Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Pozees]

Hate to say it to you....but if englands climate is like NS they do not need it. We get have humid air because we live not far from the bay... Take a look at the Chantecler that was devloped to stand Canada's climate (more so quebec region) and it is not this Huge fluffly bird. It is a relitivly tight feather bird.

I evney the people out west... Because they have DRY snow. We have really damp and heavy snow.... That's fun to shovel

It's a "grass is always greener" issue - those of us out West with dry snow have dry everything. Drought is a serious problem. I lived in NY near Lake Ontario for my first 38 years, and having experienced both climates, I'll take the West for its nearly daily dose of sunshine, but it has definite drawbacks. A chicken probably prefers the dryness though

A Chantecler may not need the volume of feather because of the type of feather it has.

 

[Pozees]

While I am not a fan of shipping eggs through the postal service, as a general rule (ok, more than a general rule) 'eggs roll down hill and should be incubated down hill'. There are documented problems and added challenges incubating eggs at high altitudes. This problem is amplified if the eggs are produced at low altitudes then transported to a hatchery at a higher altitude. So, if the breeders are at the same altitude or higher then artificial incubation at high altitudes is not so bad. Remember, eggs roll down hill and she be incubated 'down hill' (or at least equal altitude)

That is very interesting - never really would have thought about it until it was mentioned on the Colorado thread. Does variation in humidity have any effect?

 

[saladin]

Here is an interesting old article I recently found on the subject.
Best,
Karen
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Poultry world - Volumes 15-16 - 1886
Pages 164 and 165

Acclimation of Fowls.
Mr. E. W. S., of Charleston, 8. C, writes: "lam a reader of The Poultry World, but never have purchased fowls from the north, as I have always heard, and it is the general opinion here, I believe, that fowls brought from northern localities cannot stand our climate. Is there any means of acclimating fowls; if so, can you refer me to some means of so doing?"

It is undoubtedly true that fowls require acclimation, when removed from a cold to a warm climate or vice versa, and we can easily understand that if the removal is unseasonable that trouble and loss might ensue. Yet it is perfectly easy to satisfy any one that the difficulties are greatly exaggerated, and that the loss need be extremely small or reduced to a point where it absolutely ceases. We are constantly importing into this country fowls from abroad, England, France and Italy, and little or no loss results therefrom. Their systems may receive a greater or less shock according to the difference in the climate of their native and their adopted homes, but the shock does not prevent them from breeding successfully. In some cases it certainly stimulates the reproductive organs, and the fowls for a few generations lay more eggs in their adopted than they did in their native home.
If our southern brethren desire to purchase fowls from northern breeders they should not hesitate to do so. The best time is in the autumn months, and the fowls removed from a colder to a warmer climate are, or ought to be, grateful for the change. By the time that summer with its excessive heat arrives they have become somewhat accustomed to the new climate and very little trouble need be apprehended. Even the heavily-feathered Asiatics do well in the south.
We shou'd not advise the purchase of birds north in the months of June and July, for they would doubtless suffer somewhat from the longer-continued and more excessive heat of the south. This would have a debilitating effect and render them much more subject to attacks of disease and less able to successfully withstand them. But if they are purchased at any time from September to January we think that they will do well. The "general opinion" to the contrary may be a mere prejudice or it may be founded upon a few cases of unseasonable introduction of fowls, but we seriously question whether it has any substantial reason for existing. At any rate, we do not hesitate to advise our querist to purchase such fowls as he may desire of northern breeders.
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I ship birds all over the US/overseas and have rec'd birds as well. I think the old article is quite accurate but will add the following:

Birds shipped east to west or west to east seem to fair better than north to south/south to north.
Southern birds going north seem to do better if shipped in April/May.
Northern birds going south seem to do better if shipped Nov-Jan.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I ship birds all over the US/overseas and have rec'd birds as well. I think the old article is quite accurate but will add the following:

Birds shipped east to west or west to east seem to fair better than north to south/south to north.
Southern birds going north seem to do better if shipped in April/May.
Northern birds going south seem to do better if shipped Nov-Jan.

