Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[catdaddyfro]

I'm headed to Tampa tomorrow.....will try to get an individual picture (profile) when I return. in my opinion, his chest is deeper than his sire, comb is "ok" (I dont like it as well has his father's but it is ok.....still young, but his father's comb is darn near perfect), feathering seems a bit tighter which was needed, legs slightly wider apart, hackle/saddle color much better than sire. At 6 1/2 months he is larger than his sire was. His father was barely 7lbs, he is 7 lbs 11 oz

I'm hoping hatching in Dec will give me a little additional size

Well if you absolutely decide he's not the one you want to keep, I'll take him LOL I had him picked out in the first frames/post before I got down here to reading all the rest of the post on him. He is the one that sticks out like a sore thumb(the ones you are supposed to watch more than the others) I bet he showed this early on too, Huh?

I have one out of the six CR males from Ron that is "got it" more than the others at this juncture. I will keep an eye on him, the others too but him more so for now, I'm sure these are just like the RIRs and BRs to they can go from "so so" to HEY!

what have we here, later on in later maturity too.

Jeff

 

[thedragonlady]

I'm headed to Tampa tomorrow.....will try to get an individual picture (profile) when I return. in my opinion, his chest is deeper than his sire, comb is "ok" (I dont like it as well has his father's but it is ok.....still young, but his father's comb is darn near perfect), feathering seems a bit tighter which was needed, legs slightly wider apart, hackle/saddle color much better than sire. At 6 1/2 months he is larger than his sire was. His father was barely 7lbs, he is 7 lbs 11 oz

I'm hoping hatching in Dec will give me a little additional size

October-November is even better, as you can get them outside before the bitter cold in February. They eat like piglets then, and you can throw the Calf Manna and whole grains at them.

 

[Pathfinders]

I have a question for those of you following this thread: do most of you breed the birds you do for show, or for providing meat and/or eggs for your family.

Trying to get an idea of the audience on this thread. Thanks!

 

[Fentress]

Meat and eggs when I do start breeding, hopefully next year. I am sure the SOP will be a part of my selection process. I suspect that there are people on this thread who do not eat their chickens!

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Well, there's a 4th option. I breed for the SOP to help preserve the breed variety. If any of the other things happen, that's ok. But I breed just because I love the symmetry, grace, and utility of a well-bred creature which enables it to excel at its original purpose.
Best,
Karen
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

 

[fowlman01]

I breed for show and preservation of a couple breeds I raise.

Walt

 

[Robert Blosl]

Most of the people I have helped get started on this tread breed to Preserve the breed. Its a start anyway. Some will read their standard and try to breed them up as I call it but some are just keeping them going. Got a few who are very close to getting the courage to show but just don't know how. Afraid of failure or getting beat which is normal in Humans. There are a few who got started right which I am so happy about and started showing and have done great. Once they get the bug in showing they will want to come back for the fun and to meet their new friends they meet. Cost is a factor to some it cost so much to travel to a show they can not afford it. I understand that.

Over all I have been a breeder first and a exhibitor second.

I am more now wanting to share what I have learned in 20 years to the beginners as it was a promise I made to the master breeders I interviewed 20 plus years ago before they died. If we don't pass on the secrets to the future breeders or Preservationists they will not be able to keep these rare breeds from going extinct.

Look at Scotts Columbian Rocks. Three years he has had them and breed the Light Brahma traits right off their backs. Now he is thinking of small pin point micro mattings next year. They will someday be on Champion Row just like your great breed of Buckeyes have done in the past ten years.

Lets see what others plan to do. Great question and needs answers please.

 

[bnjrob]

I have a question for those of you following this thread: do most of you breed the birds you do for show, or for providing meat and/or eggs for your family.

Trying to get an idea of the audience on this thread. Thanks!

Preservation and having a multipurpose homestead bird. Will probably show at some point, at least once, to be able to get a judge's comments on how we're doing with breeding, but showing is not our main focus.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Well, I want to bring my creves up to the sop, but in the process I will certainly enjoy their eggs and meat. I hope to make them a good utilitarian bird once again. I will try showing what I have even so it's woefully not up to snuff, but I hope to learn. However, I'll only go to those shows close to home because I can't afford to stay anywhere. That probably means only twice a year at most.

 

[Fred's Hens]

We're Rocks and Reds. We breed to preserve, but perhaps it is better said to keep alive not only the historic physical appearance of the birds, but the heritage of their temperament and agricultural purpose for which they were developed. Both the breeds were aimed at agriculture.

Yes, we eat them, yes we collect for table eggs. To ignore these aspects would be to ignore the original intention of the creators of these breeds. We believe the SOP captures and reflects the originators intentions.