Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Chris09]

You have a good understanding of poultry terms, so I don't think it is you.

w.

Thank's Walt,
My head was spinning and starting to hurt reading some of this so I though it might have been me. lol

Chris

 

[NYREDS]

Well Walt....it was completely by accident and apropo at the time I joined BYC. I live in NW Georgia and my yard is completely "full o rocks" (after 10 yrs of being here we can still pick them up by the bucketful)....and then came the chickens and they are "all rocks"...so, there you are, stuck with me as "Yard Full o' rocks"

When I first saw your "Yard Full Of Rocks" screen name it made me think of home. I'm from Delaware County NY where they grow rocks for shipment to the rest of the world.

 

[buffalogal]

I work in research as well and you have pretty much nailed the main concerns on the head....
There is also a long list of behavioral problems that crop up. I would worry about this with chickens as well.

I'd wonder if the behavioral problems are genetic or environmental; I can't think of anything that would be more maddening to an intelligent animal than the sterile environment of a cage.

 

[cgmccary]

Quote: I think it can be both or either. I agree with you. I hate cage training my birds for shows because it seems to make them crazy and whereas they were all getting along when they were running loose, I probably won't get them back that way easily (i.e. they' fight when let back out & I'll have issues - can't put humpty dumpty back together again).

 

[fowlman01]

I think it can be both or either. I agree with you. I hate cage training my birds for shows because it seems to make them crazy and whereas they were all getting along when they were running loose, I probably won't get them back that way easily (i.e. they' fight when let back out & I'll have issues - can't put humpty dumpty back together again).

Re introducing them to the flock is pretty much just the pecking order problem. I have found that putting them back at night or if you have space moving them all to another location/cage helps, but sometimes they just have to establish position again. If a bird is in it's 'home" it has an advantage and will fight hard not to lose it's social position....but if they are all moved it kind of throws off that instinct. Most of the time....not always and not with all breeds.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

I'd wonder if the behavioral problems are genetic or environmental; I can't think of anything that would be more maddening to an intelligent animal than the sterile environment of a cage.

It seems to be both. There are some lab animal producers that breed like our hatchery folks and pay no attention to behavior.

Walt

 

[FOGELLY]

Bob, Walt, Chris, and Kathy, could y'all please refrain from using your 100+ years of combined real life experiences, unless you are prepared to back it up with hardcore written evidence.

 

[Kiniska]

I'd wonder if the behavioral problems are genetic or environmental; I can't think of anything that would be more maddening to an intelligent animal than the sterile environment of a cage.

Trust me, with the mice it is genetic. We have several strains all with the same environment and some have issues and some do not. There is lots of enrichment added to the cage so they are comfortable and can play. I am impressed with the answers about chicken genetics. Had no idea chickens were so complex. Still learning on that front though. Mice are used in research because they are not that complex. They breed quickly and are easier to ID certain traits on.

 

[OSUman]

Here is a Speckled Sussex I saw that the show I was at this past weekend.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Because the lacing gene needs black to work with in Andalusians. The lacing gene pushes colour to the edge of the feather. That colour has to be there to be pushed. The Andalusian is already carrying the lacing gene.

But the black Andalusian is black. Why would someone go to another breed to improve lacing? Why not use an Andalusian? Using a Minorca, unless he looks like an Andalusian can really mess up your barn you spent so much time building. Andalusians are NOT blue Minorcas.