Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[maryhysong]

I have been enjoying reading through this thread and often copy and paste info into a word document so I can save it for later. There was another 'old timers' thread, more about breeding, culling and flock management that I really learned a lot from. That thread has sadly been locked, tho I am still browsing it's over four thousand pages for wisdom. On that thread I believe after the holidays some old timers were going to go through some of the old time breeds, giving examples, what to breed for, what to cull for, etc. with photos to help us newer people understand what they are talking about. I was really looking forward to that knowledge. Some of the same folks post on this thread; perhaps that could be done here instead?

 

[gjensen]

I was surprised to see that Bob's pens where not chicken pens also. I looked twice to make sure they were his.

Lacy, thank you for the tip. I will consider that. It would not hurt anyways.Thankfully I have been pretty fortunate thus far. Then, my experience is everyone does better when they move south.

I would like to know about those bantams, though I can't have everything. I wish I could see them. I would like to know what was used to create them to. Curtis Oakes had created them using Buff and Black Minorcas. He does not have them anymore. I have heard of these bantams in Ca, but I was not able to identify who it was.

If Mr. Urch has them, I would like to know. I will look back into that. I have been told that he does not. I do not remember seeing them on his list.

There was a breeder in Wisconsin that did well with these Catalanas. I saw some pictures of them and they were good looking birds. I am told that he does not have them anymore, but I would still like to be able to contact this person. If anyone knows . . . .

As far as that goes, any information related to this breed would be appreciated.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
It didn't occur to me until after I had posted that the word "pen" might be confusing!!! But I figured - what the heck. Y'all should click and have a look regardless. Those are some FINE pens!!!

 

[mschlumb]

I have some AOSB birds. Shamo and Asil.

I wish I had some of our black Hamburgs to send you, they were very good birds from Don Krahe originally. The judges thought they were too big.....lol

Walt

Don Krahe is who I got my original ones from as well when he sold off the last of his flock a few years ago. And they were huge!! (By hamburg standards) but great type and tremendous feather quality

 

[mschlumb]

Great to see many asiatic, AOSB, continental, and Mediterranean breeds being bred by people on here!

And Bob's pens are awesome. I can't imagine the finesse and patience it takes to make one of those. I for one couldn't do it!

 

[Lacy Blues]

I was surprised to see that Bob's pens where not chicken pens also. I looked twice to make sure they were his.

Lacy, thank you for the tip. I will consider that. It would not hurt anyways.Thankfully I have been pretty fortunate thus far. Then, my experience is everyone does better when they move south.

I would like to know about those bantams, though I can't have everything. I wish I could see them. I would like to know what was used to create them to. Curtis Oakes had created them using Buff and Black Minorcas. He does not have them anymore. I have heard of these bantams in Ca, but I was not able to identify who it was.

If Mr. Urch has them, I would like to know. I will look back into that. I have been told that he does not. I do not remember seeing them on his list.

There was a breeder in Wisconsin that did well with these Catalanas. I saw some pictures of them and they were good looking birds. I am told that he does not have them anymore, but I would still like to be able to contact this person. If anyone knows . . . .

As far as that goes, any information related to this breed would be appreciated.

I don't know the answer to any of your questions but I have his email on a different computer. When I get to that computer later this evening, I will PM his email to you and you can ask to your heart's content.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I love when this thread stays on topic! I am learning so much, as are many others I'm sure. Seeing what breeds should look like, especially with comparison shots of hatchery birds, has been the most eye opening of all, along with discussions of lines that lay fast stop young versus lines in it for the long haul. My goals in chicken keeping have completely changed since reading this thread and others. Thank you to so many of you for taking the time to share knowledge that simply isn't part of our general culture anymore, for sharing your tips and leads on quality birds, and for helping out beginners.
Somewhat ironically, I do have an off-topic question though, that is posed on a separate thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730973/mixing-lines

 

[Bentley]

Hi Bentley,
Ya know, this may be weird, but I have really not had much of that. I have pictures of my F2s HERE and my F3s HERE. That is one reason I have not released these yet. I want to make sure that they do continue to breed true, and without any red feathers. My F2s were a mixed bag, as expected..... [FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif][FONT=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Barred; Black; Delaware; Split gold/silver; Buff Columbian; Barred Buff Columbian & Silver Columbian. [/FONT][/FONT]I kept only the Delaware males and Columbian females, as I was instructed by my genetics friends. ALL of my F3s have been Delawares. I have culled F3s for any brassiness, off color legs (pale yellow or greenish tinge), and even if I see a stray reddish feather.

What generation are you on?

Kathy,

I am a a little behind you. My first generation I had all Delaware males and new Hampshire colored females. That cross results in all Delaware colored males and half the females were New Hampshire colored and the other half Colombian pattern. Classic genetics with a 3:1 ratio split on the female side. This means the females I keep are not carrying the Red but half the males are. I am able to identify many of the males that are carriers as they are showing some sporadic red leakage here and there. I am hoping this generation i am able to select males that are not carriers of the Red at all then i will be done with that. Many of my males are like yours, over colored (barred) but I think this will be OK on some of my under colored pullets. This is certainly a fun project to see the results each generation and watch the progress.

Good luck and we need to stay in touch on this.

 

[Fallchick]

There is a lot of talk on this thread about American and English breeds. Does anyone on this thread raise any asiatic, continental, or Mediterranean breeds?
I'm working on black hamburg large fowl and I used to raise dark brown leghorns in RC and SC.

I have Light and Corination Sussex, Splash Polish and my favorite eggs layers the Ameracaunas.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
OMG! If only my Ameraucanas WOULD lay eggs. I have these seriously swanky SOP birds from a well established line but the dang things are divas. If I look at them the wrong way, they are stressed and either moult or brood. I FINALLY stole the babies (not even theirs - they were Marans - my Ameraucanas didn't lay enough eggs to even come up with a clutch!) at 16 weeks and you'd think I robbed the nest of eggs. Sheesh! (That was almost a month ago now and she's still pining as are the kids - crowing and all.) I'm in the process of crossing these fine, swanky Ameraucanas with some of my not so fine Ameraucanas and hoping for a happy medium - decent birds that WILL lay eggs. (With the handful of eggs these crazy girls DO give me. Everyone of them goes into the incubator.)

Sheesh.

<deep sigh>