Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[3riverschick]

Just a thought, years ago with my first flock, Kelly Cratty ( Marans) told me to raise the chicks on hardwarecloth. Said I would never have crooked toes if I did. I raised a couple of flocks that way and no problems. Then I spent 150. on 10 rare chicks and . decided to do something different. ( Duh) . Made the cardboard corral with newspaper base and proceeded to raise them like hatcheries said. Everyone was severely crippled with curled toes. They were from the farm's first inbreeding, so not a lot of inbreeding behind them. I looked around for the cause and read that if one raises chicks on a smooth surface, they tend to curl their toes underneath them when they sleep. hence developing curled toes. Not so with the hardwarecloth and they developed straight toes. I have raised my chicks on hardwarecloth, waffle-weave drawer liner, or shavings ever since and no more crooked toes, even with a 1/2 bro to 1/2 sis breeding from a small gene pool.
Anyone else ever have a like experience or input on the subject?
Thanks,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

I use 1/4 inch wire mesh in my hatcher and 1/2 wire mesh in the brooder until they are two weeks old. Then the chicks go on pine shavings until they go outside. No curled toes here.

 

[Extra Java]

I'm no genetics expert, but in my opinion, if it were an "incubation issue" I think you'd see a bunch from that same hatch with crooked toes. My gut feel is that genetics are at work somewhere in there

Thanks! This makes sense to my situation.
There was only 1 out of ~36 chick hatch. Must be genetic! It's only 1 middle toe.
Saw 1 crazy comb as well missing a few points. OK- Culls!

 

[aveca]

I took some pics for Walt at twin tiers..and western NY show..I wanted to get the ducks but the aisle was crowded and judge was trying to work so I figured he didnt need me elbowing through there too, A white Rock took LF..she was fantastic ! near perfect as one can be and perfect color.. an assortment of different breeds ..the bottom pic is champion row..the white rock LF champion was to the left of big butterfeild.. they opened the door to get a good look at colors.

 

[wekiva bird]

I took some pics for Walt at twin tiers..and western NY show..I wanted to get the ducks but the aisle was crowded and judge was trying to work so I figured he didnt need me elbowing through there too, A white Rock took LF..she was fantastic ! near perfect as one can be and perfect color.. an assortment of different breeds ..the bottom pic is champion row..the white rock LF champion was to the left of big butterfeild.. they opened the door to get a good look at colors.

Nice job !!!!! Like to see more photos.

 

[Wynette]

I know another member was there & took a ton of pics. I'll ask her to post some of the H fowl here on this thread. She met Bill (said he was a super nice man) and a few BYC members, too. Neat stuff.

 

[thedragonlady]

Just a thought, years ago with my first flock, Kelly Cratty ( Marans) told me to raise the chicks on hardwarecloth. Said I would never have crooked toes if I did. I raised a couple of flocks that way and no problems. Then I spent 150. on 10 rare chicks and . decided to do something different. ( Duh) . Made the cardboard corral with newspaper base and proceeded to raise them like hatcheries said. Everyone was severely crippled with curled toes. They were from the farm's first inbreeding, so not a lot of inbreeding behind them. I looked around for the cause and read that if one raises chicks on a smooth surface, they tend to curl their toes underneath them when they sleep. hence developing curled toes. Not so with the hardwarecloth and they developed straight toes. I have raised my chicks on hardwarecloth, waffle-weave drawer liner, or shavings ever since and no more crooked toes, even with a 1/2 bro to 1/2 sis breeding from a small gene pool.
Anyone else ever have a like experience or input on the subject?
Thanks,
Karen

Lots of unsound dogs have been raised on slick surfaces too.Babies of any sort need traction to develop their muscles while they grow.

 

[thedragonlady]

I took some pics for Walt at twin tiers..and western NY show..I wanted to get the ducks but the aisle was crowded and judge was trying to work so I figured he didnt need me elbowing through there too, A white Rock took LF..she was fantastic ! near perfect as one can be and perfect color.. an assortment of different breeds ..the bottom pic is champion row..the white rock LF champion was to the left of big butterfeild.. they opened the door to get a good look at colors.

Great photos Lynne. Butterfields certainly fills that coop.

 

[fowlman01]

Just a thought, years ago with my first flock, Kelly Cratty ( Marans) told me to raise the chicks on hardwarecloth. Said I would never have crooked toes if I did. I raised a couple of flocks that way and no problems. Then I spent 150. on 10 rare chicks and . decided to do something different. ( Duh) . Made the cardboard corral with newspaper base and proceeded to raise them like hatcheries said. Everyone was severely crippled with curled toes. They were from the farm's first inbreeding, so not a lot of inbreeding behind them. I looked around for the cause and read that if one raises chicks on a smooth surface, they tend to curl their toes underneath them when they sleep. hence developing curled toes. Not so with the hardwarecloth and they developed straight toes. I have raised my chicks on hardwarecloth, waffle-weave drawer liner, or shavings ever since and no more crooked toes, even with a 1/2 bro to 1/2 sis breeding from a small gene pool.
Anyone else ever have a like experience or input on the subject?
Thanks,
Karen

For the first week of their life my chicks are on newspaper....no crooked toes......ever. The original story about newspaper is that it caused spraddled legs which makes a lot more sense than crooked toes, but neither happens and I have been doing it this way for 50 years. Over the years I have had crooked toes, but not because of the brooder substrate. Folks use a lot of excuses to explain away crooked toes and they make believable story's but..........

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Great pictures Aveca. Thanks! Nice little SPR bantam male.

w.