I think most of it is the various handling at the post office though. I have complained to my local one because the eggs usually have a broken one or two or the box looks like someone palyed soccer with it. When I see that I think so much for this hatch. A few of my local friends that have other post offices do not have the problem as much.

 

[thedragonlady]

I'm feeling like our weather here in southern NewEngland has been A LOT like England this year! THe cold rains just don't seem to stop for more than a day. THe dry years I don't worry so much about the livestock; but the cold wet rains . . . the chickens especially look like nearly drown rats, the turkeys don't seem to care, they just don't display and the water rolls right off; and the ducks? THey got about their usual business!!!

I'm thinking the Buff Orpingtons would fit right in here well.

If you look at the last few pages of the Post Pics of Orpingtons here thread , you'll see some very nice Buff Orps who are living out on the moors in England , free ranging. They are out in all sorts of weather . They have plenty of insulation , and great width and substance of feather , so they shed water , and stay dry. They are fluffy birds , but do not have the extreme long drippy feathers below their hocks. Those are fit only for the showroom over there, and in fact are NOT called for in the British standard, but ARE winning shows.Pretty to look at , but not functional.

 

[thedragonlady]

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I agree with call ducks. The Sussex is an English breed. It is soft-feathered but also close feathered ( Per the Standard, more so than the Orpington). Broomhead says the feathers should be close-feathered enough that they do not move out of position with every little puff of breeze that blows against them in the direction opposite the way the feathers lay. Personally, I think soft-feather / close-feathered birds do better in the damp/cold than soft-feather / loose-feathered breeds. Would like to read the veteran breeders take on this question.
Best,
Karen

The key to making Orps , or any other breed weather proof is not only some insulation of under feathers and down, but the top feathers should be wide , with good substance. If the top feathering is narrow, and shredded looking , with no substance , it lets the rain and cold into the underfeathering, which soon becomes a wet mess. Needless to say that results in a cold , wet bird.

See the last few of the Post Pics of Orps Here thread for some Buff Orps who live out on the moors in England free ranging in all sorts of weather. These belong to a 17 year old boy , Johnn.

 

[fowlman01]

If you look at the last few pages of the Post Pics of Orpingtons here thread , you'll see some very nice Buff Orps who are living out on the moors in England , free ranging. They are out in all sorts of weather . They have plenty of insulation , and great width and substance of feather , so they shed water , and stay dry. They are fluffy birds , but do not have the extreme long drippy feathers below their hocks. Those are fit only for the showroom over there, and in fact are NOT called for in the British standard, but ARE winning shows.Pretty to look at , but not functional.

I have always thought it very strange that the British judges seem to be picking those narrow feathered Orps that look like cochins rather than following their own Standard. We don't always follow the APA SOP here, but there is seldom that much difference between what the SOP says and the birds picked....not to the point that they look like another breed. One of those skinny feathered Orps would be wet in short order if exposed to the elements.

Walt

 

[OSUman]

Kathy one thing that I find very interesting, though I know it wasn't what you were going for, is that if you look at who won the entire contest, and then you look at the large broiler breeding firms, they're the same people, the Vantress Brothers won, and Cobb-Vantress is one of if not the largest broiler breeding firm to my knowledge.

Also, I am curious do you have any pictures of any of your birds dressed, New Hamps, Dels, or Rocks, I think it would be interesting to see.

How 'bout those New Hampshires back then?!

The Chicken of Tomorrow (1948) Part 2




Here is part 1......... about the contest, "Chicken of tomorrow."

 

[Lacy Blues]

I have a Delaware in the slow cooker right now. If you'd like me to take a picture of it when I get it on a plate... let me know.

Of course mine are just hatchery birds... and this was one of the smaller ones. I'm working my way up!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I have a Delaware in the slow cooker right now. If you'd like me to take a picture of it when I get it on a plate... let me know.

Of course mine are just hatchery birds... and this was one of the smaller ones. I'm working my way up!

nothing wrong with food pictures