Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[dave27889]

Quote:
What are you talking about. What cut off on what? Letus know don't keep us in the dark.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
What are you talking about. What cut off on what? Letus know don't keep us in the dark.

Cutoff for heritage birds.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
WOW just got my internet working somewhat again, and you are correct in his stance like that white Malay ! Where did Sandhill get these birds ?

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
If it were me I would get a bunch of chicks from Duane and see what you think. You could cross them onto your current line and save several years of trying to correct unwanted traits associated with out crossing to another breed. The hens in the background do look nice and much more true to type from what I can see of them in the pictures.

Maybe MOT your cockerel is just acting and stretching the way he is in the pics because he is young. I have seen a lot of strange things happen over the years in younger growing birds especially with cockerels.

I would not be too concerned about the one off colored hackle. How many Whites do you currently have? Got a few good pics of the girls. Side. front and top down?

Good luck with the birds
Charlie

I hatched out 1 cockeral, and 3 pullets, a good start I thought, from a doz eggs shipped from Florida.
MOT also knows I have a slice of wheat bread in my pocket.
It is difficult for me to sneak up on him to snap a phot, when he sees me he RUNS full bore down the hill to the gate. He stands outside the door until I open it and give him a treat, he really is a nice Cockeral, even though very scarey looking to most people.
I wondered about white Jersey Giant in him, but Illia said probably no...I am just going to let him grow, and see what I get.
I will post a pic every so often for you all to see, and I am not upset about discussion.
I will try to get him next to a yardstick, I think I have one and screw it to the wall so we can watch his size. I told Illia this morning, these birds hardley eat at all..unlike the Cochins or Brahmas...they graze well, and they just last week learned to fly up 3 feet to the roost.
Until then they slept on the coop floor...messy.
It was like they had no idea they could fly...very weird chickens

They have learned to roost, and every so often they run and flap wings now..just discovered this new wing thing.
My Javas were flying up and roosting at a few weeks old.
So did the Ameraucanas..but these big dorks are almost like a Cornish cross with a white turkey

 

[tigercreek]

This may be the wrong place to ask this question, but I know this thread is read by Robert Blosi ( Thank you ), so I am posting here. I read an article by him where he stated that you should hatch "March 1st to April 15th each year to keep the size in check ", talking about bantams. Is there a best time of year to hatch to get optimum growth from hertiage breeds that will get a lot of free range time. I assume spring, to match insect hatch would be prime time. If so, why March/April for bantums?? Can someone set my thinking straight?? Thanks ......stan

 

[Robert Blosl]

I read this the reason why I hatch bantams in this time frame is to keep their size to standard weights.

If I hatch them in Jan or Feb they are about a pound over weight.

That is OK it is just a little hard for them to move around in their show coop. On the norm most bantams are over weight but who cares there are no scales at the shows to weigh them. I do it just to see where I am in my breeding my large fowl down to a bantam. I do it the same way for my bantam ducks.

Now for large fowl. Turn the lights on about Thanksgiving and when the females start laying put their eggs in the incubator and try to hatch them out in Dec Jan Feb ect.

They will be larger than if hatched in April or May. I hatched my white rocks out in June and they where one pound lower in weight. Ho-ever, they produced chicks in Jan. that where normal and one pound larger when grown. Free range will make a better finish and a healthy bird. I let all my large fowl go on free range with little trouble with hawks while I was at work. Mr. Maurice Wallace did this with his birds as good grass bugs and fresh air is a plus to getting a good strong bird.

In bantams I can not do it as the hawks will come down and take the bantams off. At night I got the owls after them.

Hope this helps on large fowl hatch as early as you can. On our White Rock Large fowl we have about 75 chicks hatched all ready and growing. The best I ever saw done with this old strain. bob

 

[tigercreek]

Thank you Mr. Blosl, I never would have thought to hatch that early!! .........stan

 

[Chickielady]

I have more clues about MOT. Scraps and I talked yesterday, he said he sold eggs to Leah Mason (where I got mine) and her birds were huge too. He said his are big but does not think as big as MOT nor Leah's. He also said the chicks he hatches are all different: some are bright yellow, some all a splotchy yellow/grey, and some are a deep silver color. All fledge white.
But it is strange about the 3 color variations of chicks.
I also want to ask everyone here what do you think about me entering MOT and maybe a pullet, into an upcoming APA show ?
I PROMISE I will not get upset at any criticsm...I really want to know if you all think it may be a waste of time due to the bird's upright stance or size ?
Or if maybe I should go ahead and see what the judges say when they can actually observe these birds ?
I will waite and see what everyone says, and tehn make my decision wether to enter them or not.
The photos of the Columbian Leghorn is interesting!
Think he has that monster bloodline ???
MOT has great red markings running up the side of his legs like a RIR..I will log on later to see what you guys say I should do.
It may be better to waite til they are mature as Charlie Voda says...given they are but 5 mo old now...

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Try showing him, and see how he does! good luck

 

[Chickielady]

I want to see what everyone thinks, showing is expensive, the gas, entries, motel, etc..so waite and see what the Judges here think...I would love to get the RIW back..and it will no doubt be a shock to the judges at the show (I am not sure who is judging yet) so..maybe ?