Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[kathyinmo]

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Boy, isn't that the truth (dues)! A new Delaware Club has been formed recently (October) and started with no dues. We found we do need to ask for something, and have set it at a low $5. a year. We have around 75 members, I believe, and hope to promote the breed and interest more. It is more costly than we newbies had thought. Many give their own funds, and we hope to get away from that.

http://delawarepoultryclub.org/

 

[saladin]

Great on the new Delaware Club. A relatively new breed, the Delaware, that quickly moved off the radar and was nearly lost. Actually, I think of the composite breeds the Delaware is one of the best choices for a homestead.

Remember, anything worth something is WORTH PAYING FOR; even if it is just $5. It takes money to run any organization.

I commend you on your efforts with this new club and wish you the best.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Rose combs??

There's the male question, then there's the female question.

I have found that RC's on young birds are pretty easy to read. As the males come in, which is pretty early on for most breeds, cockerels with poor (read POOR not slightly imperfect) are visible fairly quickly: thumb prints, sunken leaders, etc.... These birds can be culled.

Also, I'm learning to be suspicious of combs that comb on too quick, too fast. They llook great at first, but, within a few weeks, they're beefy or lob-sided.

Females are more difficult to tell because the combs take so long to start developing. What's worse, is that the undeveloped female RC is so unassuming, almost invisible


I like to think of how many birds I can grow out with enough room to avoid picking, crowding, feather damage, stunting, etc.... Having screwed up enough on that level, I've learned it's not worth it.

However, for those who are willing/able to cull hard. Let's say you can grow out (to adulthood) 50 birds. You might find that you can hatch twice as many. When the males start showing their combs, you can cull down. If you're breeding a breed that needs size, Dorkings for example, you can cull your hens, too, by taking the top 50% or so. You'll have to decide what your numbers will be, but, depending on your strain and the presence of comb imperfection, big thumb prints are a royal pain in the neck. If you have room to grow out 50, perhaps 20 males/30 females, or 15 males/35 females, there might be a bit to be said about not growing out 5 out of 15 cockerels with a major thumbprint or sunken leader that is going to slam you for the next five years.

Though overcrowding at any age is going to cause problem, if a space can hold 50 adults well, it should be able to house more than this up to 8 weeks old or so. It depends on the breed's temperment, of course.

Your thoughts, Bob?

 

[moondog425]

These are beautiful birds ! Do most hatcheries sell them???

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[lildinkem]

Just had a quik finish to a problem Racoon. I made a coop into a Guillotine trap with a few screws some fishline and a piece off an old metal cage. I was shocked how effective it is. I had to prime the trap with another of the still to be culled birds.
End result, one less cull, one less Racoon. Have to love the Guillotine!

 

[Robert Blosl]

The breed that this person has with Rose Combs are Doniniques.

Dont know what the problem is but they got good type and color.

It could be that this perosn is putting to much breeding pressure on the heads or combs than the body.

Many new people do this.. They worry about a so so comb and forget the body is more importants than the head in the beginning.\\

Like one judge said I would rather have a good type bird with a so so head than a great head on a flat chested out of site top line bird.

I think another thing this person is having problems with is what to do with surplus birds or culls.

Bob

 

[jenjscott]

Culling is a diffulcult problem. You reach a point where putting them in the freezer is fruitless, couldn't possibly eat that many. Can't sell them. Can't give them away on craigslist or freecycle. I am at the point right now thinking I will supplement my dogs' feed with some extra protein. I just can't bring myself to just throwing all that meat away. In the meantime, they keep on eating..........

 

[Chris09]

Well I was out the other day throwing some bedding in pens and got a picture of a 2 year rooster and I thought I would post it.
This rooster is of my breeding and shows good potential, he will be put over 3 full Denny Myers S/C Reds. Sorry about the not so good picture of him and the mud we had a early January thaw and everything is mud around here, well I got about 4 to 6 inches of straw in the runs now so they are dry for now.

Chris

 

[cubalaya]

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do you know someone that sells heritage delawares, saladin? glenn drowns has some large fast growing ones that lay large eggs.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

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Nice looking bird Chris...but he might look better with a pea comb