Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[cbnovick]

Funny!!! Well in the desert one has to be extra ambitious when foraging!! Have to be open to lizards and putting greens too (-8

 

[black75betty]

I too am very interested to hear about the differences in the German NH Vs. the Good Shepherd NH. Am I correct that the German NH lay alot of eggs? I think I remember people who are raising some of Kathy's remarking on the egg laying. Does anyone have any stats to compare at this point between the two? Time to point of lay/maturity? Amount of eggs? Mature bird sizes/weights?

 

[Robert Blosl]

This was Champion Large Fowl at our Dec Show. What kind is it
German or half and half?

 

[neopolitancrazy]

I have seen multiple references to the Good Shepherd flocks being bred for tastiness-any specifics as to how to do this in my own flock?
I am grateful for any facts or rumors or suppositions you may be able to offer

.
Thanks,
Angela

 

[cbnovick]

This was Champion Large Fowl at our Dec Show. What kind is it
German or half and half?

Nice. My guess would be pure german line NH??

 

[Robert Blosl]

Frank told me there was no secret feed or treatment befor he butchered them He said he breeds them for taste. Never heard of that but why should I question a fellow who gets about $40. for a dressed chicken to a Organic Cook. Does anyone have a favorite receipt for pre butcher chickens to make them taste better?

 

[sgribble]

This was Champion Large Fowl at our Dec Show. What kind is it
German or half and half?

Bob This bird is half and half.

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Kathyinmo, just missed you at Frank's by one day! You had quite a long trip.

I don't feel quite so badly now that I and my chicken lady posse overshot the exit by 30 minutes before we realized our mistake and had to turn back. From google, it looked like Lindsborg was on I35, not off of it. Well, it was all worth it and the time it took to return just flew by, even with a load of chickens!

Bob, we got lots of pics, just not on my camera but soon HEChicken will post some for you. It's an amazing place.

I got 10, 2 week old Barred Rock chicks and cannot get over how big and, well, substantial they are as chicks even. In addition, I brought back 5 Barred Rock and 5 New Hamps for a friend who will be NPIP'ing my flock next week. With those and the birds my friends who went with me purchased, we came back with 28 birds total, 4 of them 16 week olds, in a TrailBlazer. All in a day's work for chicken ladies!

Frank showed me what to look for on his birds and what to guard against, using examples from the birds he had in the flock area and the area where birds are ready to go to the processor. It was very helpful to actually have the bird in front of me as he described the various traits. When you look at one of his flock birds, you don't have to know what you're doing to take in the quality of them. They are absolutely incredible birds. To think that this is what they used to be is rather humbling in a way. We have all contributed to their rarity with our lifestyles, while being blissfully unaware of the damage that was being done. It's disturbing that most people really don't care.

We got to see all kinds of birds, but the ones my mind keeps going back to are his White Jersey Giants, Blue Andalusians and the Bourbon Red turkeys. Those Giants are appropriately named! And the Andalusian is just something I didn't know existed. They almost don't, which is a terrible shame. Such a beautiful bird!

As I put my chicks in the brooder, I gave each a drop of Nutri-Drench to counteract the stress of moving. Funny thing about these chicks. They were raised in Frank's brooder on wire but were dust bathing in the pet kennel wood chips on the way home! Pretty cool.

I feel like I'm pretty lucky to be learning from some of the best at having only had chickens for one year. I could have stumbled along for much longer but fortunately, didn't have to.

I have a group of German New Hamps that are just coming into lay. I have 2 roos and 7 hens. I'm going to try to take a really good look at them this weekend while I still have Frank's in my mind. They've done a lot of growing over the winter. I'm really fond of my German's -- lovely temperaments.

 

[cbnovick]

Bob This bird is half and half.

NICE!!!
Who knows maybe I may get 1 or 2 with similar quality....one can always hope!! Having Jwhip's (via Kathyinmo) awesome rooster over his GS NH hens that made the 'cut'...odds may be in my favor

??!!! Hope that rooster is uber prepotent for the best traits.

Cindy in AZ

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Frank told me there was no secret feed or treatment befor he butchered them He said he breeds them for taste. Never heard of that but why should I question a fellow who gets about $40. for a dressed chicken to a Organic Cook. Does anyone have a favorite receipt for pre butcher chickens to make them taste better?

I imagine he's referencing specific dimensions, which, now that I think about it, he did do an article for poultry press on this. Breeding for meaty dimensions coupled with strong fattening tendencies will make a palatable bird, i.e Dorkings