Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[normanack]

I don't know anything about My Pet Chicken, but it's best to get birds from a breeder rather than a hatchery. There is a breeder there in MI that has some Red Dorkings that she is working on. Her name is Jen Sigety. Find her on theDorking Breeders Club or on the Facebook Dorking group.

Appreciate that, thanks!!

Dorkings are a "those are really cool, I'd love some someday" breed for me -- no room/time/finances for a second breed right now (or probably ever).

 

[Lacy Blues]

On the topic of hatching, are there those trying to develop lines more inclined to brood their own eggs, or is that too restrictive?

I have a typically "non setting" breed. However, several years ago one of my girls went broody. Each year since then at least one daughter, grand daughter, etc., etc., has gone broody as well. So, I have a line, running through my flock that is broody. I don't concentrate on this line but I definitely try to save several daughters from that line each year.

 

[Robert Blosl]

When I was getting started 30 years ago I just wanted large SC Rhode Island Reds. I called ten master breeders and interviewed them for a hour and then ten non R I Red master breeders for a hour. A total of 24 hours total of interview. I got a fellow on one weekend named Ralph Brazelton from Kansas he was Mr. Orpington and wanted to buy his trap nest cages. He sold them all but we started talking about getting started in chickens. After I told him my plan he said and this is about word for word.

You have done your home work Robert. But may I give you some advice?

I said yes.

He said: Go Slow. Go Small and Go Down The Middle of the ROAD.

There was a pause in the phone call. He said Robert are you there?

I said yes. I said those are the most PROFOUND words I have ever gotten from Master Breeders.

So to you out there. Do your home work. BUT DONT GET A BREED that sounds good on paper. Those breeds are just about gone.

Get you a breed that has some non hatchery value to them. Dont start out with scrubs because it will take you 50 years to breed them up. Most of you will give up the breed in three years. Its just the law of the land in chickens. I just talked to a former District Director of the Red Club and he told me he got rid of his reds. About three years he had them.

This guy is a master breeder.

MONEY I think is the main reason. We get to many cant afford to feed them and end up with just so so birds and we through our hands up in the air and say whats the use.

To many breeds not enough room to much in the feed bill. You can have say Dorkings but you dont have to hatch more than ten of them per year. Keep them like pets. Then just focus on the real breed you want. Like me REDS.

I still have a pet and I got to go feed him Mr. Silkie.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Pozees]

When I was getting straited 30 years ago I just wanted large SC Rhode Island Reds. I called ten master breeders and interviewed them for a hour and then ten non R I Red master breeders for a hour. A total of 24 hours total of interview. I got a fellow on one weekend named Ralph Brazelton from Kansas he was Mr. Orpington and wanted to buy his trap nest cages. He sold them all but we started talking about getting started in chickens. After I told him my plan he said and this is about word for word.

You have done your home work Robert. But may I give you some advice?

I said yes.

He said: Go Slow. Go Small and Go Down The Middle of the ROAD.

There was a pause in the phone call. He said Robert are you there?

I said yes. I said those are the most PROFOUND words I have ever gotten from Master Breeders.

So to you out there. Do your home work. BUT DONT GET A BREED that sounds good on paper. Those breeds are just about gone.

Get you a breed that has some non hatchery value to them. Dont start out with scrubs because it will take you 50 years to breed them up. Most of you will give up the breed in three years. Its just the law of the land in chickens. I just talked to a former District Director of the Red Club and he told me he got rid of his reds. About three years he had them.

This guy is a master breeder.

MONEY I think is the main reason. We get to many cant afford to feed them and end up with just so so birds and we through our hands up in the air and say whats the use.

To many breeds not enough room to much in the feed bill. You can have say Dorkings but you dont have to hatch more than ten of them per year. Keep them like pets. Then just focus on the real breed you want. Like me REDS.

I still have a pet and I got to go feed him Mr. Silkie.

Just my thoughts.

Thank you - very wise words throughout. Had you had Reds for some time before you decided to concentrate on them, and knew that was the breed for you? How many did you start with?

The concern about money is very real and one of the main reasons I am asking for input from those of you who have focused on a specific breed for some time. I do not want to bury myself and wind up in the place you describe.
Just the expense of setting up my tiny flock is enough to convince me I have a lot of homework to do

 

[desertmarcy]

I am keeping too many breeds, probably, but it is a learning process. Finding the one or two that just flips your switch. Like many people, I was drawn to the Black Copper Marans because of their ability to lay dark eggs. Now I am finding these to be my least favorite, not because of all the work involved to better the breed, which is considerable, but because of their personality and behavior. Perhaps it is just the line I have, but they feather pick each other, I have had pullets pick so much they have killed their penmates; they are not calm and act like you are killing them if you just pick one up (but have to catch them first). I have none of these problems with my other breeds. Now I am a stubborn type person and it takes me a while to admit that something I did is not working out for me...but I'm getting there with this breed.

