Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[HallFamilyFarm]

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Hello Jim very good point. How is the season going?

Good luck with the birds
Charlie

Juveniles everywhere! Lamonas in the incubator. Would like a different strain, but no one will admit they have any. The strain I found needs work on egg color, but am told the type is good. Shipping was poor. Lost several eggs in shipping.

Gained several large Orpingtons this week. Blacks, Buffs, Blue and Self Blue splits. All are productive except the Splits.

 

[punky rooster]

Frank Reese is THE heritage poultry guy! He helped write the ABLC "heritage definition". By selling them as meat birds to the he gives people a alterative to Cornish X. He has been raising poultry all his life; over 60 years! This guy knows, actually knows what he is doing and is a top breeder. He hatches and raises THOUSANDS of chicks a year. You see these "Wheopel" Rocks? Those are from his line he has raised them for aver 30 years. And Jeremy did not get them too long ago either. I don't see were it says they don't sell live birds, after all Jeremy got some. He has done so much for heritage poultry. Please, don't attack people that you have no knowledge of.

good shepherd poultry ranch wrote:
Our Mission Statement: Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch strives to produce historically authentic Heritage Poultry, grown free range, vegetarian fed without antibiotics for your quality dining. Our objective is to protect APA approved Standard-Bred Poultry. We believe that the best way to do this is by returning them to your dining table.​

 

[centrarchid]

Reluctance to sell birds to a party such as myself may be process of "feeling me out" to determine if interests / efforts are sincere. Nobody once to waste too much effort on a "fly-by-night green horn".

I also left some details of conversation out. I indicated need for over 1000 chicks per batch. Such an effort surely signicant and potentially conflicting with Good Sheperds needs of existing clients.

 

[kathyinmo]

I may be wrong, but I believe the reason Reese is not selling live birds is for a reason. My understanding is that he has closed his flock for a couple years to assure they are bred to the standard. This is important, breeding toward the standard. Maybe it will take him some time to adjust or breed for what he is looking for in his stock.

 

[centrarchid]

Another possibility is he feels very strongly about quality of his flock and wants to protect himself from competing against his own hard work. I got impression he likes what he has and and word of mouth suggest quality very high.

 

[Quirky]

I don't see any mandate to sell anyone anything, live or dead. No one owes me birds. You can't be all things to all people, and it's worth it to try and understand people's reasons for doing or not doing things a certain way.

 

[kathyinmo]

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[punky rooster]

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Very well said.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

I think Frank is just very careful who he sells live birds to. Many breeders are. When you have been in this as long as he has, you learn a thing or two. No law requires us to sell to everyone. I have several "buyers" blocked on eBay. I just do not want to sell them anything.

A fellow in Texas has a closed flock of Buff Orpingtons. No new blood in 20 years. Has not shown them either, though he shows some other breeds. He has decided to add some new blood, but was very sure of which line he wants. I have an extra male from Bacon/Britt lines. We are trading a juvenile trio of his for a male of mine. He gets what he wants and I get what I want. Then this fall we will be able to show a Display of Buff Orpingtons and hopefully win the Heritage Poultry Conservancy prize money at the Arkansas State Fair.

It has taken me over 20 years to get the quality I have in my current flock. It has taken Good Sheperd over 100 years. Why should they share with everyone? They are sharing with some. But only with those they KNOW will continue their breeding program. We had a fellow taht came out of nowhere and was showing and buying breeders. He was a big fellow in these parts. In less than two years he flared up and went out. A bottle rocket of a breeder. Nothing left now and his flock was dispersed so quick I did not even get any. This happens a lot more often than it should.

Just be patient, get the best you can and start breeding and showing. Good Shepherd had a few live birds for sale at the Shawnee APA National. They may have some more at Crossroads. Just keep your eyes and ears open and meanwhile prove yourself as a responsible Heritage flock owner.

 

[kathyinmo]

Frank Reese is a business man. Poultry is his business. I doubt he does a background check on potential buyers. If he has closed his flock, he has his reasons. Personally, I rather doubt it has to do with the quality of people who want to buy from him. Just my opinion.