Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[chickadoodles]

Hi Chickadoodles,
I know what Bob wrote is probably not what you wanted to hear. It is wisdom. I am like a lot of people, I learned it the hard way over a 3 year period. I decided I wanted a rare chicken which was pretty I decided on Golden Salmon Marans. A wildtype colored bird, the black-breasted red cock with the salmon-breasted stippled hen. Over more than a 2 year period I tried 5 times to obtain birds of this color for a foundation flock. I hatched all kinds of weird colors, and raised all kinds of weird colored chicks But never obtained one,.
finally, I gave up and decided to go with a simpler color. I had picked Sussex fowl. Was looking for a solid-colored bird, older and wiser now about starting with a multi-colored bird. I was looking for Red Sussex when a Light Sussex breeder contacted my and offered to sell me some of his proven show stock. I was floored and so grateful. I bought a foundation trio of started birds{my avatar is ne of them} ( no eggs or chicks this time, I had learned better). and this year, after almost 4 years, am finally raising my 1st generation of worthy birds. It is so exciting
You are blessed to have ended up here where you can get wise counsel to start out. I wish I had been so fortunate 4 years ago. Barred birds, multi-colored birds and blue birds are difficult to breed correct. Pick a solid-colored breed. Or a bi-colored breed which is based on the Silver gene, and the eWh locus..( why?) ...because bi-colored birds based on the eWh locus and the silver gene, ( like Light Sussex) do not need color balancing in their underfluff to get the top feathers to come out the right color. The underfullff on an eWh based /Silver based bird is white to the skin and breeding the black points is much easier.
Basically, you want to find a color which doesn't require color balancing. That way you can concentrate on learning to breed the bird and keep the color generally sound, then fine tune the color if you need to later on when the breed type has been well set and learned.
Don't be like me and learn the hard way, spending all that money and time on wasted effort. There is good counsel here and folk who will help you find quality birds in a breed which meets your needs and is also easier to breed for color.
Best Regards,
Karen

Thank you so much Karen! That helps me kind of understand a little on the breeding side of it. I love the Lite Sussex birds they are so pretty!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Here's a quick photo update of my Buff Rock chicks at almost 2 weeks old...really enjoying them!

Wow! Look at the size of those feet! I agree with everyone else so far in that I think you have a future flock leader here.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Here's a quick photo update of my Buff Rock chicks at almost 2 weeks old...really enjoying them!

Ok, I know this is a serious breeder's thread but I can't help myself......

Aawwww, SO CUTE

That last one is awesome for a chick! But if he were a kid, I'd worry about my lunch money! LOL

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: He is Cute but better yet think about what kind of breeder this chick will be this winter. How lucky we are to have this line of bird out in the open to share with others next year. Maybe Buff Rocks will the breed to promote to people next year.

Thanks Karen for your post. When I see Blue Chickens it brings back some sad moments for me. It Put me out of business as Club Secretary. I just could not put my wife through this another two years. These people are most of them beginners who had no idea what they where asking and the sad part is there is no Large Fowl Blue Rocks in the APA standard of perfection. You have to cross this and that to get started and takes at least five years to clean up your work and you have to have a Masters Degree in Poultry Science I think to be success full. There is only one lady on this site who has blue birds and doing a great job but it takes the best of the best to be successful with this color. They are not a H breed of chickens that we promote. There is only one fellow in the Virginia are who's last name is like a E who is breeding them he is a genetic super star and he may figure it out. I am glad I did not hurt your feeling. Maybe you will learn in a year or two what breed of turkeys you will kike and get them down to one or two breeds.

Keep it simple Lurkers, read and study before you leap and if you make a mistake and get junk its a learning experience. I did it and learned from it and that's why I study the strains that I tell people about before I recommend them to beginners.

Great day of posting and thanks for the up date on the Buff Rock Chicks.

 

[catdaddyfro]

He is Cute but better yet think about what kind of breeder this chick will be this winter. How lucky we are to have this line of bird out in the open to share with others next year. Maybe Buff Rocks will the breed to promote to people next year.

Thanks Karen for your post. When I see Blue Chickens it brings back some sad moments for me. It Put me out of business as Club Secretary. I just could not put my wife through this another two years. These people are most of them beginners who had no idea what they where asking and the sad part is there is no Large Fowl Blue Rocks in the APA standard of perfection. You have to cross this and that to get started and takes at least five years to clean up your work and you have to have a Masters Degree in Poultry Science I think to be success full. There is only one lady on this site who has blue birds and doing a great job but it takes the best of the best to be successful with this color. They are not a H breed of chickens that we promote. There is only one fellow in the Virginia are who's last name is like a E who is breeding them he is a genetic super star and he may figure it out. I am glad I did not hurt your feeling. Maybe you will learn in a year or two what breed of turkeys you will kike and get them down to one or two breeds.

Keep it simple Lurkers, read and study before you leap and if you make a mistake and get junk its a learning experience. I did it and learned from it and that's why I study the strains that I tell people about before I recommend them to beginners.

Great day of posting and thanks for the up date on the Buff Rock Chicks.

Joe Emenhieser? may be who you are refering to, Bob.
Jeff

 

[thedragonlady]

Here's a quick photo update of my Buff Rock chicks at almost 2 weeks old...really enjoying them!

Love the chests on these chicks !

 

[3riverschick]

Anyone thinking about Plymouth Rock poultry...a forward-thinking Club, they have put their Yearbook online. Very cool. http://prfca.poultrysites.com/
Best,
Karen

 

[fowlman01]

Love the chests on these chicks !

Now don't put these into your Orps.....lol

I didn't miss that you are breeding your tanks down in weight......good girl!

w.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: That's him Jeff. Smart fellow and will make this a great color pattern.

It takes special people to breed this color.

I know they are pretty but good golly they are tough to breed right.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I know its the wrong place, but if anyone is nearby (too hot to ship) I am culling a few pullets/hens and a few cockerels