Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[thedragonlady]

When I was getting started 30 years ago I just wanted large SC Rhode Island Reds. I called ten master breeders and interviewed them for a hour and then ten non R I Red master breeders for a hour. A total of 24 hours total of interview. I got a fellow on one weekend named Ralph Brazelton from Kansas he was Mr. Orpington and wanted to buy his trap nest cages. He sold them all but we started talking about getting started in chickens. After I told him my plan he said and this is about word for word.

You have done your home work Robert. But may I give you some advice?

I said yes.

He said: Go Slow. Go Small and Go Down The Middle of the ROAD.

There was a pause in the phone call. He said Robert are you there?

I said yes. I said those are the most PROFOUND words I have ever gotten from Master Breeders.

So to you out there. Do your home work. BUT DONT GET A BREED that sounds good on paper. Those breeds are just about gone.

Get you a breed that has some non hatchery value to them. Dont start out with scrubs because it will take you 50 years to breed them up. Most of you will give up the breed in three years. Its just the law of the land in chickens. I just talked to a former District Director of the Red Club and he told me he got rid of his reds. About three years he had them.

This guy is a master breeder.

MONEY I think is the main reason. We get to many cant afford to feed them and end up with just so so birds and we through our hands up in the air and say whats the use.

To many breeds not enough room to much in the feed bill. You can have say Dorkings but you dont have to hatch more than ten of them per year. Keep them like pets. Then just focus on the real breed you want. Like me REDS.

I still have a pet and I got to go feed him Mr. Silkie.

Just my thoughts.

My experience has been that most people keep too many birds. I showed on the circuit quite successfully for 5 years, after I had sold my farm, with just 10 birds in my entire flock. I simply had no room to keep more. You know what? I had a heck of a lot more fun. Wash one really good bird, and go to the show. I won more than I ever had before as I had had to cull down to the best.

Now I have 8 females and 2 K s in my flock. The numbers of chicks they are producing is wonderful. I have time to give them all the attention they deserve also. You don't need a bloody army! Just a few good troops.

 

[3riverschick]

My experience has been that most people keep too many birds. I showed on the circuit quite successfully for 5 years, after I had sold my farm, with just 10 birds in my entire flock. I simply had no room to keep more. You know what? I had a heck of a lot more fun. Wash one really good bird, and go to the show. I won more than I ever had before as I had had to cull down to the best.

Now I have 8 females and 2 K s in my flock. The numbers of chicks they are producing is wonderful. I have time to give them all the attention they deserve also. You don't need a bloody army! Just a few good troops.

Amen to that! I have room for 30 adult birds. Can be happy with less, smile. Will keep just one breed. Am starting out with a trio. (quad is also a good idea if you want a spare roo). I will keep it small too. Have seen in previous forays into other poultry breeds just how fast the numbers can grow, whew! Like Bob said, start small, stay middle of the road(for me that means started birds from winning line-bred strain which doesn't produce a plethora of genetic surprises), and as said above, stay small, keepng the very best. I did this with dogs and it worked out. Just requires more study, and discernment when culling.
Regards,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

Agreed testing the water with a few different breeds is the only way to really find what you really like.

I started many years ago with Australorps and Delaware and a few Cochins then added the sex links and Minorcas I also had Marans. hen I tried the Wyandottes. They and the Cochins have settled in as my favorites for temperament, broodiness and hardiness. the Minorcas are flighty until matrons and make great layers. the Aussies have a nice temperament, great personalities and can go broodie although they are fiercely protective mothers. I have one Delaware hen left, a sweetheart that has a forever home. But the Marans were just too temperamental and flighty and the Roos were mean...so they went quickly. the sex links are somewhat flighty but do make good layers and table meat.

I have to say, you and desertmarcy support the notion of getting one or two of a couple of breeds one is interested in to form a better idea of whether the temperament is a good match for you, rather than, as Bob said, getting a whole bunch of birds because they sound good on paper. 

Since you have Cochins I wanted to tell you about my one and only.  I have a Blue Cochin hen who is the most entertaining bird - watching her run across the yard just makes me laugh out loud sometimes   She and my lord-knows-what-breed Red hen hang out together, they were purchased together from a local feed and supply store by a young couple and came to me in late June, right before the Red girl started laying, and the Cochin started a month later.  She has laid about 5 eggs a week since she started, very pretty eggs.  She is a good forager and just seems cheerful all the time.  I must say, if I had read up on the breed before getting her, I would not have expected 5 eggs a week and a hen that likes to forage.  I feel fortunate to have her.

