Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Chris09]

The "downside" which I try to warn the backyard gang is simply this. These are not anything, absolutely nothing like a hatchery, utility bird. They'd eat a backyarder out of house and home, take a year to lay, lay far too few eggs, I'd guess, for the them to ever be happy with them. This is just my guess, but I think most backyarders would NOT like these birds. Dunno.

The way I look at it is like this most "backyarders" are way too impatient to have a Heritage Breed.
Most want a fast growing birds that produce meat and or eggs quickly on the least amount of feed.

Chris

 

[Lacy Blues]

Hope you guys don't mind me popping in here. I've been lurking here to learn from you long time breeders. I don't have "heritage" birds, but I do have similar issues in my barnevelder flock. They were once dual purpose, but their laying ability has suffered considerably. It is one thing I'm hoping to improve it as I work with them.

From what I understand, Happy Chooks, if part of your selection strategy is to feel the frames on the birds you choose to breed, looking specifically for abdominal capacity, ie., wide spaces between the pubic bones as well as between the pubic bones and the end of the breast bone/ in addition the amount of space between the legs, then you can increase their ability to lay more eggs. You should look for these qualities not only on your hens but your roosters as well. Also, Bob was saying something a while back about your earliest feathering chicks being the ones which will be the best layers. This selection should be added to the process as well.

Originally Posted by Wynette

Fred, my opinion is that hatcheries are breeding for layability, period. We are choosing which breeders we use based on their conformation and consistency, etc. Layability is for sure important, but is not "priority1" like it is for hatchery birds. Each has its place.

I for one would like my birds to at least pay part of their keep. I know it would make my husband happier! Isn't there a happy medium where we can select for capacity without sacrificing type in our respective breeds?

 

[Pault76]

The way I look at it is like this most "backyarders" are way too impatient to have a Heritage Breed.
Most want a fast growing birds that produce meat and or eggs quickly on the least amount of feed.

Chris

Its taking my reds forever to get filled out. They are around 7 months old and are just starting to look good. Good things come to those who wait.

 

[Fred's Hens]

According the guys in the know on the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread, the best you're gonna push a true, heritage Rhode Island Red is around 200 eggs per season, this according to Bob, I believe.

The stats aren't in on Kathy's new Dels, but I'd love to know. Same with the gorgeous New Hampshires that Walt won with last month. Like to know what they are doing as well. What I'm trying to say is I wouldn't paint all heritage breeds with the same wide brush. I'm just not up to speed on the laying rates of all the large fowl talked about on here. I guess we should start asking that question more often?

 

[Robert Blosl]

Need help I am trying to make a web site where I can have pictures of a product like a chicken a pullet of a breed four of each price say $20. or $30 each. You pick the two you want a male and a female and for say $65 box and shipping to your house.

This is not to be a chicken site but for my new venture Custom turned ink pens.

Any suggestion on web sties you may have used to make a web site to sell on the Internet?

Washed chickens today for a show. God I hate to do that. The Reds and the buff Brahmas don't need washing.

I don't know why I screw with them white chickens any way. So much labor. Mr. Silikie almost jumped into the bucket Walt. He says I want to go.

I told him you are my pet not a show chicken. Got to love it.

bob


http://www.bigcommerce.com/

 

[Robert Blosl]

Fred, my opinion is that hatcheries are breeding for layability, period. We are choosing which breeders we use based on their conformation and consistency, etc. Layability is for sure important, but is not "priority1" like it is for hatchery birds. Each has its place.

You hit the nail on the head. Heritage Breeds are not for the every day back yard hobbyist on here. Only one percent will be happy with them. What this thread is for is to preserve the breeds which they should look like. Not have 275 eggs per year on a Heritage Rhode Island Red. If you did they would blow out their oviducts in one to two years. Remember, this is the big THING they are dual purpose chickens, not egg pro ducting machines like hatchery chickens. They are like a Dur-am Short Horn Cow. She gives some milk, good meat on her calves and they are pretty to own and look at. So are Her fords. They are not to be like a Guernsey Cow or a Holstein. Got to remember what these chickens where breed to do.

If you want eggs and fast results, stay with the feed store stuff. We are here to preserve the rare breeds of chickens and try to keep them going extinct.

So simple but not many can do this. They do not have patients or passion for the cause. That is why only one percent if that will do it.

Glad you came buy to visit hope you will learn something about Poultry Husbandry the old fashion way. bob

 

[Chloe77]

Well, I'm a newbie back-yarder, and I got bitten by the chicken bug. I want mainly to get hatchery birds, but also some heritage. Heritage birds are a joy to look at, and a real thing to show off. Icing on the cake, you could say. I'm looking around for breeders, and look forward to getting some heritage chickens, if I can find any. The problem is, heritage birds seem like a rare thing.

And that's too bad. Heritage birds should be preserved and maintained.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I have no desire to make my flock measure up to commercial standards... that's not what I meant at all. I don't even know if you're referring to me but I'm perfectly happy with my flock as it is in egg capacity. We cannot possibly eat all the eggs we get (even if we ate them at every meal) but I know that some other people would like their "layer breed" to lay more. I've heard others say "how about if I just feed them on the days they give eggs." Well, I have a lot of birds that would go hungry if I went by that.

My breed is "noted" for its egg laying abilities but if I don't select for that abdominal capacity, then my birds may lose that ability to a certain degree.

I suppose if I got off my duff and put a sign out front, I could sell eggs to most of my neighbors and that would make my husband a little happier when it came time for me to go to the feed store!

 

[Chloe77]

I'm not referring to you. I was just saying what my opinion was...

 

[Lacy Blues]

I'm not referring to you. I was just saying what my opinion was...

I'm sorry Chloe. I was responding to Bob. I should have used the quote button. I wasn't talking to you at all.