Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[austintgraf]

I consider dorkings heritage and im very fond of them

 

[Barred Rocker]

I'm working with Delawares, New Hampshires (hopefully will have the german line soon) and now old heritage Rhode Island Reds. Eventually I want to get back to raising Barred Rocks but I really want a true heritage line.

 

[jovy1097]

Good beginner large fowl heritage bird:

Throughout the forums where heritage birds are discussed, you often see a quote that goes something like this: "RIR's are difficult for beginning breeders to get a handle on because there is so much going on with their color and genetics. It's very easy for a beginner to mess up a perfectly good start and then get out of the breed in three year's time." You'll then see another expert chime in saying that "silver-laced birds are another bad choice for beginners." So my question is can you tell me what are some easy heritage breeds to start off with?

To qualify as easy, I would think the breed needs to be
1) Readily available - with too many of the heritage breeds, it's nearly impossible for a beginner to get some starter birds or eggs
2) As few variables as possible in the SOP so the beginner can focus on just a few things until he/she gets a better handle on the standard.
3) Already been bred up to a pretty high standard so the beginner doesn't have to breed them up.
4) Lots of possible mentors who also have the breed.
5) Whatever else y'all think needs to be added to this list...

I'm doing research on getting into heritage birds, but I'd rather not start with one of the endangered or difficult types until I get a better handle on the whole breeding and culling process. So which are the heritage breeds most easy to obtain stock of? I would guess that White Plymouth Rocks and Buff Orpingtons might be some of the better beginner birds. Any others? I don't want to get into something only to be discouraged with failure after a couple of years.

- Davy

 

[cubalaya]

black australorps would be a good choice.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Hey Davy!

Well, I don't know that you need to worry about the color bits so much, if you have other things set up right.

1. One needs to choose ONE breed, and choose the ONE that you want. Choose the ONE whose history excites your imagination, a breed that you want to tend and watch develop. The importance here is the ONE. This doesn't mean that there will never be another one to add; it just implies that you'll learn the ropes more thoroughly and feel more confident if you don't have more than one breed. If one begins with multiple breeds, the chances of failure or, at least, extreme delay, are much greater. Nothing says, "I'm going nowhere" like a laundry list of breeds. This is a lesson that many of us learn the hard way. However, when we get down to one breed, to which we're committed for the long haul, the game changes drastically.

2. Find a mentor. A beginner CAN breed stock up. It requires a whole lot of reading, SOP memorization, and the attending of shows. Still, you really need a mentor to whom you can direct your questions, someone who's patient and someone you feel confident obeying.

3. It all comes down to facilities. The rarer and less perfected the breed, the greater the need to hatch in number and raise out in number. It is usually the latter that is the difficulty. One needs to be able to raise out enough birds in good condition in order to be able to cull later on. It doesn't really matter if there are a lot of points to consider. Perhaps one would benefit from developing a check list, sort of like a score card. Have it on your computer and then, on days when you're going to go over your stock, print one out for every bird you intend to assess. Afterwards weigh out the pro's and con's of each fowl. If your mentor lives close enough to go over your stock with you, it's a real help.

4. Stock is often difficult to find in the form desired, but that doesn't mean it can't be found. It's often more easily available in the fall as opposed to the spring. If stock for one's breed of choice won't be ready until the autumn, it just takes a little patience. If such is the case, perhaps, you can use the spring and summer to raise out some heritage breed hatchery cockerels to get used to the various stages of culling and slaughter before digging in with quality stock in the fall.

PS: Going along with points 1 and 3, you need to have an idea of your breeding rhythm. Clan mating is pretty cool. One needs adequate breeding facilities for the families, or clans, that you'll develop. This doesn't necessarily mean huge numbers, just diversified families. Four clans is a safety number for me. For other breeders it might be different. Let's name the clans A, B, C, and D. Each clan needs a pen. All clan A females are in the clan A pen. All clan B females are in the clan B pen, etc... Develop a toe-punching system, such that each clan has its particular toe-punch, and, thus, there is never any confusion over who belongs where. Cocks can go anywhere save into the breeding pen of their own clan. Thus, a clan A cockerel is never at stud in the clan A pen. A clan B cock is never at stud in a clan B pen, etc... One can see how starting with two trios would be great for a system like this. With two trios, one has four hens; name one Pullet A, the next Pullet B, the next Pullet C, and the last Pullet D. The daughters, granddaughters, etc.., of each original hen go on to form a clan. The sons, grandsons, great grandsons, of the original females are never put to stud in their mother's clan pen. This will lead to maintaining a significant amount of biodiversity which will help to preclude the introduction of new blood. Introducing new blood throws everything up into the air.

It's matters like these that will spell success, and I don't think they're the things that we always think of at first: choose ONE breed and ONE variety of that breed, find a good mentor, have proper facilities, develop a proper breeding plan with proper identification. If these things are all set, choose whatever breed smacks your fancy. Some breeds will take longer than others to get to show quality--who cares. If you enjoy them, you have the time to be patient. Some breeds or varieties might be practically impossible to get onto champion row. Who cares? If you enjoy them thoroughly, that is your trophy.

Don't let all of the talk of difficulty psych you out.

 

[fowlman01]

Toe punch chart. One of the best ways to keep track of your breeding.

Walt

 

[jovy1097]

I'm actually familiar with the toe-punching and tracking stuff. I've got "The Call of the Hen" and other poultry books. I've read the articles on ALBC. I'm familiar with clan breeding, line breeding, spiral breeding, and etc. I've read tons of posts and articles by people like Mr. Blosl and Walt. Love it all. I'm soaking in all this stuff and am not afraid to jump into the arena. I just am the type to do my research before getting into something - I enjoy the journey! Since I don't yet have the facility built to start all this, I'm just asking questions and learning for now.

I think a local mentor would be immensely helpful - but I don't have one in my forgotten corner of Louisiana. If I had a local mentor, just to make things easier I would be willing to raise whatever type of chickens the mentor has so he/she could help me most. Plus that would make it easier to swap breeding stock when needed. However, show quality chickens are largely unheard of in Louisiana except in the northern part of the state.

This leads me back to my search for the most easily obtainable and easily raised varieties. I just won't have easy access to a decent mentor who can help me with all the nuances of color in the party-colored chickens.

By the way, thanks for the gracious replies thus far.

- Davy

 

[Yellow House Farm]

That's cool. You might, then, look to a breed club. Breed clubs are great. Many breeds have one. They usually have fora where people post videos and photos. Actually you can join the club in order to find your stock. Also, it's safe to assume that anyone who's taken the time to join the club is invested in the breed. After you've read a newsletter or two, or looked to the list of officers, call someone up to talk chicken. I think you'll find it to be an enjoyable experience. Dues to a breed club are usually next to nothing, $10.oo or so.

 

[jovy1097]

Once I decide on which breed to get into, I'll definitely join the club. I just can't join all the clubs right now!

I've visited the web sites of many clubs. Some are quite a bit more active than others and have much more information on them. I am especially impressed with the Java club website.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Quote:
Hey there Davy I used to live right over in your little forgotten corner. I'm gonna PM you about a man that might could help you out, he used to raise BO's I don't now if they were heritage or not but you can go check him out.

Jeff