditioning a bird is in the genetics of the bird. I am not a feed expert and this is why you will very seldom see me answer a feed question. Everyone wants to add all these exotic things to chicken food for some reason..mostly cuz they read about it on the web I suppose. I will feed corn to yellow legged birds that look light in the legs and that is about all I do and I only8 do it before a show.

I live in Norcal so the lowest it gets here is 20 and the highest 105 or so. The climate is very moderate for the most part. It is a fine place to raise birds.

Walt