Yes,theCochins do freerange...with gusto here. Love to see the girls streak out of the run in the morning, feathers flowing behind them and wing outstretched attempting to fly. My nephew calls them "the chickens wearing their pajamas". I have many Blue Cochins too.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

I am keeping too many breeds, probably, but it is a learning process. Finding the one or two that just flips your switch. Like many people, I was drawn to the Black Copper Marans because of their ability to lay dark eggs. Now I am finding these to be my least favorite, not because of all the work involved to better the breed, which is considerable, but because of their personality and behavior. Perhaps it is just the line I have, but they feather pick each other, I have had pullets pick so much they have killed their penmates; they are not calm and act like you are killing them if you just pick one up (but have to catch them first). I have none of these problems with my other breeds. Now I am a stubborn type person and it takes me a while to admit that something I did is not working out for me...but I'm getting there with this breed.

On the other hand, I bought some German New Hampshires from your friend Matt, Bob, since I was getting Mohawk Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks from him already, easy enough to add a few to the order. Now here is a breed I knew little about and bought almost on a whim, and they are turning out to be moving to the top of my favorite list.

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than it may take some time to figure out which breed is best for you and I wouldn't criticize anybody for starting with too many breeds at first.

I started with about 25 birds, 5 pullets of 5 breeds; and added many more. I also had intended it to be a learning experience. ANd it has been that for sure. THe Ss are remarkable foragers and some girls are very friendly and like to help when gardening ( seeking the worms !) to the point of bothersome. I have since learned that very good SS are very rare.

Most of my original hens are just good layers. A value in itself.

One of my favorites are the marans; the boys I have are gentlemen and the cuckoos especially grow fast and big.

Single combs are a problem here. Frostbite is common. Maybe someone has suggestions to improve the situation. Usually the roosters with only a few hens suffer the most; the roosters in a full house fair much better.

I'm still learning. ANd narrowing the breeds that have kept my interest. Still more to learn before I can find the best choice for me.

 

[Robert Blosl]

http://ohionational.org/

 

[kathyinmo]

Thanks for that, Bob!

Oops, pictures aren't there yet. Soooon!

 

[Pozees]

I started with about 25 birds, 5 pullets of 5 breeds; and added many more. I also had intended it to be a learning experience. ANd it has been that for sure. THe Ss are remarkable foragers and some girls are very friendly and like to help when gardening ( seeking the worms !) to the point of bothersome. I have since learned that very good SS are very rare.

Most of my original hens are just good layers. A value in itself.

One of my favorites are the marans; the boys I have are gentlemen and the cuckoos especially grow fast and big.

Single combs are a problem here. Frostbite is common. Maybe someone has suggestions to improve the situation. Usually the roosters with only a few hens suffer the most; the roosters in a full house fair much better.

I'm still learning. ANd narrowing the breeds that have kept my interest. Still more to learn before I can find the best choice for me.

I have also heard that good SS are rare and hard to find - is it because not many people are breeding toward SOP or because it is difficult to achieve? I am still very much in love with them. The ones I have now are not as good (IMO) as the ones I had years ago, and those were also hatchery birds, from McMurray. They are every bit as fun, but not nearly the size or depth of mahogany as my previous birds.

 

[call ducks]

Quote: Karen, I don't think any one ever told Emily to stay in the middle of the road

500+ chicks a year! Her idea is start big and go fast! But i would consider her a master breeder, not by APA but because she was able to pull it off! going from bird sizes of somthing like 6-7 pounds to 9lbs in about 2 years. But for most people staying small would be the best thing to do. Emily is a biologist with a vast knowledge of genetics. If it was not for that i and culling hard. I do not think The success she had would have came as fast

 

[Arielle]

THe good folks here were able to list a few good breeders. THe breeders are also listed on the SS thread. THey are hard to work with as I understand they are tricolor so that is tricky ( some one correct me here or add further details) and it seems mostly the hatchery type has taken over. One source did suggest working with birds from the Meyers hatchery. I'm waiting for my 2 pullets to grow up and show me what they have. THe 3 hens originally from Mc Murry are wonderful, just not the right weight or shape. THey do act like SS and are responsible for my liking the SS and finding more lines.

I just think they fell out of favor and the hatchery types filled the gap. Overall I don't see many people having SS compares to other more popular breeds = informal survey of what people talk about on the threads.

 

[kathyinmo]

My experience has been that most people keep too many birds. I showed on the circuit quite successfully for 5 years, after I had sold my farm, with just 10 birds in my entire flock. I simply had no room to keep more. You know what? I had a heck of a lot more fun. Wash one really good bird, and go to the show. I won more than I ever had before as I had had to cull down to the best.

Now I have 8 females and 2 K s in my flock. The numbers of chicks they are producing is wonderful. I have time to give them all the attention they deserve also. You don't need a bloody army! Just a few good troops.

Why do you say, "My experience has been that most people keep too many birds." ??? Too many for what?