Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[hcammack]

I actually agree with Bob to a certain point about selling birds. I know this is going to be a controversial post. But to a certain point at least with Faverolles they are so rare that you don't want people who are not going to commit getting birds and then having them die or go out of chickens all together. Peter Merlin doesn't sell any of his blood line for this reason. Why watch while your 20+ years of hard work on a bloodline goes to waste in a breeding season or two. Especially with Faverolles if your culling pressure isn't consistent and ruthless you won't get anywhere. Peter has said he won't release his birds because he knows new breeders are not standing outside the hatcher scissors in hand ready to cull anything that doesn't meet certain criteria immediately.

I think you cannot just ask for a mentor or ask for stock. You need to prove to the experienced breeders that you are in it for the long haul. Eat up every bit of information that they give you and memorize it. KNOW YOUR STANDARD and obsess over breeding and culling methods. Many of you are not ready to commit to such a large commitment of time and energy before even having birds but then I would counter argue are you ready to have these birds. Maybe this is just a view point of someone who is focused on really improving and showing my breed of choice. Maybe its because Faverolles are so difficult to breed.

I just want to let you all know I don't even have birds right now. I won't until I feel I am in a situation that I can do the Faverolles justice. I am in college and don't have a good place to keep birds and hatch the 50+ chicks I need to hatch in order to continue to improve my stock. I will not be getting back into faverolles until I have a good stable situation and college is certainly not that situation.

Henry

 

[danhonour]

I noticed Bob said "do not ever sell your BEST birds"I cannot speak for him,but I think he means the best ones are much more useful to him then anyone else,as they are vital to maintaining and improving his flock. That does not mean that there are not many good quality and even average quality birds that would be available(for sale)that would be good breeders for other flocks. Bob could perhaps explain himself,but that is how I understood it and is what I would do.I am sure we are all willing to help our breeds by making stock available.I can relate that out of many dozens of my old customers only a handful have continued.However those few I am willing to bend over on my ear to help them and they are friends that would do the same.That is cooperation at its best and what it is all about.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Just wanted to mention that I have talked to several here on the phone, in PM's, emails, etc.

Wynette, Bob, NYREDS, Chris09, Steve, Jody, Illia, William Bennet, Clint, Kathy, Justin, Robin, and I'm sure I'm forgeting a few. All have been very freindly, polite and helpful, even though I'm sure I have asked questions that they would consider common knowledge. I personaly feel honored to know each and every one of you.

Thank you all for teaching us.

 

[fowlman01]

Quote:
Bob - this is a sad post for me. I have followed this thread daily...I do not post very often, but come here to get refreshed from the "eggs eggs eggs" type areas of the forum. But, to say that most folks on BYC are mostly concerned about eggs, I think is not correct. I could be wrong, but I hope not! I feel like the longer you are invovled in poultry, the more you learn to cherish the heritage breeds. That has been so with me, as well as many of the friends I've made on here. I truly love my silver penciled rocks, but I also truly enjoy my "olive eggers" and exchequer leghorns! I enjoy them each for different reasons.

However, what worries me the most in your post is stating "do not share your birds with others who want them" - you have sold to 93 folks, and only have TWO left breeding them. Well, that is most definitely a true shame! However...those two....they would not be breeding them if they hadn't gotten them from you in the first place! I feel like we need to spread the word more, tout the advantages of owning Heritage breeds, show folks why owning them is such a joy! It's super easy to get discouraged these days, it's true. It bothers me when I get e-mails of folks asking "how big do they lay" and "how many eggs per week do they lay" - I'm just super honest with them! Right off the bat, I tell these folks that THESE birds were not bred for exceptional laying ability - there are five criteria that I personally choose from BEFORE laying ability. I come right out & tell folks that if they are looking for a chicken that lays huge amounts of super big eggs, they need to go to a hatchery. If, however, they are looking for chickens that are hardy, disease resistant, forage well, and are large and beautiful, then look no further!

ETA: Regarding rude phone calls...well goodness, that's just plain wrong. I can't believe folks will take the time to make such a silly call. I'm sorry you are receiving such calls!! But, I suppose it could be looked at as a teaching opporunity? Just a thought!

