Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[buffalogal]

Here's "Junior and his Junettes" !!

http://tinyurl.com/d76sjwk

That is a handsome group of birds.

 

[desertmarcy]

Actually amprolium is an antiparasitic, since coccidia are parasites, not bacteria. Antibiotics work against bacteria; antifungals against yeast and other fungi; antiparasitics against parasites.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Calf Manna comes in 25lb and 50 lb sacks, and is a vitamin-mineral supplement for darned near any critter. It works wonders especially in growing large frames on birds. I've fed it for years to horses, cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, dogs, and birds. My son , who is now 6'4" used to munch on it when he was little...well not really LITTLE, as he weighed 11 lbs at birth. It is great stuff. I feed 1/4 cup a day to growing Orps.

Thank you very much!!! I will get some for the next "crop" of Columbian Rocks I raise (started collecting eggs this week). If I ever want to compete with the Whites, mine are gonna have to be larger. My largest male (11 months now) is just a tad over 10lbs

Thanks again!!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Your input is invaluable. Because I am who I am, and because I have my own "strange and absurd and illogical" opinions (and because people continue to publicly say that) I will no longer be posting on the forums, not just this thread but everywhere else apart from the Swap Threads (You have to post on those in order to participate). This will cut down on the amount of people I annoy with my views and backwards logic. In this way I can still learn a lot from all of you, without irritating and annoying you at the same time, and causing "rudies" to be slung in my direction. I have very strong opinions that have nothing to do with learning proper chicken raising (like why I won't eat fertilized eggs). To say it is illogical or makes no sense isn't anybody's place...just like it's not my place to say anything to anyone else with regard to why they do eat fertilized eggs (or any other topic). I've been very clear in the fact that I'm clueless when it comes to chickens...that doesn't mean I'm not allowed an opinion or knowledge in other areas, and I don't feel it's proper etiquette to slam someone because their opinion is not the same as your own.

Like I said, I will read and 100% apply the information given on this thread and many other threads, but due to the fact that I do not have thick skin and have no desire to have thick skin, it's best that I simply not post. I don't like the bitter, frustrated, mouthy person I become while posting at BYC. I like the old me...the sweet me, and I'm anything but sweet here at BYC lately (I've become ugly with my words and I refuse to do it any longer).

I wish everyone the very best in all things, particularly BIG blessings in 2013 regarding the heritage flocks you're putting so much effort into preserving. I'm very excited to see what 2013 will bring to all of you, and I particularly enjoy seeing pictures of your amazing birds. Good health to everyone and their flocks, and thank you again...I will continue to soak up information and I will continue to be very appreciative of those who choose to share your knowledge with everyone here. I still fully intend on beginning my heritage preservation in 2015 and I have decided on the Chantecler (I will start with the white only and move on to partridge after I learn type properly). I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas.

Oh well, my goodness.

I apologize. I suppose I'm the one who should keep my mouth shut. I seem to offend people every time I say something. I don't try to. You ask very good questions and I'm sure you've gotten everyone to thinking and sharing and applying knowledge... so it would never do for you to butt-out. Ask away.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

For real Lacy...JEEZ!!!!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Oh well, my goodness.

I apologize. I suppose I'm the one who should keep my mouth shut. I seem to offend people every time I say something. I don't try to. You ask very good questions and I'm sure you've gotten everyone to thinking and sharing and applying knowledge... so it would never do for you to butt-out. Ask away.

I don't think it was you, Lacy or this thread ....

 

[Pozees]

Oh well, my goodness.

I apologize. I suppose I'm the one who should keep my mouth shut. I seem to offend people every time I say something. I don't try to. You ask very good questions and I'm sure you've gotten everyone to thinking and sharing and applying knowledge... so it would never do for you to butt-out. Ask away.

I don't recall ever being offended by you.

 

[Pozees]

That is a handsome group of birds.

x2!

 

[FeyRaine]

I haven't posted in a few days but I have been following the tread and I just wanted to express THANKS esp. to all the of those who have shared such great details on how they have setup their breeding & management of these Heritage breeds. I've been taking all this info. in and am working on my 5yr plan. (after 8 yrs w/ mutts my flock upgrade begins in 2013, actually it begins Sat. when I gift a trio of mutts, roo , hen, & pt-o-l pullet to a neighbor who really just needs birds to make some food/eggs).

