Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yellow House Farm]

Egg breeds get a bad name from people calling them flighty, but once you know how to work them they're really quite easy. First thing is to do any capturing at night with a redlight head lamp. Box them up, and they're ready for you to work with them the following day. I no more stress about working with my Anconas that I do working with the Dorkings. Moreover, you can put some selection pressure on your birds by not using for breeding particularly obnoxious birds.

 

[fowlman01]

With all due respect, Walt, the folklore may be perpetuated by this thread even. I recall reading a post not too far back. Well, on THIS thread it's quite a ways back because it's pretty active. But the point being a breeder of show quality fowl stated that he wouldn't sell birds to just anyone. It had to be someone serious about the breed. So if people are posting that they will only sell to serious people, what other impression would you expect for them to get?

rick

That is up to him, but that does not say that all breeders would do that. Again.....BYC is not the pulse of the show poultry world. So far I have only seen one post where a person actually tried to buy birds and was not able to buy any. Most of the posts seem to indicate that breeders are helpful. At the end of January 100's of quality birds will be sold by breeders at the PPBA show in Stockton. Thousands of birds are sold at the Columbus show.

I don't think the average poster here has any experience actually talking to a real breeder.

Walt

 

[Pozees]

The Chantecler is a large chicken that lays respectably well and is a good meat producer. Roosters weigh around 9 pounds (3.9 kilos), and hens are 6.5-7.5 pounds (3-3.4 kilos).The breed possess yellow skin and beaks, and lay brown eggs. With plumage that lies tight against the body but has a good deal of fluff, and an exceptionally small cushion comb and wattles, the Chantecler is one of the most cold hardy chickens. They are gentle birds amenable to taming, but can be temperamental in confinement.[2]

This should be a great breed for those in frigged climates.

Glad the Butter Cup did that well that shows someone out there has some good wins to win that high up at a show like this.

I often wonder what breeds are at the top right now and what breeds are in trouble.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a scale of one to four. Two meaning marginal not worthy of a blue ribbon at a show and a number three for pretty good true to breed but needs much help then a four a breed that is in the top for its shape and color.

My wife said this mourning it seems that most of the breeds that people want you to look for are meat breeds or dual purpose breeds. Not many want Leghorns, Miniorcas, Silver Spangled Hamburgs ect. Not many want Brahma or Wyandotte large fowl why would this be?

Many of the new converts coming over from the hatchery side of the table are wanting breeds that are flamboyant in color and then when they pick a breed for me to locate for them I have never heard of them or not many have them anymore or they are more of a two out of a scale of four on a rating list.

One person got really bent out of shape because I could not find them any super duper Silver Grey Dorkings. I cant help it but boy he sure was upset why there aren't any great strains out there. You wonder what his goals are in getting such a breed. Does he just want to look at them. Does he intend to breed them to improve them or what. People are funny sometimes in their demands.

So I would love to find the top three butter cup breeders in the USA.

Bob, I have been seeking both Sussex and Leghorns for the last few months, and heeded your advice as well as that of many others when I decided to buy Sussex from Tony Albritton and Leghorns from Duane Urch. I love both. Interested in Minorcas as well. I may be in the minority, but I'm here. Flighty often = predator savvy - very useful.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
As much as I love my computer and all it has done for me and the connections I have been able to make .... the main point I believe Walt is making is, folks have to get off the computer and out into the real world to actually see and buy the birds in most cases (and meet and talk to the breeders.) We are not talking about virtual chickens or breeders for the most part.

 

[Bentley]

It makes no sense to me either.

I am just guessing here, but given who was involved in pushing this "Heritage" name and coming up with "The list" I believe it is all designed for commercial profit. The term does have some positive effects to the poultry fancy as well though. Hopefully when the APA finishes it's study the old breeds will be included. Personally I think some of the bantams and waterfowl should be included as well. Nankin bantams are a bantam breed that comes to mind.

