Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Pozees]

My collies, rough and smooth: Pappy, 12 my chicken herder and child protector; Zip, 10 my son's collie, a furry, blurry flash of blue and white; Morgan, 7 who came to us when my mentor died and who died of a broken heart as a result, despite our best efforts; Dukie, 4 1/2 , brain-damaged as a little pup in transit to our home , every day was new to him, gone way to soon due to bad Diamond dog food.;...they have all gone now and I miss all of them.
Sigh,
Karen

It is rare to hear of smooth collies. I always thought of them as the perfect family and farm dog, although I have never owned one so I am no witness to that potential. I always thought if I ever got another large breed, they would be high on my list.

 

[Pozees]

Uh ... sorry Bob

Okay I'll follow my dog post with a chicken post in a desperate attempt to appease the Heritage Large Fowl Gods:

The scenario is, you have purchased 10 day old chicks knowing you plan on keeping a maximum of 6 (2 cockerels, 4 pullets) to breed to SOP. I know breeds mature at different rates so assume for argument's sake you have purchased Partridge Rocks. At what age (chick age, not your age) are you reasonably confident you can select the keepers? Is there any such cutoff or is it largely dependent on the lines, brood, or other elements that might contribute to the maturity rate?

 

[thedragonlady]

Yeah, THAT.

I wouldn't worry too much about Walt. That old fox has got plenty of antifreeze on board I betcha! And heaven knows how many birds loaded up to keep him warm and fed.

 

[gjensen]

They are good dogs. we have Cardigan Corgi's....five of them.

Off to a chicken show in NV....through a snow storm at Donner Pass. This is dedication!

Walt

A Corgi breeder gave me a puppy when I was a kid. I will not forget that dog.

 

[3riverschick]

It is rare to hear of smooth collies. I always thought of them as the perfect family and farm dog, although I have never owned one so I am no witness to that potential. I always thought if I ever got another large breed, they would be high on my list.

They are not as popular as rough collies. They are the joksters of the breed. For my money, it's half the work and twice the fun with the smooth coats. They have a coat just like a corgi. I bred working dogs When the kennel retired, collies out of Bellwether girls were successfully working in 9 venues. As the years have rolled by, it is so much fun to watch them achieve with their owners. Believe it or not, the only venue nobody tried with collies from my kennel was herding, LOL. I am sure they would have done fine.
Karen

 

[buffalogal]

I see now that it is his nose in the picture..

w.

I just glanced at it and thought Cottontop Tamarind, but I see the dog now.

Bouvs are wonderful; rugged, and loyal. I have a friend who has one that is being trained as a Service dog for her daughter who has Prosopagnosia. (faceblindness)

 

[Pozees]

They are not as popular as rough collies. They are the joksters of the breed. For my mney, it's half the work and twice the fun with the shot coats. They have a coat just lie a corgi. I bred working dogs When the kennel retired collies out of Bellwether girls were successfully working in 9 venues. As the years have rolled by, it is so much fun to watch them achieve with their owners. Beleive it or not, the only venue, nobody tried with collies from my kennel was herding, LOL. I am sure they would have done fine.
Karen

Exactly what I always thought!

Now I have smooth fever!

Are any of the get from your line of smooths still available?

 

[buffalogal]

They are good dogs. we have Cardigan Corgi's....five of them.

Off to a chicken show in NV....through a snow storm at Donner Pass. This is dedication!

Walt

Five Cardigans? Would that be one of each color?

Good luck and Godspeed through the pass.

 

[3riverschick]

Exactly what I always thought!

Now I have smooth fever!

Are any of the get from your line of smooths still available?

One of the boys from our 2002 litter went down to be a premier stud at Swan Collies in TX (website) Ch. Swan's AU Phoenix Rising is an integral part of their breeding program. In 2007, I sent his sister, Bellwether Golden Princess down to Swan on lease for a litter. Because of the line-breeding since 2002, the 2012 Swan litter is 5/8 Bellwether . That is the only place Bellwether blood is available. Suanne has done a great job melding Bellwether with Swan. She health-tests extensively and her collies are versatile.
Karen

 

[plund]

Have you ever read Alfred Payson Terhune's books about his Sunnybank Collies? Great books. Gave me my great love of the breed.