Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

Yes, Bridgett got her start from me. Then Peter picked up a pair or trio on the breeder raffle. I don't know where these birds came from but I wasn't overly impressed by them. But then Peter came back the next year with 3 cockerels that he showed at Stockton which were all offspring of the ones he got from the raffle. He had one of each variety and I really really liked them, so he got some well-paired breeders. Then last year he provided me with some birds from that breeding. The Andalusian gene pool is pretty small so they're all related to some extent. I got my start from Sandhill Preservation as I was told that they probably had the best of the rare breeds. That first year, I lost the best female that I received from them because, I believe, she was eggbound. It was at about 5 months of age and I had no idea that such a thing could happen. Of course it had to be the best one! So, I just worked with what I had left and over several years I made pretty good progress. Then I got a cockerel from Tom Roebuck and the next year, after much pleading and correspondence and phone calls I was able to get a bunch of hatching eggs from John Hayes. A couple years after that I got birds from Peter. Now I have these from the guy from Arizona which I picked up in January. I am maintaining my original line as well and trying to make improvements in that. My goal is to maintain 3 lines. This past year I was able to hatch more than previously and I have a lot of chicks to go through.

I don't know where Sandhill got their birds so I don't really know how closely related they are to the other Andalusians out there.

It sounds as if you are going about this the best way you can. There is nothing more beautiful than a good blue Andulusian. Keep up the good work!

Walt

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: I just saw some white Jersey Giants that came from Sand Hill nearly two years of waiting and the owner says bob if you can find some one who wants them I will give them to you. What a shame. A name, a breed and nothing but hatchery grade chickens.

However, I made his day with Pen Two Male and two Pen one females in my old white rock strain. He is going to ma it my two girls to his old male and his two best females long in body for a change to my male. Should have four good breeders and hatch about 100 chicks.

Also, found a trio of Dr. Albert McGuire Molted Javas rare as any old time breed I can think of. He was a interesting fellow and tried to keep a few rare Heritage Breeds. Should get this trio to my farm in December.

Saw some most interesting rare birds at another fellows home and I saw a 60 year old African Turtle that weighed about 70 pounds. He has a female that is small that weighs about ten pounds so maybe in five years. He will have a mating that will produce some little ones.
Saw my first jungle fowl rooster. What colors to look at. This fellow has seven of my old white rocks got to swap out his old male with one of my new young long bodied white rocks one day. I gave him some of my culls to sell five years ago and he kept a few of them for him self. The locals love these big white birds.

I was on the road six hours traveled about a hundred miles and visited three chicken people. I was at Matt 1616 house and handled my old Large Fowl Reds. Looking nice, saw some super nice Silver Laced Wyandotte hens that have gone through the molt and as normal those German New Hampshires and the Buff Orpingtons. A lot of fun and look forward to going back to Matt's house this Saturday to meet Steve from Georgia. Will see him late Saturday Afternoon as I got to work the day shift. Left the ax at home did not see any thing worth killing except the Jersey Giants at another fellows home.

 

[Lacy Blues]

So, did anyone on here start out with sort of small birds, or average sized birds and breed them larger? Can you share your experience and what you looked for please?

 

[NYREDS]

It appears that the Andulusians are making a comeback. Bridget Riddle also has them. In the 70--80's a lot of good ones came here from NY.

Walt

Probably from John Hayes. He's bred them for over 50 years & most every flock in the country traces back, at least in part, to his birds. John's in his 80s now & still hatches a few Andalusians. However, his health isn't too good & he's talking about getting rid of the last of them.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

So, did anyone on here start out with sort of small birds, or average sized birds and breed them larger? Can you share your experience and what you looked for please?

The Self Blue/Lavender Orpington is a great recent example of taking a smaller bird and breeding it up to a larger one. Many of us now have what we can honestly call a Self Blue Orpington. The original Self Blue was a smaller breed. It was bred to a Black Orpington. Each generation has been bred back and forth until this year several of us have what we feel are excellent type Orpingtons that are Self Blue/Lavender in color.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

So, did anyone on here start out with sort of small birds, or average sized birds and breed them larger? Can you share your experience and what you looked for please?

I've only tried breeding them larger with my Orloffs. About 5 years now I think, only breeding the largest, nicest birds, trying to get the size up. I'm talking thousands of chicks raised over the years. I've improved combs, stance, color... but size? Not so much. If there is any size difference now than when I started it can be measured in ounces, not pounds. I know, because I still have three of my original hens.

Since they aren't an accepted breed I plan on using a Malay to try and get size and posture improved in one line as soon as I can find the right Malay. That was supposedly one of the breeds used to make Orloffs anyway.

So basically.... I'm no help at all.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
How far are you from Greenville, MS? We were there Saturday night at the dirt track races. Father-inlaw and brother-inlaw race. At least they are supposed to. Not so much Saturday night.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

How far are you from Greenville, MS? We were there Saturday night at the dirt track races. Father-inlaw and brother-inlaw race. At least they are supposed to. Not so much Saturday night.

According to mapquest, about 240 miles. I live in the extreme northeast corner of Mississippi, about 14 miles from the Alabama line, maybe 10 from the Tennessee line.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
You are closer to Memphis than Greenville then. Oh well.

 

[Robert Blosl]

So, did anyone on here start out with sort of small birds, or average sized birds and breed them larger? Can you share your experience and what you looked for please?

I shrunk down large fowl to bantams but I never tried to breed them up. If the strain has bantam blood in them its so much harder. What I always tried to do is hatch early like Dec or Jan as they will be bigger than march or April. In bantams I hatch from March fist to April 15 to keep the bantams small. The latter you hatch large fowl at least in my climate the smaller the adult birds.

I also try to select larger eggs instead of smaller ones. Its a long term deal so dont expect fast results.

I have a Friend who has some New Ham shires and they are smaller than the German line and we think the breeder crossed New Ham shire bantam blood in them to improve color.

Once bantam blood is introduced its very hard to get them back to large fowl. So many of our breeds have been crossed with other breeds in large fowl as well as bantams. Why people do this I dont know.