Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Arielle]

We discussed a short time ago the definition of "heritage" and I gained a better perspective of how everyone sees that word in relation to chickens.Now I have been muddling over " Large FOwl" ? I am assuming compare to bantam? WHere do other birds fit into this like ducks, geese and turkeys??

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote: Try this one...........

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok, I copied the link directly

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/1220#post_9647285



Ashandvine... I know what you mean about those black birdies putting the spell on you! I adore them. I used to have some, got them from Tom Kernan at the first Crossroads, but had to sell them because I thought my biggest pen would be big enough but it wasn't.

Some day, I'll get more of them!

 

[ashandvine]

Yup, this one works! Thanks.

We discussed a short time ago the definition of "heritage" and I gained a better perspective of how everyone sees that word in relation to chickens.Now I have been muddling over " Large FOwl" ? I am assuming compare to bantam? WHere do other birds fit into this like ducks, geese and turkeys??

Arielle, I have been thinking a lot about "dual purpose" and 'self sufficient." Since people used to eat doves and pigeons and some eat bantams even now I would say any bird could be dual if it lays an egg... even cocks could be dual if you think of them as working the farm or being a breeder or a flock protector. I meant self sufficient for people but maybe it would apply to types of birds that are aggressive foragers and fly and roost... definitely not the kind of pet chicken that a lot of people move toward now or even those as I have sought on account of my children, but maybe heritage birds came from a period when the birds weren't pets so much as a means. As, I said, lots of thinking on this.

And oh yes... those Sumatra are magical. Making me rethink what my needs are here. But that dove-tails (or chicken tails) into the thoughts above.

 

[Maggiesdad]

No self respecting Heritage Large Fowl raised on a farm would pass by a cow patty or horse pile with predigested grains in it... If a body doesn't have access to the piles, FF is a good option for raising birds w healthy guts.

You can rub your bird with a silk cloth to make it look good on the outside, giving it what nature intended if you can't provide free ranging on a farm can't hurt.

Just sayin

 

[catdaddyfro]

No self respecting Heritage Large Fowl raised on a farm would pass by a cow patty or horse pile with predigested grains in it... If a body doesn't have access to the piles, FF is a good option for raising birds w healthy guts.

You can rub your bird with a silk cloth to make it look good on the outside, giving it what nature intended if you can't provide free ranging on a farm can't hurt.

Just sayin

Yes my "barnyard specials" roam my neighbor cousin's bull pasture all day long and my heritage and production chickens frequent it too whilst they are on furlough during the evening hours. My cousin hasn't had to drag the field going on 2 years now as there's not a pile in sight unless just freshly deposited and not spotted right away. and I'll add too this, my egg customers just love those bantam eggs(free rangers) with those dark yellow/orange thick, thick yolks, Imagine what if they only knew what the cause and effects of this was .....LOL

Jeff

 

[Lacy Blues]

No self respecting Heritage Large Fowl raised on a farm would pass by a cow patty or horse pile with predigested grains in it... If a body doesn't have access to the piles, FF is a good option for raising birds w healthy guts.

You can rub your bird with a silk cloth to make it look good on the outside, giving it what nature intended if you can't provide free ranging on a farm can't hurt.

Just sayin

No cow patties here... so I work harder to feed them what they need.

 

[cgmccary]

My Buckeyes come in every evening with those black feet and legs from working the cow patties. I have noticed an improved pasture since I started free ranging the larger flock and enjoy watching groups of Buckeyes foraging with the cattle.

Although those white rocks (and other white fowl) are really beautiful birds & I enjoy looking at them, they would not fit on my place & scheme. They would stand out like a big neon sign. I had one white Guinea, a female. She lasted longer than I thought she would because she was going in the forest daily. I could always find her though. A apparent coyote got her one day in the forest when she was about 10 months old. I found her wings and one leg.

 

[campinechickens]

Ashandvine... I know what you mean about those black birdies putting the spell on you! I adore them. I used to have some, got them from Tom Kernan at the first Crossroads, but had to sell them because I thought my biggest pen would be big enough but it wasn't.

Some day, I'll get more of them!

I saw one of Tom Kernan's bantam Black Sumatras for sale at Crossroads and fell in love with him. I have kicked myself for years because I didn't, (I had already bought a pair of OEGBs, what was I thinking????

 

[Robert Blosl]

When I was a young boy we use to go bare food and nothing was more fun than staning in a fresh cow patty and then going to the river put our feet in the water and let the green stuff go down stream. Then we would get a bucket and gather up all the horse turds and throw them in the river and shoot them with the 22 and see if we could hit them. Maybe thats why my feet are acting up in my old age. I use the horse bisquets today for my birds in thier condtioning pens for them to eat and have some excercies with.

One of my mentors Vern Sorenson told me one time one of his favoite breeds was Black Sumatra. I never owned them but the color of thier feathers is like a Black East Indie duck. Sunning is the word. There has been some great one breed in the past fourty years and are part of the Heritage Fowl class.

Heritage Bantams are again many. I have White Rock bantams and Rhode ISland Red bantms and they lay just as good as the large fowl, they have plenty of meat to eat once you eat them and they will win in the show room. They eat one fifth of what a large fowl eats and you get the same for them when you sell them as you do with the large fowl. I get the same per egg and chick when I sell them in the spring and it cost me one fifth the cost to feed them as large fowl.

There for they are the best buy in my view for home steading. I also have Buff Brahma Bantams and the color on these are equal to a light brown leghorn. There is meat on thier bones as well but I can not hatch engouh for the demand for this old line out of Ohio that I got. They are great sitter which hatch the best chicks money can buy.

Bantams are not all that bad and many would be better off having them as large fowl. I have large fowl in White Rocks and large Reds but they eat like pigs.

Well I got to go out and hug Mr. Silkie. Buy they way Walt I got him from Marty McGuire last October to cross onto my cull pullets to make a sitting strain of females. He must be part of the old line you talked about. Thats a Heritage Chicken if there was every one in my view.

Have a great night and see you in the moarning. bob