Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

An old boy from Pennsylvania, George Schroeder, used to do that regularly with a Black Cochin Bantam. [not the same bird] Saw Rick Hare do it once with a Black Rosecomb Cockerel. You have to not only have good birds you have to really know your birds. Pretty impressive feat.

Sometimes you have to really know your judge and what is important to them.......and they have to be consistent. It is an impressive way to win.

Walt

 

[NYREDS]

I was advised by some to not feed gamebird starter to our day old and up chicks. Knowing that if I killed them all my business partner had the exact same birds, I went ahead and fed the gamebird starter as a bit of an experiment (very high protein - 28%, with animal protein in there though I'm not sure what percentage of the protein is from animal). I will do that every year from now on. The birds feathered in fast and beautifully. My chicks were much farther along in development than my partner's at the same age they were big and robust and also I never had any coccidiosis problems even though they were brooded in an old horse stall and yes the corner was wet. I am not sure how much of that is just the breeding and how much was the feed, but the only chicks I had all spring with any sign of pasty butt were the ones that I picked up from her place that had already started eating her starter feed. After about four days on the gamebird feed I had zero pasty butt in those chicks as well.

The gamebird feeds have more consistency in quality control, a gamebird may eat out of only one bag of feed its whole life, so if that feed had high quantities of mold or other quality issues, the gamebird growers would know about it and they have raised a stink in the past and made sure the companies are pressured to have better quality in the feeds. I think Bob this is what you were seeing as well.

I tried feeding payback this spring once I switched off the starter because I really like the pellet size - pellets stay together but are small enough for young birds and bantams to handle no problem. I am now in the process of switching off of that. The birds just lack that "oomph" and some are a few ounces low on weight and when you pick them up you're just not impressed with their weight or feather. My business partner with birds from the same pens I went over to visit her and picked up the birds and man what a difference. Also our three year old hens at her place have better feather quality than our pullets at my place. I picked up three bags of the feed she is feeding on my way home and will try that. I don't like the crumble of it at all so will try some birds on that and others on gamebird flight conditioner and see. My only concern is fat content is a bit low at only 2% but hopefully their scratch grain will make up for that.

I feed a 22% protein Turkey/Game Bird grower finisher. It's all I feed from day one. [well it's the only blended feed that is. I do feed some grain to older birds as well as some vegetable matter] I switched to this system years ago & it produces great results. It also simplifies things, I don't have to remember who gets what, there's only one feed. My wife appreciates it when I'm away & she feeds for me as it simplifies things.

 

[catdaddyfro]

The Dorkings are also an excellent breed for meat. Indeed, often reputed to be the best. We find them to be quite delicious as are La Fleche. But they are both rarer which means they will need breeding up. Still, no matter which you choose it will ultimately depend on your selction criteria which support and promote development and perpetualtion of "meaty" criteria. We have found that meat is something for which one must continually select. Lots of breeds have a reputation, but the given strain you procure will say whether or not it lives up to that reputation. The breeds in which we have been interested have definitely needed improvement on account of long neglect. It's really neat, though, to see how quickly selection can act.

This post sorta reminds me of something I read before where a French recipe calls for one of the ingredients to be a Faverolles cock and there was another one(french breed) that at this time that eludes my mind of its name but it is also a strict item/ingredient called for in French cuisine.

15littlem If the Orpington, Sussex, Dorkings are not your thing then you might look into Rocks. The Good Shepard Barred Rocks are good meaty birds, or look back a few pages at those awesome White Rocks that were posted they were Feb. hatches(7mo.) I think they may do a little better for you than the GSBRs as they are slower growers but I got proof here of 1 year males(BR) they absolutely dwarf the GNH in size/wt. comparision all of the same age group/brood.

Jeff

 

[ashandvine]

The Dorkings are also an excellent breed for meat. Indeed, often reputed to be the best. We find them to be quite delicious as are La Fleche. But they are both rarer which means they will need breeding up. Still, no matter which you choose it will ultimately depend on your selction criteria which support and promote development and perpetualtion of "meaty" criteria. We have found that meat is something for which one must continually select. Lots of breeds have a reputation, but the given strain you procure will say whether or not it lives up to that reputation. The breeds in which we have been interested have definitely needed improvement on account of long neglect. It's really neat, though, to see how quickly selection can act.

When you say breeding up do you mean raising numbers of them or trying to breed them up to a standard they aren't meeting?? I am getting Dorking hatching eggs, this month I hope. I am also supposed to get Orps but I am worried about how fluffy they are. Despite liking the Houdan, which folks around here tease me is poofy, I am really not interested in the fluffy butts. I can't imagine plucking that.

Hall family! Oh my gosh. I have seen this picture of the boy and the Buff before and even pointed it out to friends when they were asking me how much bigger a heritage bird could get than the usual feed store variety. We call this bird a dinosaur bird. If I was to get Heritage Orps would they be less fluffy and bigger than the frufru ones that are here for egg laying??

Um, yes, DH is complaining about 1$ a day food. I am not telling him I just went to the slightly more expensive variety after reading about the game feed being better. It might be too late for what I have here, but I think some birds are going into molt so it might do me some good. Here is hoping. I only have 30$ birds so two bags of 13-15$ a month is 1$ a day. They do range and we feed scraps as well so its not like having several hundred in a building with only the feed. Even at 2-3$ a day if you have enough chickens that lay eggs you are getting your money's worth.

