Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

I' m assuming after reading the article on Asils that even one pair of these fascinating birds would need to be penned separate from other breeds. Although the article sites an example of the cock being able to pick out another Asil from a mixed flock, wouldn't the pair be a possible danger to the other breeds?

The pair could pose a significant danger to other chickens if they are real Asils.

Walt

 

[maryhysong]

I agree, it is nice to have the physical book in hand. The copy I have of Call of the Hen is basically a photocopy and the pictures are just about useless, so I read the text over and over again to try and understand what Mr. Hogan meant. His writing style is very entertaining. He has one goal in mind only, and that is increasing the egg laying ability of a flock, which I think is extremely useful when that is a/the missing piece in a breeding program. As do many authors of poultry instruction as well as our fellow forum members with years/decades of experience, Hogan reminds the reader that vigor comes first.

I think this link was posted before but here it is again. I was able to tell what he was about in almost all the photos here. Also, if you need to enlarge them try control +, that should make the whole page bigger for you. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=DiJDAAAAIAAJ

 

[3riverschick]

What do I do about this rooster?
Well the 2 pullets have decided they want no part of an incubator and will be hatching their own eggs. The nest-box is extra large and both of them are a cozy fit. Junior is gallant and gentle with his girls. However, the rooster has decided to join them in the nest box and now it is downright too crowded. So any suggestions?
These three were brought up together and get along really well. Should I put a tub with shavings in the other end of the 4x8 coop? Move the boy to bachelor quarters? Leave them alone? Or? Obviously my schedule has gone out the window, smile. These girls are determined to do it themselves. I just wish I had studied broody hens. I never did because I was always set to do it the scientific way. LOL. I could use any suggestions you have to give.
Should I move one hen to the bachelor quarters and leave the roo with the other hen? I wonder how that will play when I try to put all of them back together again after the chicks hatch? Right now the three of them are acting like it's a big pajama party.
Science out the window, it's medieval times again,
Karen

 

[Pozees]

The pair could pose a significant danger to other chickens if they are real Asils.

Walt

Walt, is it mainly the cocks who pose a danger, or are the hens also a threat? Just curious. It will be years before I have a setup that would allow this type of bird, but I find them really fascinating. I see pictures of them and they look like people in fancy feathered outfits LOL.

 

[galanie]

Question about Blacks. There's been a discussion on the gold laced Orp thread about "true" blacks. My understanding is that they either have a gold inhibitor or not, and that true blacks should not have this. Is there a visual way to tell on a black? Other than a nice green sheen? I understand the id+/id+ and all that jazz (but only for this gold inhibitor! ) and so on. What I'm asking is hands on visual experience, which I sorely lack here.

 

[Texasmja]

Question about Blacks. There's been a discussion on the gold laced Orp thread about "true" blacks. My understanding is that they either have a gold inhibitor or not, and that true blacks should not have this. Is there a visual way to tell on a black? Other than a nice green sheen? I understand the id+/id+ and all that jazz (but only for this gold inhibitor!

) and so on. What I'm asking is hands on visual experience, which I sorely lack here.

Black is dominate over red, so no there is no way to tell by just looking at the bird. You would need to test breed the bird and see if it carries two copies of black or not. The green sheen on black feathers is representative of the quality of feather. Green is the highest of quality, and shows good health.

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, is it mainly the cocks who pose a danger, or are the hens also a threat? Just curious. It will be years before I have a setup that would allow this type of bird, but I find them really fascinating. I see pictures of them and they look like people in fancy feathered outfits LOL.

The hens are a huge threat. I have to be careful when I put older females in with younger males....the hens will fight them. I have a hen that was almost killed by a male........I use her now to straighten out young males. She has been down that road, so she will jump on a young male right away. They don't expect that, so it gives them a healthier attitude towards females. Asils are not a good bird for a beginner, unless they are hatchery Asils........in which case they aren't Asils anyway. They are not like anything you have dealt with before. I have to separate the males at about 3-4 weeks or they will tear each other up.


note short beak, little or no wattles etc.

Walt

 

[BarnGoddess01]

What do I do about this rooster?
Well the 2 pullets have decided they want no part of an incubator and will be hatching their own eggs. The nest-box is extra large and both of them are a cozy fit. Junior is gallant and gentle with his girls. However, the rooster has decided to join them in the nest box and now it is downright too crowded. So any suggestions?
These three were brought up together and get along really well. Should I put a tub with shavings in the other end of the 4x8 coop? Move the boy to bachelor quarters? Leave them alone? Or? Obviously my schedule has gone out the window, smile. These girls are determined to do it themselves. I just wish I had studied broody hens. I never did because I was always set to do it the scientific way. LOL. I could use any suggestions you have to give.
Should I move one hen to the bachelor quarters and leave the roo with the other hen? I wonder how that will play when I try to put all of them back together again after the chicks hatch? Right now the three of them are acting like it's a big pajama party.
Science out the window, it's medieval times again,
Karen

With that crowd in the broody box, you run a real risk of the eggs getting broken. I'd be getting at least him out of the equation and you need to make sure additional eggs aren't being added. Ideally, the brooding moms should be left as undisturbed as possible if you have any reasonable expectation of anything hatching. I always isolate my broodies now within their pen/coop as soon as I'm sure they are truly sitting.

There is NOTHING cooler than watching broodies raise the kids except maybe watching sisters share brooding responsibilities! Good luck!!!

 

[chicknfun]

Hello- The following is something I posted in the Breeds forum, and it was suggested that I also post here to gather more info- Thanks, Chicknfun


Hello Chicken Lovers-

We are talking about starting a very small conservation project, maybe 3 or 4 breeds.

I am posting to try to get some ideas and info from the BYC community.

ANY ideas, thoughts, opinions, concerns are welcome, but I do have a few specific questions.....

* What breeds are most in need of conserving?

* To help spread the breed, would it be best to hatch and sell chicks, or sell hatching eggs?

* How many hens per rooster?

* Who would you go to to get the best breeding stock of any particular species? (In other words, who has the best breeding stock of specific endangered breeds?)

* Is there anything , in particular, different about keeping endangered chickens as opposed to keeping other types of chickens?

I want to say Thank You in advance for any responses.....After we gather info from this thread, we will decide if / how to proceed.

 

[jgiajnorio]

Hi there, I currently have a flock of hens that I am looking to breed. I have to silkie roasters, 4 barred rocks, 3 rhode islands, 2 columbian rocks and 2 red sex links. I would like to try and sustain a reliable laying flock and was thinking my silkie roasters might not provide the genetics i need to get consistent eggs from my hatchlings. Any thoughts on this?

I was also thinking of providing a breeding house as my current coop is getting to small for our needs. I figure this would make a perfect spot to get a new roaster and a couple hens for breeding purposes? I have been looking into Austrolorps or Chanteclers as well, to diversify the flock.

I guess to summarize, would my silkie roasters work or should i buy a new roaster?

thanks