Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[catdaddyfro]

Whether a person got these birds from Frank, Jeremy, Kathy, etc, the only little caution I'd give folks getting a dozen eggs to hatch would be this. This is likely going to try your patience. Don't become easily discouraged. Between the shipping and incubating, you might only get 3 or 4 chicks out the deal. That's OK. Start with what you have and take care of them.

This isn't at all like hatching out some prolific hatchery mix/mutts that have vigor out the ying yang. Not the way I see it anyhow. Then, these birds take forever and a day to mature and begin to lay. 36-38 weeks for us. The cockerels don't show their stuff until their first birthday almost.

This strain isn't for the weak hearted and those who want everything fast, fast and faster. Folks like that really need to be self aware and should just pick up fuzzy black and white birds from a good hatchery and call it a day. Nothing wrong with that.

Are they worth it? Perhaps not to everyone. To us? How wide is my smile?

Edit: Forgot to mention that they'll eat you out of house and home too!! LOL

When visitors come over or folks to buy chickens these big ol BRs are the ones to get the most OOhs and AHs and everybody wants some whether they really need or could handle them anyhow. Like you said Fred they aren't an every person type bird. What's that they say(unique?)

Jeff

My cajun buddy (all they see most of the time anyhow is the eating aspect of thingsLOL) He 'bout had a fit when I told him how much GS sells a dressed out gourmet rooster for a pop!

 

[cbnovick]

Quote: I've said it before and I'll say it again...
watching these birds on the grass will just about bring tears to your eyes. yup, that's how much these birds inspire me. when 'regular' people or aka 'non-fanciers' even look at these birds...they say they never considered chickens as being 'beautiful' or 'inspiring' until they 'witnessed' the wonderment of these uber Rocks.

So, worth it?? Unabashedly YES!!!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Whether a person got these birds from Frank, Jeremy, Kathy, etc, the only little caution I'd give folks getting a dozen eggs to hatch would be this. This is likely going to try your patience. Don't become easily discouraged. Between the shipping and incubating, you might only get 3 or 4 chicks out the deal. That's OK. Start with what you have and take care of them.

This isn't at all like hatching out some prolific hatchery mix/mutts that have vigor out the ying yang. Not the way I see it anyhow. Then, these birds take forever and a day to mature and begin to lay. 36-38 weeks for us. The cockerels don't show their stuff until their first birthday almost.

This strain isn't for the weak hearted and those who want everything fast, fast and faster. Folks like that really need to be self aware and should just pick up fuzzy black and white birds from a good hatchery and call it a day. Nothing wrong with that.

Are they worth it? Perhaps not to everyone. To us? How wide is my smile?

Edit: Forgot to mention that they'll eat you out of house and home too!! LOL

Amen to that! I have 4 brooders running right now: Duckworth Barred Rocks, GSBR, Narragansett and Bourbon Red Turkeys, and Cornish. The Barred Rocks eat almost twice as much feed as the other types of birds combined!

Chris Herzog warned me they were little piggies, but man alive can they put away the feed. You can feel the difference in them too: Pick a Barred Rock up versus one of my Cornish the same age and the Barred Rock will be heavier and more solid every time. I was shocked to say the least. My husband can't understand why I am going through way more starter and grower than adult rations, but I am sure he would understand if he took over feeding the birds in the brooders and grow out pens!

 

[cbnovick]

Meant to add this in the previous post...

Quote:
These Rocks seem to be especially ravenous for animal protein ...they are BIG birds... and I make sure they get plenty of it, and they have maintained good condition even in AZ's extreme heat (100+ by noon already in May) along with full egg production...

 

[cbnovick]

Amen to that! I have 4 brooders running right now: Duckworth Barred Rocks, GSBR, Narragansett and Bourbon Red Turkeys, and Cornish. The Barred Rocks eat almost twice as much feed as the other types of birds combined!

Chris Herzog warned me they were little piggies, but man alive can they put away the feed. You can feel the difference in them too: Pick a Barred Rock up versus one of my Cornish the same age and the Barred Rock will be heavier and more solid every time. I was shocked to say the least. My husband can't understand why I am going through way more starter and grower than adult rations, but I am sure he would understand if he took over feeding the birds in the brooders and grow out pens!

