Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[cybercat]

Quote:
Ok, from what I have read on the Plymouth Rock club forum they should have a Gravy Bowl Shape. This applies to all plymouth rock chickens. Robert can clarify I hope. To me it means curved and wider on back than on bottom. If you look at a gravy bowl you will see a curved out front which in chickens would be the breast bone carrying out before the chest and past the shoulders/ wings. Sorry I grew up breeding dogs it is easier to think in those terms sometimes. The bottom under the handle of the gravy bowl being rounded and wide to hold alot of gravy or in this case a great layer. Hope that makes sense. The Plymouth Rock Club has pics of white that how great shape.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

I am not going to ruffle any feathers so I am not going to list what breeds I think should be heritage or not, but I think people need to quit going by the ALBC. They don't have a real clue as to what is going on with breeds and breed numbers. Also I believe that they shouldn't go by the dates breeds were put in the standard either. For example a Red dorking is a heritage breed but it wasn't put in the standard until 1995. White Faverolles weren't put into the standard until 1981 but they were around in the 1900's if not before. I could go on but I hope you get the picture.

Orloffs were addmitted to the APA standard but they were removed because shortly after they were accepted most of the breeders stopped breeding them. That is why it is so hard to get new colors or breeds in the standard because it seems like once they are accepted people think they have done their part and they get rid of the birds. Take Cuckoo dorkings, they are in the standard, but barely anybody has them any more.

Another reason not to go by if they are in the standard or not, is that if you look in the old standards, early 1900's or even in the standard of excellence before 1900 there were several colors of breeds and different breeds that were in there that are all no longer recognized by the standard just because so few people breed them now, or people thought they looked to much like another breed. Examples, Jersey Blues, White Javas, Rose Comb Barred Plymouth Rocks, Pea Comb Barred Plymouth Rocks or Cuckoo Leghorns, just to name a few. Just because they aren't in the standard does not mean they aren't heritage.

Well maybe some feathers will be ruffled after all.

David

 

[shelleyb1969]

Yard full o' rocks :

VERY pretty....and unique looking!!!

Thank you!

Their look is another big reason why I chose them.​

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
That is part of of it.
They should be:
• Recognized by the APA before 1951
• Heritage must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock. ( No AI-ing, No cutting of fluff ect. )
• They must be able to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems.
Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.
(You should be able to put out a house and food/ water and they should survive all types of weather).
• Slow growth rate. (It should take longer than 16 weeks / (4 months) to mature.)


Chris

 

[shelleyb1969]

Rock N' Faverolles :

Just because they aren't in the standard does not mean they aren't heritage.

Well maybe some feathers will be ruffled after all.

David

I agree completely. I wanted to say that, myself, David...but I was skeered to.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
I'm not sure that is the criteria. The Delaware was not recognized until 1952. I know that the APA is working on a criteria, but I don't know if they have come to a conclusion yet.

Walt Leonard

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
That is part of of it.
They should be:
• Recognized by the APA before 1951
• Heritage must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock. ( No AI-ing, No cutting of fluff ect. )
• They must be able to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems.
Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.
(You should be able to put out a house and food/ water and they should survive all types of weather).
• Slow growth rate. (It should take longer than 16 weeks / (4 months) to mature.)


Chris

This sounds like a reasonable criteria. What organization brought this forward?

Walt Leonard

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
That is part of of it.
They should be:
• Recognized by the APA before 1951
• Heritage must be the result of naturally mating pairs of both grandparent and parent stock. ( No AI-ing, No cutting of fluff ect. )
• They must be able to live a long, vigorous life and thrive in the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems.
Breeding hens should be productive for 5-7 years and roosters for 3-5 years.
(You should be able to put out a house and food/ water and they should survive all types of weather).
• Slow growth rate. (It should take longer than 16 weeks / (4 months) to mature.)


Chris

This sounds like a reasonable criteria. What organization brought this forward?

Walt Leonard

It's the ALBC's criteria from post 4. I just put in my own words..

Chris

 

[ChickenPotPie]

These are valid points being brought up about heritage breeds not listed on the ALBC website and breeds/varieties not recognized by the APA. It is a testament to how important it is to be involved in the hobby/cause of preservation.

For rabbits (sorry, it's what I know) polls are taken each year by many, if not most, national rare breed clubs to find out how many animals can be found (not just registered animals). Polls are taken yearly because the most critical breeds can really take a quick downfall (example: one breed when from 300 animals last year to about 200 this year). The information gathered in the polls are then fed to the ALBC. However, I've notice that while the rare breed rabbit groups are very much on top of numbers and who is on THEIR top 20 list (and adjust placements yearly) the ALBC list has stayed the same for as long as rabbits have been listed (about 5 years).

The ALBC is a good resource but it is only as good as the information it is fed by those on the ground who are willing to share and get involved.

That said, do we have any ALBC members or committee members here? I'd like to hear much about the goings on and workings of the ALBC group in relation to poultry.

 

[DAFox]

Quote:
Hi Shelley, may I ask how your Barred Hollands are? Egg color? Where did you get your stock from? And do you know anyone else working on this breed? I have one hen from Sandhill who might be inspiring me to do my part in saving them from extinction.
Dale-Ann