Anyway, I am working on a long-term plan for additional pens, spacing, determining totals on #s of birds I can handle, how that works out in terms of breeds, etc. Everything on this thread (going back to day one) is being taken into consideration so Thanks!

I am taking a look at the concept of getting pairs or trios of good quality of a couple breeds I feel I might be able to work w/ in rotation,
I think that would be something I can do easily since my land is naturally divided up already, also I've noticed it stated in a few places that some of the large birds (Jersey Giant for ex) don't reach total size until after 2yr of age, so having a pen just growing for a yr or 2 while my focus is on other birds would not be a bad thing, & then I would know I actually _have_ birds of the breed(s) I want & am essentially holding a pair or trio of a few rare breeds as part of the preservation effort. I followed the link posted recently to a website listing breeders, # of birds etc. and while I know that isn't everyone listed there, it was sobering to clink repeatedly on breeds to find 0 breeders, 0 birds being overwintered. Given I already have 6 pens of mutts, I do feel I might as well have 6 pens of something worthwhile even if only b/c I'm holding a slow growing pair/trio for my future self to work with when they & I "grow into it". I know that doesn't work for urban folks, but w/ 30 acres no time like now, & something is better than nothing (just hate those 0 overwintered listings)...

I will post a more detailed plan here for feedback when I have it, but right now here is my gen. vision:

I am committed in 2013 to

1.) Buckeye Trio - will be my 1st serious venture into breed/grow/cull preservation This breed is such a great match for me for so many reasons it is almost silly. I'm over-the-moon about getting started after a decade of wishing for Buckeyes!

2.) Icelandic dayolds (25) - from a good source. Will grow these out starting in May, they are so rare atm that the first goal is just to have some in another location on the planet, they are landrace so to preserve them is to keep them pure, and steward them by allowing them live as free-range as possible while increasing their own numbers naturally. (so many yrs down the rd. I'm sure specific breeding for this or that will become poss. but that is far in the future).

3.)Welsh Harlequin (doz. hatching eggs) -yes ducks (OT for this thread but it is part of my overall 2013 upgrade to also upgrade the duck flock as well - & the duck eggs might help fund my projects, if we don't eat them all ourselves.)

4.)NYDH - practice hatching in new 'bator w/ mutt brown & colored egg layers who will also help pay for the preservation of others

5.) I will be working out pens etc. & making plans for that other pair or trio to get growing

2014 - assuming all goes well I will have at the start of the year about 20% more birds than I do right now (Dec 2012)
w/ >50% being preservation breed stock.

- I would continue w/ Buckeye preservation doing my second year of breed/grow/cull w/ this breed
- I would continue w/ growing out my Icelandic stock & their hoped for natural increase in numbers
- I would hope to add 2 additional preservation breeds in the form of young quality trios who will spend 1-2 yrs growing to show their full potential (ie 2 breeding pens, 6 total birds, to bring me to 4 specific preservation breeds "on hand" w/ the understanding that I would at this point only be actively working with the Buckeyes in terms of _Breeding_ as opposed to daily care & poopscooping ).
-adding grow pens etc. in prep. for 2015
- Oh, & I'm sure my current 2 Bourbon Red Turkey pullets would like a Tom by 2014 ;>

So that is the overall plan in my head for getting going as a preservationist, trying to keep the numbers reasonable, not expand too fast or too large to manage, keeping #s close to what I have now the first year, just better stock, then as I have the ability (fresh egg buyers) I will add on so that it keeps in balance, but w/ an eye to maintaining at least a pure good quality pair (or trio) of 4 different rare breeds (not counting the ducks & turkeys which again I already have).

FeyRaine

&ps: @Karen -- so glad your birds arrived safely best wishes w/ them for you!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I haven't posted in a few days but I have been following the tread and I just wanted to express THANKS esp. to all the of those who have shared such great details on how they have setup their breeding & management of these Heritage breeds. I've been taking all this info. in and am working on my 5yr plan. (after 8 yrs w/ mutts my flock upgrade begins in 2013, actually it begins Sat. when I gift a trio of mutts, roo , hen, & pt-o-l pullet to a neighbor who really just needs birds to make some food/eggs).