I am curious to know if you've noticed any differences between the Duckworth and GSBR strains... even this early on??

I've not seen Duckworth strain chicks...would appreciate some photos for comparison if you get a chance (having 4 brooders is most likely keeping you real, real busy!)

 

[catdaddyfro]

Amen to that! I have 4 brooders running right now: Duckworth Barred Rocks, GSBR, Narragansett and Bourbon Red Turkeys, and Cornish. The Barred Rocks eat almost twice as much feed as the other types of birds combined!

Chris Herzog warned me they were little piggies, but man alive can they put away the feed. You can feel the difference in them too: Pick a Barred Rock up versus one of my Cornish the same age and the Barred Rock will be heavier and more solid every time. I was shocked to say the least. My husband can't understand why I am going through way more starter and grower than adult rations, but I am sure he would understand if he took over feeding the birds in the brooders and grow out pens!

I have 4 F1 Delaware project boys (1/2 GSBRx1/2GNH) from kathyinmo I can remember when they were up and coming they were hogs too and still are. They probly eat a quarter to half as much as the others do. Two of them are absolutely "gianormous" actually bigger than the GSBR males due to hybrid vigor, the other 2 are more along the lines of the BRs and all are solid as a jug too "mucho carne" or as they say in the south "a lot of meat and potatoes" all in one package.

there's just a lot to the GSBRs, its all in the genes LOL

Jeff

 

[cluck-cluck]

NanaKat and Lacy Blues, I just want to thank you for your help. I put the two 3 day old chicks in with the 2 week+ olds and mama, they made it through the night just fine. I had to take them out of the coop so they could be with the rest of the chicks in the run all day, and I suppose I'll have to put them back inside at the end of the day Everything has gone smoothly, except when mama squatted to warm the chicks, the little ones didn't get the signal, so I picked them up and slipped them under her. They stayed there for like 15 minutes, and then they were all off and running again! I'm so happy they're together because I really see a difference in their vigor being raised by a mama! And my leghorn is doing an incredible job being a mama, you'd think she were a silkie! LOL The chicks have a secured heat lamp outside now so if I'm not around and they can't figure out how to make mama work, they can warm up with it.

Again, thank you for giving me the courage!

 

[gjensen]

Jeremy's Rocks are big eaters, but they forage as effectively. They off set the costs if given the chance. I was impressed how well they foraged, eating food stuff other birds would turn their nose up at.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Jeremy's Rocks are big eaters, but they forage as effectively. They off set the costs if given the chance. I was impressed how well they foraged, eating food stuff other birds would turn their nose up at.

George

I find my LF Rocks the same way.....BIG eaters, but I try to let them free range as much as possible (most every day) and they find A LOT to eat. Two young pullets were playing "tug-of-war" a few days ago with a snake they had caught. Last night I was trying to band a few "keepers, to watch, culls" with some colored zip ties. I carried a few cups of scratch up there with me to encourage them so I could catch them in a small pen. Probably 1/2 of them could care less and never even came to get any

My current brood cock is a tad over 12lbs and it takes a lot to fill him up!

I'll let the Good Lord feed 'em as much as they'll eat....and its good exercise for them as well. Leftovers of any kind never go to waste around here anymore either!

 

[MagicChicken]

Meant to add this in the previous post...

Quote: These Rocks seem to be especially ravenous for animal protein ...they are BIG birds... and I make sure they get plenty of it, and they have maintained good condition even in AZ's extreme heat (100+ by noon already in May) along with full egg production...

What are you using for animal protein? I am having trouble finding feed with animal protein in it. I'm down in Tucson. Even the game bird feed here is plant-based protein. Bought a bag of fish meal to add in to the feed I'm getting and read the label when I got home - it has 600 parts per million of ethoxyquine. Apparently that is typical for fish meal. The limit for ethoxyquine in poultry meat is 3 ppm. So I'm not sure I want to feed the fish meal to the birds, even if it's diluted into small doses. And I don't generate enough meat scraps to make a difference in their diet. It's a dilemma.