Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yard full o' rocks]

Spangled

I don't think you or anyone else can "tick off" the bunch here...they are WAY TOO THICK SKINNED and have too many years of experience for that

My interpretation of Bob's intent (and this in MY opinion only) is that the thread was started to discuss the breeds and way(s) in which to preserve them as they were admitted into the APA standard, some of which date back to the 1800s

In my personal situation, I raise Columbian Plymouth Rocks in LF which Bob helped me to obtain approximately 3 yrs ago.. There were NONE to speak of in the US and I am simply working to re-establish a working flock. They are not show worthy yet, but I am trying to utilize the expertise of this combined group to get them to a point that they "could" be shown (per APA standards) if I wanted to.

I hope that makes sense and I hope others will provide their opinions as well

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Remove it? Why would you want to do that? What a waste of good chicken forage that would be.

So its ok for the young birds?? My older ones love it, just dont want to "OD" the grow outs

 

[FOGELLY]

When I was young I didn't believe a lot of old people cuz I would be thinking "how could he have been in the foreign legion, knew Walter Annenberg, wrote for Rollings Stones, etc, etc". When I was young my concept of time was very limited and I thought in htis little bubble..had no real concept of time. Now I think: geez the civil war was only
a few years ago. when you are around after 74 years it is possible that you have done a lot of diverse things..I've got pictures...everything from my ordination papers, to auto racer, university administrator to judge with chicken groupies....almost anything you can think of. I have pictures of it all cuz I knew this day was coming.......ahahaha

Bob has some pictures of him holding a fish if that helps.

Walt

Walt, I meant my post to be a complement (hope it was taken that way) nothing replaces experience. I truly have a appreciation for those that have already lived it and find myself drawn to them more and more. Thank you and the others for sharing your knowledge with us.

I find myself thinking 70 is only 22 years away! 22 years ago I was not thinking 48 is only 22 years away. Man have things changed.

Ron

 

[normanack]

I find myself thinking 70 is only 22 years away! 22 years ago I was not thinking 48 is only 22 years away. Man have things changed.
Ron

What's that saying? "In every old person there's a kid screaming to get out." I am still amazed to be in an old body. I swear I'm 30, tops. Sometimes still a teenager. My body, however, is porch-rocker-worthy.

 

[Chris09]

What does it mean to preserve old rare breeds?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preserve
Preserve
transitive verb

1​

: to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect

2​

a : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay

b : maintain

3​

a : to keep or save from decomposition

b : to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use

4​

: to keep up and reserve for personal or special use

TO preserve a old rare breed is to PROTECTING, MAINTAINING and keeping a old rare breed of fowl ALIVE.
Note-
By Maintaining a breed you are Maintaining the breed to it's breed standard.
Chris

 

[normanack]

I kinda like this one. Just think of the chicken's head pressed up to the glass inside the bottle, looking out . . .

b : b : to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ok y'all.....got a question regarding rearing young birds. While planting the "food plot" that keeps the deer outta my flowerbeds (aka "chicken greens") I accidentally overseeded my two grow out pens and they are LUSH and GREEN with clover, turnips,collards, rape, kale, chickory and radish. I typically move the birds from the brooder to these 2 pens at 4-6 weeks (once fully feathered)...there is a small 40W bulb for heat if need be.

At any rate, I got to looking at those pens tonight and wondered if it was ok to allow young birds to forage on that much green "stuff" at a young age. These are fall/winter greens so they will be fine for months (we plant the same mix at the hunting club for deer), but if the young birds can't eat it, then I need to make a weekend project and remove it

Any advise?

Thanks

What I would do is mow it. Collect the greens you mow and give it to your older birds, then once it is shorter, you can turn your young birds out on it.

 

[Pozees]

What I would do is mow it. Collect the greens you mow and give it to your older birds, then once it is shorter, you can turn your young birds out on it.

I was thinking either that or turn some older birds loose in there a few hours each day until it is the height you want.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

What I would do is mow it. Collect the greens you mow and give it to your older birds, then once it is shorter, you can turn your young birds out on it.

Good idea!!!

Now if I can just figure out how to get my John Deere mower thru a 30" door.....LOL

Perhaps I"ll just use the weedeater

Thanks Lacy (BTW....I have a friend working on LF Blue Rocks....might need an infusion of Andalusian blood to get the proper lacing....can I have him contact you?)

 

[Bentley]

Yard full o' rocks,
"Do you think many want to preserve these old rare breeds?" What does it mean to preserve old rare breeds?

I think there are a lot of people interested in preserving these the old rare breeds. This is one reason why this thread exists, to share information about the breeds, as well as successes and failures. I know many people in my region that specifically raise breeds that are less common and many of these are listed on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. They do so not only for exhibition purposes but because they, too, have an interest in these breeds and many of them bring some sort of nostalgic feel as well. I work with many of these people on their poultry programs and operations so i get to see their progress.

As for me, as I have chosen the breeds I raise I referenced the ALBC website. I then choose breeds that are both less common in my area of the country, need some work to improve, and obviously breeds I have a passion for. I am very fortunate to have the resources to house, in breeding pens, large numbers of birds for breeding purposes. I don't raise any of them for a business or for profit, I do it because I enjoy it. Currently I Have 2 breeds from the 'critical' list, 5 breeds from the 'threatened' list, 3 that are under 'watch', 2 listed as 'recovering' and another 2 that are under 'study' I know this sounds like a lot but, again I am very fortunate in my opportunities right now. I set, on average, 300-400 eggs every other week and cull very very hard. I have several other breeders I also collaborate with on these projects.

What does it mean to preserve them? Read and study their history to learn what the original purpose was for the breed, then breed and select to ensure they are back or heading back to that original standard or purpose. The APA SOP is an invaluable reference to learn about the intricacies of each breed as well as to be used to reference the ideal body weights for each and weigh birds often so they don't 'drift' as a population. If birds are not weighed often, as a flock Large Fowl will tend to lose body weight with each successive generation and bantams will increase in size with each generation. Basically, getting the breeds where they were meant to by their originators.