Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yellow House Farm]

Bob, best I can tell, there are only three reliable sources for the Silver Campines. I was thinking that I needed to keep the "lines" separate, at least for a while to not only get a thorough understanding of what I can expect from each line, but to preserve the genetic diversity. That's not to say that I won't, at some point, cross those lines, but I will have a hard time going back to the source on two of them. See, the only breeders that handle them at all, in any numbers, are in Texas, Minnisota, and in California. My connection in Texas is the easiest to work with. She is as excited about my project as I am and brought my first good pair to the poultry show in Moulton, and has even started a breeder pen of Silvers (she raises Goldens for show) to produce spare birds for me! The other two will have to be shipped eggs, well, except for the two trios I am driving to Ohio to pick up from Urch at the Ohio Nationals. I don't expect to do that again.

Do you think this is a good plan? As rare as these are, and as far away as I will have to go for sources, I thought this would be the safest route for me to take. Thoughts?

If you know you're going to commit to these, then I'd deal with the extra expense of ordering chicks from Urch. Get 'em live and peeping. If your the TX birds are not closely. i.e. recently, related to Urch stock, getting those two is all you need. There's really no need to cross them unless you're experiencing true in-breeding depression. . Eventually, it might become necessary to do so, in which case you'd do a side mating, and, assuming that the cross nicks, you'd then take the progeny of the side breeding and breed them back to the original lines such that the infusion is done with bird that are only 1/2 genetic material from the other line. It really doesn't take a lot of blood to quicken a slowed line, and outcrossing outright is a huge can of worms. I speak from hard-knocks experience, and it takes a lot to fix it.

Good luck! Silver Campines are definitely in need of a champion...... or two or three!

 

[Canieldonrad]

I'd urge you to drive to the Ohio National whether you are going to pick up birds or not. That show is always a joy ride for me. Best show I've ever been to and its one that I don't like to miss(its been a rough few years for my by not going).


Laura had one last hatch about a week and a half ago and graced me with another 12 chicks. I'm itching to see if these eat more, since the weather will be cooler when they are filling out.

 

[Wisher1000]

I'd urge you to drive to the Ohio National whether you are going to pick up birds or not. That show is always a joy ride for me. Best show I've ever been to and its one that I don't like to miss(its been a rough few years for my by not going).

I would not have planned to go there, it's a 10 hour drive for me, except that I was planning an (18 hour) trip to Urch's to pick them up. THEN a wonderful member of this thread

told me that Urch was going to be judging the Ohio Nationals and that he might bring them with him and I could pick them up there. The arrangements have been made and I will get two trios there! I am so excited because I will get to see some of the show, get some experience caring for fowl in a show or 'on the road' situation, and get to meet alot of the people I have been corresponding with, here on BYC! This will only be the second show I have ever been to other than county fairs. I have to admit that I am worried about the birds staying in the car in the carriers all that time and will turn around and drive back rather than risk their health or well-being. I am assured that they will be fine with basic care (food, water, bedding.)

 

[Canieldonrad]

Just stop every three hours or so and give them a cup of food and water to get them something.

 

[Wisher1000]

I am actually more concerned about the time I will be at the show. I have to pick the birds up from the breeder on Friday afternoon/evening. The show is Saturday and Sunday. I have a van, and will remove the rear seats to accomodate the dog carriers. I don't know what the weather is like in Columbus, Ohio in November but I guess it will be cold. I don't worry about the cold as much as I worry about them staying in the car, in the sun, and the temp in the car changing drastically from day to night. I know they can take the cold, and I know I can leave the windows cracked to regulate the temp, but even if the car only gets to 60 during the day and then drops below freezing at night, that could compromise their immune systems, right? I know, I'm a worrier. My plan is to take the pelleted feed that they are going to be getting at home, asking for a bit of the feed they are used to getting, and add just a little of apple slices and maybe cucumber to the crate for entertainment. I will take some milk jugs for water and a big bag of shavings to freshen the bedding if needed. Anything else I need to think about?

