Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Lacy Blues]

Fred...you had talked about doing an online chicken show or classes showing good and bad points on various breeds. You still up for that?

Walt

Oh yeah. I'd like to open a new thread, get you, Bob, and the Whole Gang. I'd like to set some rules. A week per breed, then move on to another, that kind of thing. Lots of photos, because those really attract attention, I think. Since most of the breeds have varieties and several well known strains, we could do a good job on each strain too.

We'll need some folks from here to commit to helping from time to time. Anytime you all are ready. Tis the season, what with folks making their breed/buying decisions soon, as spring will be upon us.

I think this is a fantastic idea. There are so many things I don't know... some terms to describe some things just leave me baffled. Would we lurkers have opportunity to ask questions?

Saluting with both hands!

 

[Texasmja]

The SOP has a scale of points for each area/category to be judged; one for white birds, one for all other colors. NO doubt, it will be very difficult to judge each area as a judge would at a show, but perhaps if we had a list of pictures/poses required for critique, then the judges could give their opinions based upon the SOP scale of points

I think perhaps we should let those who will be doing the "judging/critiquing" tell us what they feel would be the best way to judge a bird from "pictures only" and in what manner would they feel comfortable giving it some type of "grade" or "score"

Just my opinion...

Could some of the judges do a different additional thread like Yard full o' rocks is referring to? I am interested in showing and I would like to see a thread comparing birds to the SOP.

 

[gjensen]

I say just keep it simple. Let the pics be submitted over a period of time. Allow the judges to grade them by PM. Then they can post the results in a period of time. Open it for discussion over the course of a weekend. Start over on Monday. One breed per week. Start by alphabetical order. Do not skip breeds unless there are no examples. Give a limited amount of time to show interest, the week prior.
Stick to the point system, because that is what we are going to be graded by in the real world. It will give us something real to gauge where we are at. Stick with large fowl, in the spirit of this thread.

 

[Lacy Blues]

alphabetical? I better go find my camera and hope all my birds have finished molting!

 

[gjensen]

alphabetical? I better go find my camera and hope all my birds have finished molting!

LOL.

Lacy, I did want to tell you Thank You for the contact for the Catalana breeder in California. For a change it was not a dead end, or a goose chase. He still has his created bantams. He has birds from Ideal that he has been working with for five years, and descendants of Oake's Catalanas. I enjoyed speaking with him.
It was nice talking with someone with a similar interest. Especially since he might be the only one, LOL. Thank you.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

I'm in, lets do it. post the link. I am ready to learn more!!!

As for the original question for beginners Hovabator Genisis 1588 is foolproof if you watch your humidity.
Go buy Chickens for Dummies! a great beginners book.

 

[Lacy Blues]

LOL.

Lacy, I did want to tell you Thank You for the contact for the Catalana breeder in California. For a change it was not a dead end, or a goose chase. He still has his created bantams. He has birds from Ideal that he has been working with for five years, and descendants of Oake's Catalanas. I enjoyed speaking with him.
It was nice talking with someone with a similar interest. Especially since he might be the only one, LOL. Thank you.

You're certainly welcome. I'm glad to have been able to help.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote: YES!!! Definite interest here!

Quote:
Comparison is good. I would like to learn how to identify specific features (good points and faults) in certain breeds. Flat breast/deep breast; Roach back/cushion back/flat back; Legs well centered/Legs a bit "off"; Split wing/Normal wing; Wide head/narrow head... you get the idea.

Comparison between similar breeds would also be excellent. "This is a ___ because it has ___ and not ____..." would be very helpful! For example, there was an entry in a recent show here that was labeled a Malay and the judge said no, it's a Shamo. I pulled out my SOP and was trying to figure out how to tell one from the other. There's a comb difference, and it looks like some difference in the back line, but the differences are subtle and there is a lot of similarity between the two SOP descriptions. If the judge hadn't made a note on the cage tag I never would have thought about it.

Shape id quizzes would be interesting too. Someone could put up a series of photos of similar looking chickens and have us id them. Black Java, Black Australorp, Black Jersey Giant for example. Maybe several samples of each. Can we tell 'em apart, with no way to compare weight and size in a photo? What are the features to look for to quickly tell the difference? Do the birds in the photos actually show the differences or are they off type?

It might be a good idea to have a series of related threads with similar-starting thread titles over time, maybe one per breed or set of related breeds, just to keep things from exploding out of control.

Thanks to all of you guys for taking the time to post this stuff. It really does help a lot!

Sarah

 

[Pozees]

That's what I was thinking. There are enough judges here to pull this off. Of course, of course, a thousand times, of course photos aren't the same as handling a bird, but the educational value of this, showing folks what a good bird is? Priceless. Also, why? Why is this bird good, why does this bird need work and why does that bird fail to come close enough. That kind of thing. But...... also educating on what a Rock is, for example. Why is supposed to have this tail, this back, this breast, this leg set, etc. Then, what is a Buckeye? What is supposed to look like and why?

Do you think there'd be any interest in such a thread, trying desperately to keep it educational and not competitive? Truthful, but at the same time mentoring in nature?

Good grief YES! Please!

 

[Pozees]

YES!!! Definite interest here!


Comparison is good. I would like to learn how to identify specific features (good points and faults) in certain breeds. Flat breast/deep breast; Roach back/cushion back/flat back; Legs well centered/Legs a bit "off"; Split wing/Normal wing; Wide head/narrow head... you get the idea.

Comparison between similar breeds would also be excellent. "This is a ___ because it has ___ and not ____..." would be very helpful! For example, there was an entry in a recent show here that was labeled a Malay and the judge said no, it's a Shamo. I pulled out my SOP and was trying to figure out how to tell one from the other. There's a comb difference, and it looks like some difference in the back line, but the differences are subtle and there is a lot of similarity between the two SOP descriptions. If the judge hadn't made a note on the cage tag I never would have thought about it.

Shape id quizzes would be interesting too. Someone could put up a series of photos of similar looking chickens and have us id them. Black Java, Black Australorp, Black Jersey Giant for example. Maybe several samples of each. Can we tell 'em apart, with no way to compare weight and size in a photo? What are the features to look for to quickly tell the difference? Do the birds in the photos actually show the differences or are they off type?

It might be a good idea to have a series of related threads with similar-starting thread titles over time, maybe one per breed or set of related breeds, just to keep things from exploding out of control.

Thanks to all of you guys for taking the time to post this stuff. It really does help a lot!

Sarah

Totally on board with this approach. Bottom line for most of us is, we are here to learn, and it will be best for most of us if you assume we don't know anything about the breed currently in question