On the other hand, I bought some German New Hampshires from your friend Matt, Bob, since I was getting Mohawk Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks from him already, easy enough to add a few to the order. Now here is a breed I knew little about and bought almost on a whim, and they are turning out to be moving to the top of my favorite list.

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than it may take some time to figure out which breed is best for you and I wouldn't criticize anybody for starting with too many breeds at first.

 

[NanaKat]

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than it may take some time to figure out which breed is best for you and I wouldn't criticize anybody for starting with too many breeds at first.

Agreed testing the water with a few different breeds is the only way to really find what you really like.
I started many years ago with Australorps and Delaware and a few Cochins then added the sex links and Minorcas I also had Marans. hen I tried the Wyandottes. They and the Cochins have settled in as my favorites for temperament, broodiness and hardiness. the Minorcas are flighty until matrons and make great layers. the Aussies have a nice temperament, great personalities and can go broodie although they are fiercely protective mothers. I have one Delaware hen left, a sweetheart that has a forever home. But the Marans were just too temperamental and flighty and the Roos were mean...so they went quickly. the sex links are somewhat flighty but do make good layers and table meat.

 

[Pozees]

I am keeping too many breeds, probably, but it is a learning process. Finding the one or two that just flips your switch. Like many people, I was drawn to the Black Copper Marans because of their ability to lay dark eggs. Now I am finding these to be my least favorite, not because of all the work involved to better the breed, which is considerable, but because of their personality and behavior. Perhaps it is just the line I have, but they feather pick each other, I have had pullets pick so much they have killed their penmates; they are not calm and act like you are killing them if you just pick one up (but have to catch them first). I have none of these problems with my other breeds. Now I am a stubborn type person and it takes me a while to admit that something I did is not working out for me...but I'm getting there with this breed.

On the other hand, I bought some German New Hampshires from your friend Matt, Bob, since I was getting Mohawk Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks from him already, easy enough to add a few to the order. Now here is a breed I knew little about and bought almost on a whim, and they are turning out to be moving to the top of my favorite list.

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than it may take some time to figure out which breed is best for you and I wouldn't criticize anybody for starting with too many breeds at first.

In reading through your sig line I see you have, or had, Spangled Russian Orloffs - a breed which I thought was really unusual and neat looking - anyway, I read somewhere (can't remember where right now) that they lay very well the first year, and then taper off dramatically. I have also read several places that they are very friendly. What has been your experience of them?

 

[Pozees]

Agreed testing the water with a few different breeds is the only way to really find what you really like.
I started many years ago with Australorps and Delaware and a few Cochins then added the sex links and Minorcas I also had Marans. hen I tried the Wyandottes. They and the Cochins have settled in as my favorites for temperament, broodiness and hardiness. the Minorcas are flighty until matrons and make great layers. the Aussies have a nice temperament, great personalities and can go broodie although they are fiercely protective mothers. I have one Delaware hen left, a sweetheart that has a forever home. But the Marans were just too temperamental and flighty and the Roos were mean...so they went quickly. the sex links are somewhat flighty but do make good layers and table meat.

I have to say, you and desertmarcy support the notion of getting one or two of a couple of breeds one is interested in to form a better idea of whether the temperament is a good match for you, rather than, as Bob said, getting a whole bunch of birds because they sound good on paper.

Since you have Cochins I wanted to tell you about my one and only. I have a Blue Cochin hen who is the most entertaining bird - watching her run across the yard just makes me laugh out loud sometimes She and my lord-knows-what-breed Red hen hang out together, they were purchased together from a local feed and supply store by a young couple and came to me in late June, right before the Red girl started laying, and the Cochin started a month later. She has laid about 5 eggs a week since she started, very pretty eggs. She is a good forager and just seems cheerful all the time. I must say, if I had read up on the breed before getting her, I would not have expected 5 eggs a week and a hen that likes to forage. I feel fortunate to have her.

 

[desertmarcy]

The Spangled Russian Orloffs are one breed that are a keeper as far as I am concerned. Their looks and personality won me over. They are naturally curious and friendly. They all come running when I open the pen door. They have not had any more special attention than my other breeds. The Marans all run to the BACK of the pen when I open the door. I've not had a mean rooster, to me or to the others. I am able to keep two roos together with no problem. Took one out for breeding for a while, and when I put him back with the other, there was some initial squabbling, then they settled down to be buddies again. This is only my second year with them. I can't really say how many are still laying since the ones I'm not using for breeding are in a pen with a bunch of other breeds. I would say they are not as good as other breeds and their eggs are not as big, more a medium size. I suppose lay ability is something one could select for. Hmmm.....

In reading through your sig line I see you have, or had, Spangled Russian Orloffs - a breed which I thought was really unusual and neat looking - anyway, I read somewhere (can't remember where right now) that they lay very well the first year, and then taper off dramatically. I have also read several places that they are very friendly. What has been your experience of them?

 

[Chris09]

Posted these over at the Red thread and thought I would post them here also.
Progress is a little slow but there getting close to where I want them.

Some of my Single and Rose Comb Reds --








Chris