 

[SLWyandottesWi]

I am actually more concerned about the time I will be at the show. I have to pick the birds up from the breeder on Friday afternoon/evening. The show is Saturday and Sunday. I have a van, and will remove the rear seats to accomodate the dog carriers. I don't know what the weather is like in Columbus, Ohio in November but I guess it will be cold. I don't worry about the cold as much as I worry about them staying in the car, in the sun, and the temp in the car changing drastically from day to night. I know they can take the cold, and I know I can leave the windows cracked to regulate the temp, but even if the car only gets to 60 during the day and then drops below freezing at night, that could compromise their immune systems, right? I know, I'm a worrier. My plan is to take the pelleted feed that they are going to be getting at home, asking for a bit of the feed they are used to getting, and add just a little of apple slices and maybe cucumber to the crate for entertainment. I will take some milk jugs for water and a big bag of shavings to freshen the bedding if needed. Anything else I need to think about?

For getting silver Campines try Ideal Poultry.....but it may be to late in the year

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: Is there a sleeper strain of birds there if so please explain the strain that he has or pictures of these birds.

Yes your plan is sound nothing wrong with getting two or three strains of birds of a breed and watch them then go with the strain you like best and if you have to cross the strains to try to nock them up a notch. When you get a strain that is averaging say 94 points I mean Killer birds like in Reds you don't want to cross them as you will drop down one or two points by crossing but in rare birds like these you may have to do it. Some Rock colors like Silver Penciled or Partridge may have to be done this way but not say Barred ect.
Iin regards to toe punches they just need to be sharp. That's why I like to order three of them and will this year one may be sharper than the other and make cleaning holes.

People have been toe punching chicks for a hundred years noting new. Wing banding is a great way to even narrow down the bird but takes practice and some are scared they will hurt the birds and if you have more fear toe punching or wing banding then don't do it.

Go to the Ohio National if you can. What a experience it is I was there at the National Plymouth Rock Meet in 2002 when I was Secretary of the Club great show and every chicken and every breed will be there to look at.

 

[thedragonlady]

I am actually more concerned about the time I will be at the show. I have to pick the birds up from the breeder on Friday afternoon/evening. The show is Saturday and Sunday. I have a van, and will remove the rear seats to accomodate the dog carriers. I don't know what the weather is like in Columbus, Ohio in November but I guess it will be cold. I don't worry about the cold as much as I worry about them staying in the car, in the sun, and the temp in the car changing drastically from day to night. I know they can take the cold, and I know I can leave the windows cracked to regulate the temp, but even if the car only gets to 60 during the day and then drops below freezing at night, that could compromise their immune systems, right? I know, I'm a worrier. My plan is to take the pelleted feed that they are going to be getting at home, asking for a bit of the feed they are used to getting, and add just a little of apple slices and maybe cucumber to the crate for entertainment. I will take some milk jugs for water and a big bag of shavings to freshen the bedding if needed. Anything else I need to think about?

Take a can of Permethrin powder, and powder those birds as they go into your van. No point in bugs hitching a ride to your house. It WILL be cold in Columbus. Generally the first snow of the year would hit as we were driving home. Then one year it iced. What fun. Birds can take a 30 degree temp differential well. We have that here all winter.

 

[Ivagrove]

You could get a sale coop, in the sales area of the show, and keep the birds in there until you go home. They'll be as comfortable and safe as any in the show. For five bucks or whatever, its a good deal.

 

[AletaG]

It's a state by state thing. That's why everyone has different experiences. Just like some states test for more stuff than others and so on and so forth. I think whomever you talked to about the 30 bird minimum was just being lazy though, according to regulations it's just if you have less than 30 every bird is tested rather than a percentage. Which sucks for you, maybe there's another tester around that's not so lazy?

It's just very interesting. I know you are from a different part of WA. Is your testing vet Dr. Bab***? If you don't mind me asking? I was under the impression there should NOT be intra-state regional differences (even if states vary)... I'm not going to give up, that's sure. I'd rather just keep 6 "full time" HRIR... and some extra hens for daily eggs, and maybe a trio or 2 of something 'fun' that it won't matter if I get ***ed up Or not. At least until I can get access to more space, and have actually been breeding something 'right' for a while. I had an hour long chat with a delightful vet tech at the Puyallup lab, and she's going to bend some ears for me... Heh.