Walt

Exactly, I am CERTAIN that several of the people pushing the term Heritage Poultry are looking for an economic benefit through marketing. Is it wrong? I am not saying that. But I have sat on committees where this term was discussed and I can assure you their was some personal gain to be had with the strictness of the definition. Having said that, I am all for the rearing, raising and breeding of these fowl with the goal and idea of preserving 'older traditional breeds' so that we don't lose them.

 

[Texasmja]

That is up to him, but that does not say that all breeders would do that. Again.....BYC is not the pulse of the show poultry world. So far I have only seen one post where a person actually tried to buy birds and was not able to buy any. Most of the posts seem to indicate that breeders are helpful. At the end of January 100's of quality birds will be sold by breeders at the PPBA show in Stockton. Thousands of birds are sold at the Columbus show.

I don't think the average poster here has any experience actually talking to a real breeder.

Walt

I talked to every breeder I could find that has show quality birds. One tried to sell me a trio that looked no where near the SOP, I guess being new to a breed meant I was ignorant to what a quality bird looked like. I gracefully declined and said it wasn't what I was looking for. Another told me to contact her in a month, which I did, told me to contact her in the fall, which I did, then decided that she would only sell to people she knows. Another breeder, has decided to not breed anymore. Two other breeders are APA, ABA judges were wonderful to talk to, answered questions, offered advice, and yes they both are shipping me chicks in 2013. I am grateful that these two longtime breeders are willing to send me quality birds.

 

[mschlumb]

Egg breeds get a bad name from people calling them flighty, but once you know how to work them they're really quite easy.  First thing is to do any capturing at night with a redlight head lamp.  Box them up, and they're ready for you to work with them the following day.  I no more stress about working with my Anconas that I do working with the Dorkings.  Moreover, you can put some selection pressure on your birds by not using for breeding particularly obnoxious birds.

I agree, some people make the temperament of Mediterranean breeds sound worse than they actually are. The first birds I ever got were leghorn bantams. They were flighty but i didn't know any different so I didn't care. If you work with any bird they will calm down. It's about how you handle them. And yes you can select away from excessive flightiness.

My dad has some white leghorn large fowl that are very easy going, they may not really like to be caught but once you get ahold of them they settle down and don't fuss.Same way with most of the dark browns I had.

And if you want a foraging breed I think a lightweight active leghorn, andalusian, or buttercup is hard to beat.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I also do not sell my horses to just anyone, and I can assure you the price tag is more than $25. I stand by that breeders could be doing more to encourage and promote their lines so that they will be here in 20 years.

This is when I feel like, why bother, just go with the pretty birds from the hatchery. Much easier to get. So why add more stress into my life . . . .

I have always bred my mares to the best stallion, in the US and in the world. THAT is much easier than getting good quality chickens. And way more expensive. IT means I can better select a great stallion to match my mare and improve on her weak points.

OK I'll go back to my rock.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Good to know! Trouble I had - was working (volunteering) with a variety of breeds including the big, laid back dudes like orpingtons and cochins and brahmas, and then there were the leghorns. Full stop. The leghorns completely freaked me out - and I actually thought I was pretty good with animals - until I met the leghorns.

(Even all the nutty little game birds were easier to deal with than the leghorns .... <sigh> )

 

[Texasmja]

I also do not sell my horses to just anyone, and I can assure you the price tag is more than $25. I stand by that breeders could be doing more to encourage and promote their lines so that they will be here in 20 years.

This is when I feel like, why bother, just go with the pretty birds from the hatchery. Much easier to get. So why add more stress into my life . . . .

I have always bred my mares to the best stallion, in the US and in the world. THAT is much easier than getting good quality chickens. And way more expensive. IT means I can better select a great stallion to match my mare and improve on her weak points.

OK I'll go back to my rock.

I agree. I breed, raise and show cutting horses. I can breed to the top cutting horse stallion for 25k with a phone call. But dang if I can buy quality CHICKENS, LOL.