Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Lacy Blues]

what he means here is basically pinch the end of the pelvic bone so you can see how thick the bone itself is. Because the bigger, thicker the bone, the more meat and the less eggs you get. so hens with thinner, more flexible bones will lay more eggs than girls with thicker, less flexible pelvic bones. That is what he is doing in Fig 11, pinching one pelvic bone to see the thickness of it.

<snip>

If any of you decide to try this... pinching the pubic bone and wiggling it to see how flexible it is... I would just ask you to be extremely careful. It is very very easy to break these little bones in a layer breed. I imagine it's pretty easy in larger, heavier birds as well. You will cause your pullets/hens unnecessary pain and inflammation and may even disrupt her laying. I don't think the bones will heal if she continues to lay and cause them to be moving every other day. So, please folks, don't do this unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Bob, I'm sorry to hear about your health struggles but I'm glad you will be able to keep some birds. I can't imagine my life without chickens now that I've had them for this long. Take it easy and take care of yourself.

 

[colburg]

Maryhysong, that's what I started thinking tone was after I asked the question, thanks for explaining it to me.

 

[maryhysong]

If any of you decide to try this... pinching the pubic bone and wiggling it to see how flexible it is... I would just ask you to be extremely careful. It is very very easy to break these little bones in a layer breed. I imagine it's pretty easy in larger, heavier birds as well. You will cause your pullets/hens unnecessary pain and inflammation and may even disrupt her laying. I don't think the bones will heal if she continues to lay and cause them to be moving every other day. So, please folks, don't do this unless absolutely necessary.

You should not be 'pinching' that hard! I do it all the time, when I pick up birds to check them for mites or when I am making culling decisions. Pinching is the motion, but really you are just seeing how thick that bone is. It is amazing how much difference in size there can be between one bird and another, even sisters. Hogan's system makes a lot of sense to me, though I am still working on the 'out of condition' by checking the breast, but I think I have it figured out.

 

[galanie]

I myself had to read and re-read and look at the illustrations over and over to "get" what he was saying. And I still don't think I completely have it. But I do understand most of it and have correctly determined at least who will have an easy time laying and who doesn't, or in many cases confirming it. It's an eye opening book, to be sure.

 

[maryhysong]

"abdominal spacing


In regards to "abdominal spacing I did not catch this when I read it this mourning but then When I saw the Call of the Hen book above it all registered. If you breed with his concepts like I use to do and push for high egg production, you will get good feather quality and good finger spacing in the right places. Great book on of my favorites I ever read. bob

Mr Bob, sorry to hear about your health, hope you take good care of yourself and feel better soon! I really appreciate all of your wisdom and knowledge that you share here on these forums, I have learned a lot from reading your posts.

I am glad you mentioned feather quality here as this is an issue I am having in some Welsummers and my easter eggers; at first I thought it was just too much rooster but now I am raising up some babies and seeing bare backs even in 3 months old chicks, just like their moms. I have read call of the hen a couple times and still working on understanding it all. I have the pelvic and abdominal parts down. The parts I could use help understanding are the head measurements (how to do them, I'm still not getting all of it) and the 'so many fingers out of condition' breast measurement; I'm not sure what he is measuring,/ feeling there.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I have been out of it for about a week. My blood pressure went through the roof and had vision problems. Sunday I took all the Mottle Javas to Anthony P. in Melanino Florida about thirty miles North of Pensacola. Anthony had raised my white rocks for about four years. He and our good friend from Texas who got the ten chicks are now in charge of taking care of them and spread them to others in the next year. Hope to have a trio to share with some very interested person at the Newnan Georgia Show this February.

Also, just got back from taking two pair of my old white rocks and seven chicks to Frank H. in Mifflin Alabama he has had my white rocks for over ten years. I am now out of large fowl.

Got to cut back as just cant handle the labor of the place and all the chickens.

One thing I noticed and thought about after I took my last White Rocks off of my place after 21 years was a hen looked at me and said what are you doing to us. I told her you are going to a better place. You have been prisoned in a 8x8 pen for six months can not go out side and walk or even look for a bug or a blade of grass because of varmints. Where I am taking you have a 12x12 foot hen house six nests, and a fifty by 100 foot yard fenced in. The new owner will let you out in the early am and lock you up at night to protect you. You will live a life of Riley.

When we put them in the big yard with the other six white rocks their old aunts and uncles from four years ago they flopped their wings and said farewell. I will go see them every six months or so but a old line which I had for me is over.

I will work with my Rhode Island Red Bantams and try to keep them going and Walt I got seven Buff Silkies to raise up and keep.

This is so sad ... that you had to let them go. I have always enjoyed your posts and have learned from you. Now with this, I see that you also have a genuine care for your birds and that makes me admire you all the more.
I wish you well, both for your continued work with your birds and for your health.

Yoga can help with lowering your blood pressure.

 

[cluck-cluck]

You should not be 'pinching' that hard! I do it all the time, when I pick up birds to check them for mites or when I am making culling decisions. Pinching is the motion, but really you are just seeing how thick that bone is. It is amazing how much difference in size there can be between one bird and another, even sisters. Hogan's system makes a lot of sense to me, though I am still working on the 'out of condition' by checking the breast, but I think I have it figured out.

I'm wondering what you would physically want in a duel purpose breed? Obviously, you want decent layers, yet you want meat on the birds. It seems as if these things are mutually exclusive. Are they? Or can you have thin-flexible pelvic bones yet a meaty bird? In the case of duel purpose breeds, do you try to strike a balance?

 

[ronott1]

I'm wondering what you would physically want in a duel purpose breed? Obviously, you want decent layers, yet you want meat on the birds. It seems as if these things are mutually exclusive. Are they? Or can you have thin-flexible pelvic bones yet a meaty bird? In the case of duel purpose breeds, do you try to strike a balance?

The biggest thing I have seen on good Dual purpose breeds is a bigger difference in the size and growth rate between the Cockerels and the pullets. The Cockerels get big fast!

 

[Mi Ranchito]

I'm wondering what you would physically want in a duel purpose breed? Obviously, you want decent layers, yet you want meat on the birds. It seems as if these things are mutually exclusive. Are they? Or can you have thin-flexible pelvic bones yet a meaty bird? In the case of duel purpose breeds, do you try to strike a balance?

Excellent question! I am in the same dilemma. I prefer the dual purpose breeds ( I am seeking to raise wyondottes) both for their egg production and meat.