Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[rodriguezpoultry]

I can't get my Langshans to stop laying at the moment. They stopped when the temps went above 95 and now, it's like they are playing catch up.

 

[Chris Herzog]

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?

Wouldn't that be great!

Chris

 

[punk-a-doodle]

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.

Your determination is admirable, but your ability to make me shoot milk out my nose with choking gags of laughter is even better. And yes please. It would be amazingly helpful if anyone would be willing to step up to the plate of what Mary was discussing with posting photos and information on what to look for.

 

[saladin]

I agree that you could recreate any of the composite breeds as long as you had the foundation or other composite breeds that went to make them. You could even create a composite breed that met the SOP using other breeds (that weren't used originally to make the breed) -- all is possible. I have seen what looked like a Buckeye created in Australia (and not using the same breeds). IMHO, (and it is not an argument, just my very humble opinion), you would have something that met the SOP Buckeye, but many of the things we enjoy about the breed, all those qualities that do not mean anything to most people (their temperament, fondness of being around people, their foraging (mine remind me of my Guineas) & huge apetitites, their overall toughness, the meat itself, its taste & texture -- I guess the same could be said about particular lines as is often discussed as the loss of here in this thread --) all these things would not all be the same. Perhaps, they aren't anyway and I am just referring to the Buckeyes I have on my farm (and they will one day be gone when I ma no longer able to care for them). Again, I am not presenting an argument but just an opinion that there is more to lose letting these breeds die out and recreating them. To re-capture all the qualities of some of these breeds might take longer than some of us have left on Earth. Isn't this what this thread is all about (preserving what we've got)?

Oh, I'm not saying let them die out by anymeans and I apologize if my post implied that. (Also, cubalaya, wasn't refering to Delawares at all). I too agree that temperment and those other qualities are apart of the breed. For example, Cubalayas (a composite breed that I love dearly) lay a roundish egg and are winter layers; I consider that an inseperable part of the breed). What I am saying is that for me I have a limited amount of space (11.5 acres), time and money; thus, I want to spend my time trying to 'save' mostly foundation stock such as the Asil, Ga Don, Ga Cua, Old English Games and MR Shamos. I include the Cubalaya in this because they can no longer be imported and though a composite breed some of the foundation stock is also impossible to obtain in the States.

I just wish that all those trying to save a composite breed would also consider taking on one of the foundation breeds. Many of the foundation breeds (good ones) are almost gone. If I had unlimited time and money I can promise you I'd have a few more standard foundation breeds. You might even be surprised at which ones. lol.

Did I mention that I'm also raising non-tufted Romans and Grey Poms?

 

[Pozees]

Oh, I'm not saying let them die out by anymeans and I apologize if my post implied that. (Also, cubalaya, wasn't refering to Delawares at all). I too agree that temperment and those other qualities are apart of the breed. For example, Cubalayas (a composite breed that I love dearly) lay a roundish egg and are winter layers; I consider that an inseperable part of the breed). What I am saying is that for me I have a limited amount of space (11.5 acres), time and money; thus, I want to spend my time trying to 'save' mostly foundation stock such as the Asil, Ga Don, Ga Cua, Old English Games and MR Shamos. I include the Cubalaya in this because they can no longer be imported and though a composite breed some of the foundation stock is also impossible to obtain in the States.

I just wish that all those trying to save a composite breed would also consider taking on one of the foundation breeds. Many of the foundation breeds (good ones) are almost gone. If I had unlimited time and money I can promise you I'd have a few more standard foundation breeds. You might even be surprised at which ones. lol.

Did I mention that I'm also raising non-tufted Romans and Grey Poms?

Can you tell us which ones?

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Interesting post. Are Dorkings a foundation breed? Is there a list of foundation breeds?

 

[saladin]

Some of the foundation breeds (many are also Ancient):
[I'm only listing standard fowl, also called large fowl]
Dorkings (5 toed fowl of the Romans)
Old English Games
Malay
Asil
LaFleche
Crevecour
Sussex
Java
White Faced Black Spanish
Andalusians
Leghorns (NOT the factory white that weighes barely 2 lbs)
Ga Don
Ga Cua
Malgache
Shamo
Redcaps
Fayomis
Buttercups

These are a few of them.

 

[mschlumb]

Interesting post. Are Dorkings a foundation breed? Is there a list of foundation breeds?

In a nutshell I think you could say the "foundation" breeds are those that are very very old and have little or no documentation of how they were created. I also think its safe to say they are largely regional types of birds that were found in certain areas since time immemorial.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Thanks!

 

[OSUman]

What about some of the Asiatic breeds, Brahmas, Cochins?

Some of the foundation breeds (many are also Ancient):
[I'm only listing standard fowl, also called large fowl]
Dorkings (5 toed fowl of the Romans)
Old English Games
Malay
Asil
LaFleche
Crevecour
Sussex
Java
White Faced Black Spanish
Andalusians
Leghorns (NOT the factory white that weighes barely 2 lbs)
Ga Don
Ga Cua
Malgache
Shamo
Redcaps
Fayomis
Buttercups

These are a few of them.