Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[FeyRaine]

@Copper12

I do see a big challenge to keep the Buckeyes & Icelandics completely apart but I have mtn land w/ several "fingers" & based on the forage patterns of other birds over the past 6 yrs I think it can be done, & if not my fallback plan (b/c I _always _ have a plan B) will be alternate days to free-range w/ fodder yr round on pen days.

Do yours return at night to roost in the pens?
That would be the main issue, they must return for lockup at night to be safe! ...

Thanks for your thoughts on this, I'm excited about the Icelandic specifically for their wild ways & b/c my could-care-less-about-poultry DH actutally pointed this breed out to me (he is of Icelandic ancestry so they became a must-have, plus I get to have pretty multi-colored birds w/o worry that I'll mess up breeding b/c of colors, oh, & I might finally have eggs in winter, just all plus plus plus).

I'm a frenzy of excitement to be at long last taking this huge step in 2013

FeyRaine

 

[Robert Blosl]

Rhode Island Red is :
"eWh/eWh, s+/s+, Mh/Mh, Db/Db, and possible sundry melanisers"
Now Walt what the heck does this mean. Bill you ever saw this in Rhode Island Red Jouranls or Red Chronicles?
The person who came up with this formula has he or she breed Rhode Island Reds befor? I dont know how you can take a formula like this and apply it to breeding Rhode Island Reds.
Sundry Melanisers? I typed this into Google and got this. Boy that's something so what the heck does this mean if Google never heard of it.
http://search.incredibar.com/search...&u=819874877554769551&a=Yz2cZoRkFp&i=39&cid=1
I have a friend who breeds Columbian Plymouth Rocks what is the genetic formula for him. If he gets something like this how can he apply this information for his breeding program next year. He is asking me how to breed his birds in a double mating system as Light Brahma Breeders do. Its so confusing to me I cannot make heads or tails with it.
Here is a question on Rhode Island Reds what does excess black ticking in the female feather have to do with the genetic makeup with Genetics as this is the biggest problem we have in controlling black in the wings and the tail.

How about the quill color what is the genetic code to get black blood red quills rather than rustic red quill color.
I am willing to advance to learn on this Genetic codes but we as breeders have to understand it and use it to produce birds with good color. I dont think genetics will do much to help me breed extended keels, and maintain a brick shape in our Reds. Then what about the Cochin genes in the make up are they allowing for this or in bantams with the Old English blood along with the Cochin blood.? Just thoughts I have as these voo doo crosses made in the 1930s to make the bantam Red. I dont know if they figure this in when coming up with these codes or what ever that means eWh/eWh, s+/s+, Mh/Mh, Db/Db,
I know I have scared off a few rookies with my writings but to tell you the truth if we have to go with this kind of stuff to raise chickens to preserve them we will run off a whole bunch more and they will go back to the feed store chickens where they don't have to worry about anything except a mean production rooster beating up their grand children. Interesting stuff help me understand it. bob

 

[Maggiesdad]

Bob, I think sundry melanizers will make your chicken saddles get durty quicker.

If all this genetic talk makes your head spin, go pet Mr. Silkie til you settle down.


I really appreciate what you've done with this thread. I and my chickens tip our collective hats to you.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Here's "Junior and his Junettes" !!

http://tinyurl.com/d76sjwk

Awesome, Karen!

 

[3riverschick]

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.

Hi Clucky,
An excellent choice! You can have a lot of fun with them. The breed has a real nice breed club. I used to belong to it several years ago when i was considering them. Nice people and so very helpful! Chantecler Fanciers International. I think it's 10.00 a year to join. They also have a chat group just for them.
Best Success,
Karen

 

[Zanna]

"Get the best male you got then get three females and put them in three seperate coops. Rotate this super male with each female every three days. Give him a rest on the fourth day. Toe punch the chicks to the mating of the females. Then if pen two female produces the best chicks mate this female back to the old male again the next year. Keep this going year in and year out till you breed up your strain to your ideal look to the standard. He told me to learn how to breed for genes in my Reds and build the chicken one step at a time."

The above is a quote from Bob in a 2010 post on this thread. What would be the ideal, smallest size pens for the hens to use for this type of breeding plan? Some of the pens I read about that people use are quite small, not tall enough for a roost. Do you just let them sleep on the pen floor as they would at a show? Probably overthinking but wanting the hatching eggs to be as clean as possible I would not think it would be best to have them sleeping in their poop? My current breeding pens are 5, 8x10 chainlink dog kennels with a 3 sided pole building around them about 7 ft. tall and a separate 10x12 separate portable horse stall. I have been breeding trios but want to focus on single mating this year so need more pens. I can easily divide the ones I have or build cages or? to fit inside of them. Currently my roosters stay locked in the pens and the layer/breeder pullets/hens live in the main coop and free-range until breeding season when my selections go in with the roos. Working with Delawares, Welsummers and BCM (I know not heritage!).

Anyone have pics. of their single breeding set-ups they would be willing to post?

 

[3riverschick]

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!

Thank you FayRaine! One thing you forgot. You need one or 2 Livestock Guardian Dogs.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

I don't recall ever being offended by you.
=========================================

Me neither, Lacey.
Breathe Deep, Seek Peace.
Regards,
Karen

 

[desertmarcy]

Bob, I think sundry melanizers will make your chicken saddles get durty quicker.

If all this genetic talk makes your head spin, go pet Mr. Silkie til you settle down.

I really appreciate what you've done with this thread. I and my chickens tip our collective hats to you.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
Thank you all for your nice comments about Junior and his Junettes.
I really appreciate and it means something coming from this list.
Best Regards,
Karen