Wynette, I agree with most of what you say here,....but....Bob said "do not share your BEST birds with others who want them" (emphasis mine). I think what he is saying is to share and then see what happens. Saving your best until you know the person is serious and committed. I don't want to put words in Bob's mouth but he didn't say not to share, just not to share your best. Mary

I also agree with Bob saying BEST birds. After many years of breeding I am very particular who I sell good birds to. (good birds meaning special or outstanding birds) I will sell birds to most anyone, but not the birds I think should only be in the hands of a true breeder....or someone like Kathy in MO who is new, but I think will do a great job in the long run. I have talked to her a lot online, so I know that she will do a good job. I can see by what she is doing now that she will do a good job. Unless it is someone like that or a breeder I know, I don't let great specimens go. After you have seen what people do with really good birds, you just have to be careful about who you let them go to. I sell almost anyone breeding stock that has my work in it so you could get something as good as anything I have and I don't sell culls.
There are too few great birds to let them go to someone who will kill them by accident or not know how to breed to the best advantage.

Yes, you do get calls at all hours of the night and some of those people are REALLY demanding and RUDE. Not only do they take the time to make those silly calls, it is almost impossible to get them off the phone short of hanging up on them. In addition even though they called you because they want something, their schedule is far more important than your schedule so they want you to rearrange your life to be sure they get the birds they want when and where they want them. I no longer ship birds and you know what? If they really want my birds, they ALWAYS figure out a way to get them because I will sell them, I just won't ship them

Walt

 

[Wynette]

Hey, Walt - and the rest of you - please accept my apology - sheesh, I didn't even see "best" - I DO, wholeheartedly agree with that! I am definitely committed to my breeds (all of them). Am I wrong to sell hatching eggs to folks just because they want a pretty bird? Feeling a bit sheepish here.....there are many, many good members on here who have had chickens for years and years, know how to breed & do it well, and are committed. But there are also newbies that I feel have the potential to be equally as committed...is it wrong to sell to those folks? I hope not...

I guess I'm completely up in the air about selling at all now. Should I be asking more questions of my buyers? Are we talking about selling juveniles, adult stock, or hatching eggs - or all? Most definitely I would not let my adult or juvenile stock from my breeder pens go to just anyone. However, where do you all stand on hatching eggs?

(thanks so much, mississippifarmboy, for your kind comments!)

ETA: I have had folks call with many, many questions, too. I actually just recently had a man hounding me for information on which stock to keep...he hadn't even gotten it from me. Typically, I'm more than happy to help, but this gent had wanted me to hatch a batch for him, I told him I was willing to do so, but the hens weren't currently laying. After spending 20+ hours over a few weeks on the phone with this guy, he send me a 5 word e-mail indicating he wants to cancel. 8 months later, I see him selling the breed on Craigslist.....then he had the nerve to send me pics & ask which cock he should keep. I finally told him that I just do not have the time to spend with him any longer. I felt awful doing it, but gee whiz!

 

[Pyncheon guy]

I agree...it's hard to pass on birds to people who may or may not continue your dedicated hardwork and years of breeding....only to hear later that they sold them or got tired of the birds and ate them or gave them away........I remember back in the late 60's and early 70's talking with breeders lile Marion Nash (Lamonas)....Thane Earl (several breeds).....The Mau Brothers (White Wynadottes/ Black Minorcas)....and several other great breeders.....these guys had these breeds long before I was born....it's a shame that many birds may have been lost or ARE lost never to be seen again.... Some of the new "replications" of some of the older breeds/varieties are never quite the same as the originals.... but with dedicated "new" breeders some of these birds may be saved.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

Quote:
most of the old time true breeders i know would never sell hatching eggs... most will keep smaller numbers of breeders and hatch every egg they lay... then sell a few as young or started stock...

 

[Pyncheon guy]

Just South of Charlevoix...NW part of the lower Pen. About 50 miles South of the Mackinaw Bridge.

 

[Wynette]

Well, this truly confuses me, as I've had several folks ordering hatching eggs from my silver penciled plymouth rocks this year, that have been referred by a very serious heritage breeder.....interesting. I guess I just completely do not understand this then. I only have a limited amount of space, and cannot house thousands of birds that I hatch from ALL the eggs of my SPPRs - is it better, then to just eat them, or share the bloodline via hatching eggs? I thought the point was to get more of them out there? Please educate me here, as I have to say I'm perplexed. I'm not disagreeing with anyone, I'm just perplexed...

 

[al6517]

Yes I agree on witholding hatching eggs for sale, I allways try to hatch everything I get from my breeders. Basicly because there might be a fantastic super great bird in there somewhere. Most of us can agree on the fact that every once in a while a moderate example can throw some really great off spring.

AL