Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[thedragonlady]

While this doesn't address survivability--but Walt did have a partial answer that I found now that I am catching up on the fast paced thread!! "Back in the day they did not have these large "beasts" they have now. When a chicken is made bigger than it should be, the legs go first and then the type. if you look at some of the monster Rocks being shown they really don't have the type that the proper sized birds have......they are just big and imposing. When I see Orps that look like like Cochins with tiny heads, I just wonder what people are thinking. Read the description of an Orp. It has to have a tail and you have to be able to see it's hocks and that is what the SOP says, but people are turning out these fluff balls and calling them Orps." Walt

The English Orps have heavier feathering because they NEED it in that climate. Our SOP calls for less, and stiff main tails. We do not have the bone chilling dampness here, and we infused a lot of Rock during WW1, then changed from the English standard. Before they were identical.

The good British birds have a lot to add. They have deeper keels, and therefore more meat. They also are relatively free of shafting, in the Buffs at least. Their color is more uniform. They have great width and depth. Crossed with a good egg laying line of SOP Orps, with stiff tails, they are producing nice birds without resorting to Rock and Wyandotte mixing as so many are doing.

Come see us Walt.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

These chicks are nearly a week old. There were some yellow chicks in the bunch as well, but these were overwhelmingly the majority. Usually they feather in completely normal without any issue of this gray. If they do have gray it is only on the very tip of the primaries. It doesn't usually extend into the rest of the wing or body.

Did these guys look grey, or at least, less yellow, at hatch or is the grey a new development? My Silkies were clearly grey or not bright yellow within a day or two of hatching. (I.E. their down). They don't start looking convincingly white until about 3 weeks or more so give them more time. I'm curious with white birds that have "normal" feathers because the only whites I work with are Silkies so I hope you will keep us/me posted! And really DO mark them (or the yellow ones, if that is easier) because they could change on you overnight. It would be very interesting to track this.

 

[Robert Blosl]

There are a couple of people in Colorado wanting to know whether there are SOP RIR breeders in or near our state. One person wants to ship eggs and believes shipping from similar elevation will give the best hatch rate (I've never shipped eggs, so I have no idea, but it makes sense), and I think the other wants chicks. Anyone here have a recommendation?

Paul lives in Colorado and he would be a good one to get a start from. Dont know about eggs. A lot of breeders dont like waisting their time with eggs sometimes chicks sometimes nothing. Some one will tell you how to get in touch with him. bob

 

[mbmess2003]

Nice pics Bob! The trio and the pair of WR bantams I picked up at the Pensacola show from you are doing great.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Did these guys look grey, or at least, less yellow, at hatch or is the grey a new development? My Silkies were clearly grey or not bright yellow within a day or two of hatching. (I.E. their down). They don't start looking convincingly white until about 3 weeks or more so give them more time. I'm curious with white birds that have "normal" feathers because the only whites I work with are Silkies so I hope you will keep us/me posted! And really DO mark them (or the yellow ones, if that is easier) because they could change on you overnight. It would be very interesting to track this.

Luckily, I only have these last two white bantams in the brooder. All the rest are standard black and blue Langshans. As soon as I move them up to the barn I will wing band them and make the notes.

Most all of the chicks hatch out this gray color on the down. The wing feathers always come in white with a slight amount of gray on the tips of the primary feathers. The yellow chicks have no gray on them whatsoever and always feather in white. No other color. This is the first time the gray has extended into the lesser primaries and onto the wing.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I'm feeling like our weather here in southern NewEngland has been A LOT like England this year! THe cold rains just don't seem to stop for more than a day. THe dry years I don't worry so much about the livestock; but the cold wet rains . . . the chickens especially look like nearly drown rats, the turkeys don't seem to care, they just don't display and the water rolls right off; and the ducks? THey go about their usual business!!!

I'm thinking the Buff Orpingtons would fit right in here well.

 

[catdaddyfro]

There are a couple of people in Colorado wanting to know whether there are SOP RIR breeders in or near our state. One person wants to ship eggs and believes shipping from similar elevation will give the best hatch rate (I've never shipped eggs, so I have no idea, but it makes sense), and I think the other wants chicks. Anyone here have a recommendation?

Quote:

greathorse is his username here if you want to PM him.

Jeff

 

[call ducks]

Quote:
Hate to say it to you....but if englands climate is like NS they do not need it. We get have humid air because we live not far from the bay... Take a look at the Chantecler that was devloped to stand Canada's climate (more so quebec region) and it is not this Huge fluffly bird. It is a relitivly tight feather bird.

I evney the people out west... Because they have DRY snow. We have really damp and heavy snow.... That's fun to shovel

 

[Bentley]

There are a couple of people in Colorado wanting to know whether there are SOP RIR breeders in or near our state.  One person wants to ship eggs and believes shipping from similar elevation will give the best hatch rate (I've never shipped eggs, so I have no idea, but it makes sense), and I think the other wants chicks.  Anyone here have a recommendation?

While I am not a fan of shipping eggs through the postal service, as a general rule (ok, more than a general rule) 'eggs roll down hill and should be incubated down hill'. There are documented problems and added challenges incubating eggs at high altitudes. This problem is amplified if the eggs are produced at low altitudes then transported to a hatchery at a higher altitude. So, if the breeders are at the same altitude or higher then artificial incubation at high altitudes is not so bad. Remember, eggs roll down hill and she be incubated 'down hill' (or at least equal altitude)

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
So eggs I ship to, say Colorado or Kentucky may not hatch as well as eggs I ship to Florida or Texas? Hmmmm......