Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

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... This seems like a good time to mention I like seeing newcomers get adult birds, they aren't as vulnerable as chicks, and the quality is known rather than a mystery.

The other advantage to starting with adult birds is you know what sex they are. I started my black java program with 22 chicks. It turns out I've got 4 pullets and 15 cockerels, plus a couple birds I'm not sure about yet (but they are looking like probable cockerels). Not the best sex ratio for starting a breeding program. If there's a decent trio in the batch I will still have met my goal for year one, but I sure wish I had more pullets to pick from. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to checking out the breed's meat qualities in a few months :)
 
The other advantage to starting with adult birds is you know what sex they are. I started my black java program with 22 chicks. It turns out I've got 4 pullets and 15 cockerels, plus a couple birds I'm not sure about yet (but they are looking like probable cockerels). Not the best sex ratio for starting a breeding program. If there's a decent trio in the batch I will still have met my goal for year one, but I sure wish I had more pullets to pick from. On the other hand, I'm looking forward to checking out the breed's meat qualities in a few months :)
OH NOOOO!!!! And here I thought we had a surplus of males. Nothing like a little chicken lottery when you get eggs/young chicks.

We just butchered a couple of Java cockerels on Sunday. They were 10 month old. One dressed out at 5 1/2 lb and the other one dressed out at 4 1/2 lbs. They did not look that much bigger than each other when alive with feathers on, but after being plucked, we could see a significant difference in their size. They are currently resting in the refrigerator for a few days before I brine them. The other ones we have eaten were quite good.
 
I think pretty much any breed that is cold hardy, and has a Rose or Pea comb would be really good in your area. Just remember when you look to get stock that altitude changes affect hatch-ability of eggs quite a bit.
 
. This seems like a good time to mention I like seeing newcomers get adult birds, they aren't as vulnerable as chicks, and the quality is known rather than a mystery.
Hi,
I agree. I had already decided no shipped eggs from here. Was talking to Walt B. and mentioned day old's. But after seeing how hard he worked for 12 months to provide me with quality birds he had bred, culled for virtues, and conditioned, that decided me. Nothing goes out of here until it is a started bird. Just takes that amount of time to see what one has with the Columbian pattern. They need to be in juvenile feathering. Preferably at 12 weeks, but, depending on what Walt B. counsels on the individual hatch, maybe 8 weeks.
Best,
Karen
 
Q

Maybe look in another area of the same altitude to find a breeder who already has a flock acclimated to that height?
Best,
Karen
 
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