Incidentally, I am new enough not to understand why people show except for fun. Is it like other things where if you show it and your bird places you can claim that you have winning birds and charge more for them/their progeny?

 

[call ducks]

Here is my 0.02 cents on the dorking as they are this moment. Not worth anything to a farmer. Well that goes for most heritage breeds these days. If Dorking,NH,RIR,RIW, have any chance at becoming and fullfiling what you think is a dual purpose. We need at least one breeder is able to devoite time, engergy and money to the breed. Start off from every line you can get ahold of. I don't care how closely related they are! Because every one breeds differently.And it does not matter where or who they come from. Be it hatchery, farm, private breeder. Out of all those keep details on where they cam from, how fast they are growing, the weight they put on etc. Then when you select your breeders look carefully at all of them! For the dorking, choose ones with a deep keel and dense breasts. Amoung other things (of coarse). And don't just hatch 10,30,50 off hatch 150,200 off then you well be able to tell a portion of what makes up your flocks genetics. You don't have to hatch them are raise them off all at one time. Select for egg size. Skin quaility, feathering. Measure, weigh, tag !

 

[desertmarcy]

I feed a 22% protein Turkey/Game Bird grower finisher. It's all I feed from day one. [well it's the only blended feed that is. I do feed some grain to older birds as well as some vegetable matter] I switched to this system years ago & it produces great results. It also simplifies things, I don't have to remember who gets what, there's only one feed. My wife appreciates it when I'm away & she feeds for me as it simplifies things.

What brand do you feed? I'd love to feed a turkey/game bird formula, especially since I also raise turkeys---but I can't find one that is organic. I don't want to feed GMOs. Anybody know of an organic turkey/game bird feed?

 

[Lacy Blues]

Here is my 0.02 cents on the dorking as they are this moment. Not worth anything to a farmer. Well that goes for most heritage breeds these days.
If Dorking,NH,RIR,RIW, have any chance at becoming and fullfiling what you think is a dual purpose. We need at least one breeder is able to devoite time, engergy and money to the breed.
Start off from every line you can get ahold of. I don't care how closely related they are! Because every one breeds differently.And it does not matter where or who they come from. Be it hatchery, farm, private breeder. Out of all those keep details on where they cam from, how fast they are growing, the weight they put on etc. Then when you select your breeders look carefully at all of them! For the dorking, choose ones with a deep keel and dense breasts. Amoung other things (of coarse). And don't just hatch 10,30,50 off hatch 150,200 off then you well be able to tell a portion of what makes up your flocks genetics. You don't have to hatch them are raise them off all at one time. Select for egg size. Skin quaility, feathering. Measure, weigh, tag !

I was going to ask for guidelines to select for meat production. Now I don't have to. Thanks call duck!

 

[capayvalleychick]

Here is my 0.02 cents on the dorking as they are this moment. Not worth anything to a farmer. Well that goes for most heritage breeds these days.
...
Start off from every line you can get ahold of. I don't care how closely related they are! Because every one breeds differently.And it does not matter where or who they come from. Be it hatchery, farm, private breeder.

So, how many years have you been successfully raising Dorkings, to be such an expert???

Kim

 

[fowlman01]

So, how many years have you been successfully raising Dorkings, to be such an expert???

Kim

I am always interested in where people attain their knowledge too.......especially if I don't agree with them.

Walt

 

[Robert Blosl]

First Walt do you remember what strain HV Cook showed at that show. The fellow who he got his White Leghorns was one of the nicest men I ever met as a kid. Funny thing I have his strain today and I never thought I would ever have a White Leghorn in my live. I got mine indirectly from the master breeder from Idaho.

In regards to meat birds that dont make noise I think you need to get hatchery chickens. Dont fool with these Heritage Chickens, they are so full of vigor they will wake you up at 4 am every moaning. There is nothing like light Brahmas or cherry eggs from the hatchery in my view they dont crow that much. Every buddy and there brother has them and they love them.

You have to decide when you take on a Heritage large fowl what you want. So many are hung up on breeds because they look so pretty in the pictures in the catalogs.

I got hung up on that once and then after I got the chickens found out they where fakes.

The best large fowl Heritage Chicken for meat, eggs and noise levels is the White Plymouth Rocks. If they make your mom mad because they are high in the decibel range you can de voice them.

I have mine way back in the woods and I cant hear them. My silkie rooster is near my house and he is very low in noise when he crows and that dark meat is just so good to eat.

Well my brown truck never showed up from the shipment from Canada. So guess I will have to go down to the woods and check the copper kettle and the tubing with the corn mesh in the tub.

That will fix my wagon and make me content. Got to work tomorrow at 6 am so can not drink to much of the stuff.

You all have a happy weekend and will see you next time. Matt I am going to Franks house Sunday at 11 am to give him some White Rock hens. Hope to bring James some of the other two hens and the male. Will come over with my ax and help you cull your chickens. Steve if you see goubber you tell him Da Ha he wil know what I mean. bob