Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[al6517]

Quote:
Lets see if I can shed some light on this, I as many others do is we have over the years created a network of trusted dedicated breeders of our breed with which to swap with. Some may have had a problem in the operation or are holding back for a specific reason, By doing this we know where are birds /hatching eggs are going and that they can be safeguarded to a trusted friend and dedicated breed enthusiasts. All the while protecting your lines and keeping up with any potential of the birds through constant communication, and as a way to replenish your stock and share ideas and methods if by chance you run into a problem in your flock or program, I as many others have found this to be a very happy median.

AL

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Lets see if I can shed some light on this, I as many others do is we have over the years created a network of trusted dedicated breeders of our breed with which to swap with. Some may have had a problem in the operation or are holding back for a specific reason, By doing this we know where are birds /hatching eggs are going and that they can be safeguarded to a trusted friend and dedicated breed enthusiasts. All the while protecting your lines and keeping up with any potential of the birds through constant communication. I as many others have found this to be a very happy median.

AL

Understood, and yes, this makes sense; however, I have been told directly by Bob Blosl that my line are some of the best out there, and try as I might, he and I have been unable to find folks with equally fine stock (I'm sorry - that sounds SO arrogant, I'm not trying to sound that way, and anyone who knows me will confirm I'm not arrogant!!). So....I need to find some super serious folks to begin a network such as this for myself. But in the meantime, do you think, Al, your opinion, that I should not be selling eggs to anyone? I'm not challenging, just trying to undestand all this. ALL feedback is appreciated by me!!

ETA: Darnit, I have to log off now...please don't think I'm skippin' out at such a crucial point in this conversation, I have to leave...I'll be back, and I sure hope I haven't offended anyone - if so, PLEASE accept my aplogies! I'm just super serious about this and trying to learn here!

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
Wynette, Don't be so hard on yourself. You are fostering a love of poultry by selling your eggs and that is a great thing. Not everyone, especially those who frequent many threads here, are interested in breeding show quality or heritage birds, but you never know who will become interested by raising those chicks. There are as many reasons for having poultry as there are kinds of poultry. Keep doing what you are doing....and as for the guy you eta'd about........

Mary

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Lets see if I can shed some light on this, I as many others do is we have over the years created a network of trusted dedicated breeders of our breed with which to swap with. Some may have had a problem in the operation or are holding back for a specific reason, By doing this we know where are birds /hatching eggs are going and that they can be safeguarded to a trusted friend and dedicated breed enthusiasts. All the while protecting your lines and keeping up with any potential of the birds through constant communication. I as many others have found this to be a very happy median.

AL

ok, I understand perfectly about never selling your BEST stock. I understand the idea of hatching hundreds of birds each year and culling very heavy, starting in the brooder, and I can see where having a "network of trusted dedicated breeders of our breed with which to swap with" is a good idea. That sounds like a great way to protect the breed, your strain of that breed, and to assure that if something happened to your birds you would have a way to get some birds of the same quality and breeding. What I don't understand is what happens when those of you who have these birds are gone? How do you get into this "club"?
Bob has given me some great advice, Wynette had agreed to sell me a few eggs, William Bennet refered me to the breeders he knew of that had excelent quality birds. All of ya'll have helped me alot, and I thank you all. But isn't it important to personally mentor someone just starting out? I'm in no way being confrontational, just trying to understand?

 

[danhonour]

From a different prospective,I will offer a little insight into the old method I used and the new method.Not to say one is right or wrong,it depends on your own situation or goals. Back in the 70's and 80's I offered chicks for sale and also hatching eggs,I had orders that I filled with 75 and 100 chicks.Well it takes a good steady supply of hatching eggs from my flocks to suppy that many chicks at a clip.I found I HAD TO KEEP A LARGE SIZE FLOCK of breeders to supply the demand plus I had to raise a good number of replacement pullets and cockerels for the following year. I found the average quality was not as good just to maintain the needed size flock.Breed improvement became very slow as I was breeding from too many average quality breeders. When I stopped advertising and selling chicks,I was able to breed from smaller pen matings of higher quality birds .I was then able to hatch a good number of chicks to raise and select from.The few outstanding birds (heavily used as breeders)greatly boosted the flock quality to even higher levels .I much preferred the later method,and it has helped me better serve the smaller customer base,with better birds.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

Quote:
Lets see if I can shed some light on this, I as many others do is we have over the years created a network of trusted dedicated breeders of our breed with which to swap with. Some may have had a problem in the operation or are holding back for a specific reason, By doing this we know where are birds /hatching eggs are going and that they can be safeguarded to a trusted friend and dedicated breed enthusiasts. All the while protecting your lines and keeping up with any potential of the birds through constant communication. I as many others have found this to be a very happy median.

