Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[jaman4]

Hi Kathy
Thanks for posting the video's.I really enjoyed watching them.
Bobby

 

[Chris Herzog]

Hi Kathy
Thanks for posting the video's.I really enjoyed watching them.
Bobby

I agree! I finally had a sec to sit down and watch them.....Thanks!!!

Chris

 

[gjensen]

I enjoyed that the first time I watched it to. For me that was the top of the hill concerning utility pure breed poultry. I think we have went downhill from there.

 

[ashandvine]

JAMAN The barrels don't appear to close in anyway so I assume that the round pen is what keeps them out for the most part. I question how this would work here, with snow etc.

 

[Chris09]

JAMAN The barrels don't appear to close in anyway so I assume that the round pen is what keeps them out for the most part. I question how this would work here, with snow etc.

I live in NE Ohio where we can get Lake Effect Snow and I don't have a problem with birds on barrels.

Chris

 

[ashandvine]

Mr Chris I am not sure how lake snow is different than ours here. Freezing snow and sleet and winds and all that. I am similiar to Arielle in this regard. Ice storms and all that. I would feel like a bad keeper if I let a bird freeze.

I like the tight hard feathering and believe that has a lot to do with a birds ability to survive. Look at all those Jurassic birds that were just shown. They have gorgeous feathering, tight and hard. They have survived how long? Chantees were a good example too. Logic would suggest that loose fluffy feathering isn't going to stay put in the draft so the birds would stay as warm. I figure birds with good tight feathering have better chances in cold weather, period... but this might be where someone points out the fluffy Euskal or Hedemora and then I can't talk about logic anymore.

 

[Arielle]

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

Quote:

Pages 164 and 165

Acclimation of Fowls.
Mr. E. W. S., of Charleston, 8. C, writes: "lam a reader of The Poultry World, but never have purchased fowls from the north, as I have always heard, and it is the general opinion here, I believe, that fowls brought from northern localities cannot stand our climate. Is there any means of acclimating fowls; if so, can you refer me to some means of so doing?"

It is undoubtedly true that fowls require acclimation, when removed from a cold to a warm climate or vice versa, and we can easily understand that if the removal is unseasonable that trouble and loss might ensue. Yet it is perfectly easy to satisfy any one that the difficulties are greatly exaggerated, and that the loss need be extremely small or reduced to a point where it absolutely ceases. We are constantly importing into this country fowls from abroad, England, France and Italy, and little or no loss results therefrom. Their systems may receive a greater or less shock according to the difference in the climate of their native and their adopted homes, but the shock does not prevent them from breeding successfully. In some cases it certainly stimulates the reproductive organs, and the fowls for a few generations lay more eggs in their adopted than they did in their native home.
If our southern brethren desire to purchase fowls from northern breeders they should not hesitate to do so. The best time is in the autumn months, and the fowls removed from a colder to a warmer climate are, or ought to be, grateful for the change. By the time that summer with its excessive heat arrives they have become somewhat accustomed to the new climate and very little trouble need be apprehended. Even the heavily-feathered Asiatics do well in the south.
We shou'd not advise the purchase of birds north in the months of June and July, for they would doubtless suffer somewhat from the longer-continued and more excessive heat of the south. This would have a debilitating effect and render them much more subject to attacks of disease and less able to successfully withstand them. But if they are purchased at any time from September to January we think that they will do well. The "general opinion" to the contrary may be a mere prejudice or it may be founded upon a few cases of unseasonable introduction of fowls, but we seriously question whether it has any substantial reason for existing. At any rate, we do not hesitate to advise our querist to purchase such fowls as he may desire of northern breeders.
===========================================
Karen, interesting read. ANd I know Bob has been clear that birds will adapt given at least three years. Though I should ask him -- oh Boooooobbbbbbbbbb--is that generations or the same birds.

I personally moved from coastal Maine to the RI border and I have NOT adapted after 25 years. This is still too hot for me in the summers.

If I am understanding everyone, the birds generally adapt. Managing the birds during long bouts of rain may take a different management style. Hmmmm. . .

 

[jaman4]

Ashandvine
The barrels don't appear to close in anyway so I assume that the round pen is what keeps them out for the most part
I don't understand what you are saying in this sentence.I don't know what the issues will be in Maine.
Bobby

 

[fowlman01]

Rain is the main problem, here in Sonoma County. We had 6" yesterday. I have zero drainage here when the ground is saturated, so I have to create my own substrate so that the birds don't get muddy. I keep adding straw......especially in the waterfowl areas.

Walt

 

[maryhysong]

Rain is the main problem, here in Sonoma County. We had 6" yesterday. I have zero drainage here when the ground is saturated, so I have to create my own substrate so that the birds don't get muddy. I keep adding straw......especially in the waterfowl areas.

Walt

Walt do you have any problems with aspergillous (spelling?) mold causing problems with your ducks, using straw when it's wet?