Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Arielle]

Quote: THat would work--very helpful idea.

THe tail angle I look at a lot. ANgle varies based on what the bird is doing. In high alert mode, the head is high and the tail is high, and he looks like a U. I did catch one of the boys eating and relaxed, so watched from a distance. His tail looked better than I had seen, then I walked closer, he saw me, and he repositioned lifting the tail higher. Very frustrating.

 

[fowlman01]

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

That is one of the nicest groups of Rocks I have seen for a whole and I just looked at some good ones last weekend. If I had a negative comment it wold be about the wing carriage of the male, but I thhnk it is probably a hot day.

Walt

 

[snowbird]

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 live in a cold weather state with a good amount of snow. The main thing here is do not close them up too tight as you will get moisture buildup and it will cause major problems. For the Rock and Brahma Bantams males I have used a Barrel wall for years facing the north here and the front is open with just wire. I use plenty of shavings so they can get down in the bedding. I have never had a problem with sick birds in these cages. There is a picture of the Wall of cages in the Wheaten Marans thread.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It's been almost a month since I've posted pictures of the Barred Rocks, so here's an update. My usual disclaimer applies, I'm no photographer and don't have a decent camera.

 

[15littlem]

When it comes to noise, which are worse Wyandottes or White Rocks?

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:

It's been almost a month since I've posted pictures of the Barred Rocks, so here's an update. My usual disclaimer applies, I'm no photographer and don't have a decent camera.

It seems they take forever to get to maturity, doesn't it?!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

When it comes to noise, which are worse Wyandottes or White Rocks?

Flip a coin.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
It seems they take forever to get to maturity, doesn't it?!

Yes, Kathy, but you warned me. LOL. The growth and maturity shown over the last few weeks has been amazing though, they're picking up speed. They are getting HUGE. The cockerels show a lot of differentiation, but the pullets are quite level, really.

 

[15littlem]

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

how loud are your white rocks?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I think that is the most important thing a rookie can learn to do is read, study ask questions and re think what you want to do. You may pick a breed to try and not like it. Some of you will try two or three at one time and just rasise them to see how the grow, look, lay and if they have enough meat on them to please you. I had a friend in Minnissota who started with Light Brahams a killer strain, and the Urch Rhode Island Whites and Rose Comb Reds. He did not have good luck with the Whites so he dumped them. Next thing I know he decided to go with the Rose Comb Reds. For him they layed well, hatched like crazy and they just did what he wanted in a dual purpose chicken. The Rhode Island Whites the one top minoroty breed in large fowl just does not seem to fit in for most beginners. They try but it just does not pan out. The New Hampshires from Germany strain have been a hit. The mature and start laying very well, they are so colorfull I dont know how anyone could knock this as a breed to start out with.

When you take on a new breed it must fit in with your climate as well. Will the strain blend in to your cold or heat if not can you have the patients to wait three years in the breeding process for them to adapt to your climate? Many give up a breed becasue they are in a hurry for results. I have a rare breed of chickens that I am trying to save and thats the Buff Brahmas. I had to wait two years for one male to become fertile again to get chicks out of him. He produced three males and two pullets for me so I can cross them onto a distancent cousin who was found in Arkansas and then sent to me as a Christmas present two years ago. The man that breed them died and his strain is just hanging on by a tread befor it goes down the toilet. Not many know I have these birds as they think I only have Rhode Island Reds.

Patients is the key to sucess in this game of breeding. I have seen so many give up at the five year mark. I hardly see anyone make it to the ten year mark which I consider the key to becoming a master breeder of that breed. Most people fail becasse they do not understand the history of the breed and put breeding pressure in width of feather such a Rhode Island Red and then the Cochin genes that make up the breed take over and their birds loose all the shape and they can not recover and say the heck with it I will try another breed.

One thing my friend from North Mississippi said is antoher key secret in breeding. Its vision or seeing what you are making in your line. The make up of a human is in three areas.

Visual, Auditory Kenisenic or feeling. I have studied these traits in sales and if used correctly on a person who is a visual or auditory you can get them to say yes and by the product or service you are trying to offer them. Visual is what Artist use and a breeder is a Artist. He shapes his birds like a fellow who is making a pot and then after it drys he paints it like a artist.

So when you say I have to see what you are telling me this is the number one trait in becoming a good breeder. I have interviewed many master breeders befor they died and I felt each and every one of them was a visual type of person. How do you know if you are a visual. In school the teacher will ask Johnny what is the capital of Washington State. Johnny will look up at the ceiling and a few seconds he will say Olympia. He is looking up at the map of the United States in his minds eye. A person who is a auditory is a person who will say run that by me one more time and tilt his head down like he is hearing it. A person who is a feeling person like my wife touches all the closthes in the store as she is looking for something to buy.

So that is my tip of the day. Visual or wanting to go to the show and talk to a person who breeds a certain breed is a great investment. I get emails with pictures and then I relate back which bird I would keep or get rid of. In the days of video tape I use to make a one hour Christmas video of my chicken and teach them about type. They ended up finding all of them and put them on a DVD. Kind of funny looking at my chckenens 20 years ago and listing to me preaching about how to breed for color ect.

Well its time to go out and make three conditioning pens with one inch wire for my young coclerels. I hope to get the project done by tomorrow. Can only work out side for about four hours becasue of the heat and my age. If I can find the picture of my buff Brahma male I got for Christmas I will ad it on latter today.

Keep the faith and remember to go s=Slow, go Small, and Go down the middle of the road. Ralph Brazelton Kansas 1987.

I have to say, that this is quite possibly, the best post I have ever read. Thank you!