AL

Understood, and yes, this makes sense; however, I have been told directly by Bob Blosl that my line are some of the best out there, and try as I might, he and I have been unable to find folks with equally fine stock (I'm sorry - that sounds SO arrogant, I'm not trying to sound that way, and anyone who knows me will confirm I'm not arrogant!!). So....I need to find some super serious folks to begin a network such as this for myself. But in the meantime, do you think, Al, your opinion, that I should not be selling eggs to anyone? I'm not challenging, just trying to undestand all this. ALL feedback is appreciated by me!!

ETA: Darnit, I have to log off now...please don't think I'm skippin' out at such a crucial point in this conversation, I have to leave...I'll be back, and I sure hope I haven't offended anyone - if so, PLEASE accept my aplogies! I'm just super serious about this and trying to learn here!

in addition to what Al said several of the breeders that i know don't have the time to mess with it... they will sell birds at shows and that's about it... and one i know hates the low hatch rates he gets from shipping eggs...

im am going to mostly stop selling hatching eggs(not that i ever sold very many) and try to sell day old chicks at a reasonable price... im getting my NPIP soon...

ohh and buy the way im not claiming to be a breeder ether... i just hate how its so hard to get good stock... i know that my birds will probably never be the same quality that you would be able to get from some of the old time breeders out there but its alot better than hatchery stock and i plan on it getting better year after year...

one of my breeds i hatched over 100 last year and culled down to 12... 2011 will be my first year really hatching and raising from my own birds on most of my breeds but you have to start somewhere...

i believe that honesty is the best policy and will tell people what they can expect from the birds they get from me...

ok ill go back to lurking now...

thank every one for alot of great reading... Elias

 

[Lotsapaints]

Thank goodness you sold eggs to me I truly want to keep this strain alive and well and I'm glad you are willing to share your eggs with many people you can't control what they are going to do with them after you sell them. None of us know what is going to happen in 3 or 5 or 15 years I figure breeders are like the best chicks one in 10 might make it as a breeder.....the more good birds out there the better chance of them carrying on and not disappearing. Not sharing good birds does a disservice in the long run people are forced to buy from a hatchery get substandard birds become disappointed and throw in the towel....Really if someone wants to hatch out some beautiful birds to just enjoy in their backyard what is the harm? That some kid might see them and become interested in having some birds like that? This site opens the eyes of so many people to the possibilities of what they might could have then to disappoint them because they are not serious enough? If they want to become serious breeders and you sold them their birds you should be the first to know. Thank you again Wynette and thank you Bob for trying to help us dumb ones on the path to better birds.

 

[saladin]

I don't see it as a 'club.'

I do not send any hatching eggs of any kind.

I will sell young stock (6-9 months) to anyone with money. They are good birds. I never sell culls. And I never sell my best.

I will trade my best with dedicated friends who would do the same for me. Is that a club? I call it friendship.

Amazingly, the folks I sale pairs and trios too will be back in 2 or 3 years for more. Why? Because breeding birds is more Art than Science and after 2 or 3 generations they figure out they can't do it: no matter if I even go to their house and set up the breed pens for them.

People that are demanding or rude: I don't deal with no matter how much money they have.

OH, almost forgot, I never take orders!! It's first come first serve.


Wynette, I of all people believe in spreading stock around, but since most disappears I wouldn't call that spreading it around.

Truth is there have always been a few breeders and a lot of buyers. That has not changed and I don't foresee it happening anytime soon. Many folks in our society want instant gratification (otherwise why the high credit card debt?) you can't get that with chickens.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Thank you for this post,
This was very easy to understand and very well worded.

 

[Junior]

i too have learned alot on here but, i have to ask this : where does someone new get "quality" stock from then? i understand about not selling your best birds but, not being willing to sell chicks or eggs amazes me.

just how do you get in the loop with a breeder so they would be willing to sell you stock? secret handshake?pace back and forth or in a circle chanting so mote it be?what?

i will admit i may be new to trying (note trying) to breed to the standard but that doesn't mean i dont now anything about chickens. i think i could grow a good Cornish but trying to find good LF Dark Cornish is an exercise in futility.with some of the recent posts i think i understand why now.

i am happy that Bob has been so willing to help us "newbies" .i cant thank him enough.

so now instead of Cornish i will raise Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks happily and with thanks to Mr. Blosl.

Junior