Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[NC Giants]

Change of subject matter....... What types of set-up do you folks use for breeding, rearing, conditioning and growing off your heritage fowl? I have a building currently not being used ( its fulll of junk) 20 x 60 . I would like some info on setting it up for breeding large fowl. I currently use tractors for my cocks n cockrls and have a pen full of hens and one with pullets that i turn out most days. It would be nice to have them set up in doors at least during the winter. Any ideas to do or not to do? pen size? coop layout? ground pens? coops waist high? both ? what do yall do? what do u like and what do you dislike- would like to change. Stumped in NC

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
One of the best breeders in the Midwest only has one hen and one cock in a 4' x 4' by 4' high pen. He believes in only using his biggest headed, widest breast and widest back birds and line breeds from his best. These smaller pens allows the males to get at the hens without wearing them out chasing them down. I use an 8' x 8' x 4' high pens along that style. These are moveable pens. Outside most of the time. I only bring in birds when it goes below 20 degrees to protect the males combs. But, most of the time they stay outside in these moveable pens.

 

[flowerchild59]

For those of you raising RIR and the barred rocks, which one do you feel has better meat qualities? I am looking for a better tasting dual purpose breed that has at least a decent amount of eggs.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Quote:
I'm curious about the meat qualities of the Barred Rock, also. How long do they take to get to a decent size for butchering? Is there a difference in the meat qualities between the different varieties of Rocks?

Kim

 

[lucky123]

From what I've heard Good Shepard Ranch sells many of his line of barred rocks for food, as they say they have a great taste. As far as a good dual purpose heritage breed, from the info I've gotten, the german line of nh grow out faster and are better layers than the heritage rir's and barred rocks. Matt has heritage rir's, barred rocks and the german line of nh's and could answer this question.

 

[sgribble]

This line of Barreds do fill out good but it takes a while.

 

[Matt1616]

I would say out of the RIR and the Barred Rock that the Barred Rock would probably dress out at a higher weight at 6-7 months which is butchering age. The Good Shepard line of BR's are rather large and Frank Reese does raise this line for harvest. I have been told that they have won several tastes contests for free range chickens.
I would say the German line of New Hampshires are a very good dual purpose breed as they are great layers and they mature very well. I would say that the Barred Rocks would be a larger bird at the same age though.

 

[flowerchild59]

Does anyone have Greg Chamness contact info (lives in IL). I found a couple of on line emails but they didn't pan out. Pm me if you have info. Thanks.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Thought I'd post a few pix of my Columbian Rock LF. They are currently set up in 3 breeding pens. (Already have 20 chicks on the ground and 4 dozen more in the incubator)

Pullets hatched from last year

My breeding cockerels

 

[gjensen]

Yard full o' rocks :

Thought I'd post a few pix of my Columbian Rock LF. They are currently set up in 3 breeding pens. (Already have 20 chicks on the ground and 4 dozen more in the incubator)

Pullets hatched from last year

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_canpullet1.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_canpullet2.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_powellxcanpulet1.jpg

My breeding cockerels

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_extra1pix2.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_pen1pix1.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/25882_pen3pix1.jpg

Scott, they are nice enough to say it twice. They look really good.​