Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[NYREDS]

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Have to agree. While I don't know Mr Reese personally I expect he's a little too "old school" to treat selling chickens like adopting children. When I have birds to sell they are either culls which go to a local auction or birds worth having which go to the first person who's willing to pay what I'm asking. The thought of doing a background check never occurred to me & has no appeal for me.
Over the years I've sold birds to people who did well with them & birds to people who were never heard from again. It's all the same to me, they bought birds I didn't need to keep & paid my price.

 

[centrarchid]

A producer, in this case Sheperds, may scrutenize a potential buyer if producer has to allocate significant resources to fill buyers order. This guy is not going to be selling culls as an afterthought but rather producing a larger volume of product that cost him money above and beyond his normal operating budget. The producer also does not want to invest all that time, effort and money into producing an order that in the end is not honored by potential buyer. Producer in that case will loose money, sometimes lots. Think contract.

 

[Taylor]

I have 1908 strain of barred rocks and rhode island reds, they don't have their feathers all the way in yet, they are missing tail feathers, but look like they are coming in, is this normal for 13 week old chickens???

 

[punky rooster]

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All my chicks are pretty much feathered in. They are six weeks old. I don't think it is that big a deal though.

May I ask where you got this old strain?

 

[Taylor]

i got them from the Connatser's Farm here in Tennessee, the 1st generation farm owners bought the barred rocks and rhode island reds from a breeder in new england in the early 1900's and they have been breeding them since, they are truly heritage birds, and a true living history. they are a bit pricy on the adults so i just buy the chicks from them.

 

[lucky123]

I have to say, i do think its a big deal for a heritage breed chick not to fill out at that age. I have spent alot of money on a heritage breed rir, and i think things like feathering out within six to eight weeks is a big deal. What if your line only lays 100 eggs a year, would that be considered a big deal, i think so. What good is it to have the right shape and color if your breed doesn't produce as it was meant to? That would mean the bird is only for looks. I am fixing to cull this line of heritage rir because of slow feathering and defect in many chicks, they can't get off their backs. I feel they shouldn't just look the breed, but also hold up to the standerds they are known for.

 

[X2Farm]

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I'd love to see some pics when you get a chance! If ya dont mind

 

[punky rooster]

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Very good. You do have to remember; a bird that conforms to standard should produce to its purpose. Now, you can improve upon them by using the ALBC "improving productivity" articles along with the standard.

Good luck,

 

[saladin]

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I don't know these people, their birds or their farm. Are they telling you they've had a closed flock since the early 1900s? If so, then it is nothing more than a sells gimic: trust me.

Just because you've had some hatchery stock on your farm for a generation or two doesn't mean squat. Do they breed to the Standard? Do they have the Show records to prove it? How have they improved the breed?

Those are the type of questions you should ask. Not saying they aren't good; they may be the best of the best. I'm just interested in their story.

 

[fowlman01]

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I don't know these people, their birds or their farm. Are they telling you they've had a closed flock since the early 1900s? If so, then it is nothing more than a sells gimic: trust me.

Just because you've had some hatchery stock on your farm for a generation or two doesn't mean squat. Do they breed to the Standard? Do they have the Show records to prove it? How have they improved the breed?

Those are the type of questions you should ask. Not saying they aren't good; they may be the best of the best. I'm just interested in their story.

I agree. A flock like that is generally known to other breeders. Would love to see pictures of their birds.

Walt