Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[NYREDS]

I wondered that SAME thing, Lacy! Mareks, I heard, was horrible this year. But more than likely, there were some that made it through exposure and weren't even affected - would those not be the ones that you'd want to use when breeding for resistance? That must have been one strong bird to live through Mareks - it's a horrible disease to be sure. Darn wild birds!

The ones that are exposed & don't develop symptoms are, in fact, the ones to use when trying to breed for resistance. The ones that are symptomatic & recover are forever carriers & will ensure that you will have more birds with Marek 's. They are definately not valuable as breeders.

 

[Kiniska]

As a response to one of Bob's posts, can there be any doubt? 

I think it was Bob who suggested that we just all sit back and let the suburbanites with three hens in a backyard coop tell us all how it's really done. I don't have quite that much inexperience, but I'm pretty close, so I thought he'd appreciate my "expertise." 

But wouldn't a red, white & blue chicken be pretty cool? 

rick

Love your wit!

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Remember that long thread we had on that subject?! .... Breeding for resistance: HERE.

 

[thedragonlady]

We divided the cockerels into three groups at 6 months. Good, better, best. At 8 months? We questioned our choices and at 9 months? There simply isn't a loser in the bunch. Not a one. Finding the "right" breeder or two for the first group of matings is going to prove very, very difficult. We'll likely use almost all of them, and then, perhaps judge their offspring.

I've never seen such a level group of cockerels in all my life. Even the "runt" caught up, indeed, passed the bigger ones in size. Go figure.

Fred,

Have you found that after you have divided cockerels up, some of the lessor Ks suddenly bloom? I have, and weather it's age or personality order / dominance, once you split the group, surprises happen. I have a young E 50% EBO K now that has positively bloomed in 10 days after being seperated from his week older brothers.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Like I said the Blue color pattern like yours are super hard to breed many had to double mait them to have any good birds to show.

Quote:


Remind me again; the benefit of this showing is? Other than saying you have purdy birds of course. Just fun?

A big benefit for the poultry community is educating people about different breeds. This is probably not the main reason most people show, but it is something to consider. Especially if you are working with a relatively rare breed. I learned about the breed I've chosen to work on - NOT the hatchery mutt in my avatar - when someone showed some of them here recently. Until that point I had no interest in showing poultry. Now I plan on showing these birds once I've got something worth entering. Still waiting for the chicks. It may take a few years.

Sarah

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred,

Have you found that after you have divided cockerels up, some of the lessor Ks suddenly bloom? I have, and weather it's age or personality order / dominance, once you split the group, surprises happen. I have a young E 50% EBO K now that has positively bloomed in 10 days after being seperated from his week older brothers.

I know what you're saying about re-arranging things sometimes allows a lesser birds some space to bloom, but honestly, in this case, this little guy was a beauty from day one. He was always sharp and smart, just a runt. Consistently smaller and slower to develop. But, he was never picked on by his bigger brooder mates or anything. In fact, these GS Rocks don't pick on each other much. Then, BOOM!!! out of nowhere, at 24 to 28 weeks? He just flat exploded. He became the alpha. Just didn't see that coming.




I don't have a good photo of his 32 week manliness now, but here's pic of some of his "cousins" over at JWhip's and yup. he's just that huge. Our birds came from Kathy who got them from Jeremy.

 

[Chloe77]

Oh My God. Those birds are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Maggiesdad]

Who needs turkey with chicken like that?!!!

 

[buffalogal]

Those are some handsome birds Fred.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I was not referring to you. Heck you got one of the hardest breeds on this tread to maintain. Also, your birds should lay very well and even have some meat on their bones to eat for the extras you don't keep. I was referring to some one who just joined this tread a few days ago. Sorry if you feel I was pointing at you. Heck you are one of the chosen ones in my book. Like I said the Blue color pattern like yours are super hard to breed many had to double mait them to have any good birds to show. Also, your bird you pictured is a great looking bird.

There are folks who come on here who want to much from these old breeds and that is the mental condition of raising back yard birds. However, if you raised back yard feed store chickens for say three to five years and are very good at raising them you have one half of the battle won. Learn how to hatch them then breeding them will come latter.

Also, for you who want Old Time breeds tell us where you live and what breeds you would like. We have plenty of sources who have contacts with the top breeders or maybe some of their customers from a year or two ago.

bob

They need a blushing smiley.

That really means a lot to me Bob, thank you.