Anyway, I am working on a long-term plan for additional pens, spacing, determining totals on #s of birds I can handle, how that works out in terms of breeds, etc. Everything on this thread (going back to day one) is being taken into consideration so Thanks!

I am taking a look at the concept of getting pairs or trios of good quality of a couple breeds I feel I might be able to work w/ in rotation,
I think that would be something I can do easily since my land is naturally divided up already, also I've noticed it stated in a few places that some of the large birds (Jersey Giant for ex) don't reach total size until after 2yr of age, so having a pen just growing for a yr or 2 while my focus is on other birds would not be a bad thing, & then I would know I actually _have_ birds of the breed(s) I want & am essentially holding a pair or trio of a few rare breeds as part of the preservation effort. I followed the link posted recently to a website listing breeders, # of birds etc. and while I know that isn't everyone listed there, it was sobering to clink repeatedly on breeds to find 0 breeders, 0 birds being overwintered. Given I already have 6 pens of mutts, I do feel I might as well have 6 pens of something worthwhile even if only b/c I'm holding a slow growing pair/trio for my future self to work with when they & I "grow into it". I know that doesn't work for urban folks, but w/ 30 acres no time like now, & something is better than nothing (just hate those 0 overwintered listings)...

I will post a more detailed plan here for feedback when I have it, but right now here is my gen. vision:

I am committed in 2013 to

1.) Buckeye Trio - will be my 1st serious venture into breed/grow/cull preservation This breed is such a great match for me for so many reasons it is almost silly. I'm over-the-moon about getting started after a decade of wishing for Buckeyes!

2.) Icelandic dayolds (25) - from a good source. Will grow these out starting in May, they are so rare atm that the first goal is just to have some in another location on the planet, they are landrace so to preserve them is to keep them pure, and steward them by allowing them live as free-range as possible while increasing their own numbers naturally. (so many yrs down the rd. I'm sure specific breeding for this or that will become poss. but that is far in the future).

3.)Welsh Harlequin (doz. hatching eggs) -yes ducks (OT for this thread but it is part of my overall 2013 upgrade to also upgrade the duck flock as well - & the duck eggs might help fund my projects, if we don't eat them all ourselves.)

4.)NYDH - practice hatching in new 'bator w/ mutt brown & colored egg layers who will also help pay for the preservation of others

5.) I will be working out pens etc. & making plans for that other pair or trio to get growing

2014 - assuming all goes well I will have at the start of the year about 20% more birds than I do right now (Dec 2012)
w/ >50% being preservation breed stock.

- I would continue w/ Buckeye preservation doing my second year of breed/grow/cull w/ this breed
- I would continue w/ growing out my Icelandic stock & their hoped for natural increase in numbers
- I would hope to add 2 additional preservation breeds in the form of young quality trios who will spend 1-2 yrs growing to show their full potential (ie 2 breeding pens, 6 total birds, to bring me to 4 specific preservation breeds "on hand" w/ the understanding that I would at this point only be actively working with the Buckeyes in terms of _Breeding_ as opposed to daily care & poopscooping ).
-adding grow pens etc. in prep. for 2015
- Oh, & I'm sure my current 2 Bourbon Red Turkey pullets would like a Tom by 2014 ;>

So that is the overall plan in my head for getting going as a preservationist, trying to keep the numbers reasonable, not expand too fast or too large to manage, keeping #s close to what I have now the first year, just better stock, then as I have the ability (fresh egg buyers) I will add on so that it keeps in balance, but w/ an eye to maintaining at least a pure good quality pair (or trio) of 4 different rare breeds (not counting the ducks & turkeys which again I already have).

FeyRaine

&ps: @Karen -- so glad your birds arrived safely best wishes w/ them for you!

I think Icelandic's are great. They are fun to watch and very feed efficent. . Great free rangers but hard to contain IMO mine get out of the chicken yard all the time. Even with a wing clip they will get 50 feet up in the cedar and pine trees