Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Maven]

Good morning Everyone!

I don't want show birds, at least not at this point, I just want good DP heritage-style birds - decent layers and decent size for meat.

But I do have a couple of questions for thedragonlady and walt, or anyone else who raises Buff Orpingtons...

I picked up a couple of very young cockerels a few weeks ago that were supposed to be pure (American) BOs from a fellow says he breeds them in SEMO. As they have grown, I am not so sure. They are now 20 weeks old.

This first one - who we've named King Louie because he really does think he's the cock of the walk - has developed a bright spray of white at the top of his tale. He is also very aggressive to the other males. Not human aggressive, but will not leave off fighting the other cockerels. Makes me think he has some game cock in him or something because for the most part I've always found BOs to be very docile and laid back. (the pullets standing next to him are 19 weeks)







This fellow, Baldric (means bold prince in Teutonic), seems to fit the bill much better - he is filling out and up more like I expect a BO to do, and is very laid back and docile all the way around. (The black on his comb is where King Louie nailed him in a fight - all my other cockerels now have combs like that thanks to King Louie)







Here's one of them near each other for a size comparison...between them and compared to the pullets around them....




In the last picture it is hard to tell if you look just at the two cockerels, but if you look at them in comparison to the pullets you can see that Baldric is half again as big as KL. He's just enormous! The pullets they are standing among - Black Australorp, Columbian Wyandotte, RIR, and BO, are 19 weeks old.

I guess my question is, do you think it is possible that KL is indeed a BO, despite the white in his tale, or am I probably right in assuming he is not?

And, as a general purpose baby-daddy, do you think Baldric has the size and stature I am looking for to make good DP meat birds with the right mamas? (Ok, and in general,keeping in mind that I didn't buy him with SQ in mind, what do you think of his looks, 'cause I think he's sorta handsome

)

Thanks!!

 

[Chris09]

I have yet to perfect my cast iron skills Any tricks you care to share?

How did you season the cast iron pan, how do you clean it?

Chris

 

[thedragonlady]

Man! I wonder what that (PTFE) puts in my scrambled eggs then LOL no wonder I'm crazy as loon sometimes LOL

I got to remember to use those old black iron pots/skillets more often, they say those are bad for you too but I know they only got lard(bacon drippings) in them to keep my eggs from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Jeff

Never heard about IRON skillets being bad for you. It's the aluminum ones that are supposed to be. Iron skillets are believed to help prevent anemia in children in third world countries now, who have a parasite problem, or not enough meat in their diet.

 

[galanie]

Good morning Everyone!

I don't want show birds, at least not at this point, I just want good DP heritage-style birds - decent layers and decent size for meat.

But I do have a couple of questions for thedragonlady and walt, or anyone else who raises Buff Orpingtons...

I picked up a couple of very young cockerels a few weeks ago that were supposed to be pure (American) BOs from a fellow says he breeds them in SEMO. As they have grown, I am not so sure. They are now 20 weeks old.

This first one - who we've named King Louie because he really does think he's the cock of the walk - has developed a bright spray of white at the top of his tale. He is also very aggressive to the  other males. Not human aggressive, but will not leave off fighting the other cockerels. Makes me think he has some game cock in him or something because for the most part I've always found BOs to be very docile and laid back.

I'll tell you it's not cause he has game blood. I had a nice Black Orp guy that was sweet as pie. To people and to his girls. But he would beat the snot out of any other roosters that came around. I mean ripping half the comb off. When he went to his new home the lady told me he nearly killed one of her other roosters through the fence. And this dude was full blooded and from a respected breeder. So it's not game blood.

 

[Maven]

Quote:
Thanks, galanie! I didn't know that Orpingtons could be so rough and rowdy - but I guess there is an exception to every rule, right? What about the white in his tale - could he be pure and that just a fault, or does that indicate some other breed mixed in?

 

[Robert Blosl]

The Buff Orpingtons that you pictured look like the ones a fellow got a few years ago from the local feed store. To me the could pass for Buff Rocks from the feed store. The do not look like any of the Buff Orpingtons that I saw from the Doug Akers line which are some of the true to breed Orpingtons I have seen in 20 years.

I will try to find you a picture if I can of the ones I am talking about.

There are not many good strains of Buff Orpingtons left anymore. They are very rare and they are a good all around chicken.

I was reading last night a Poultry Magazine in Color I bought at Tractor supply and they where showing pictures of breeds popular in Europe. In Germany, one of the top five is New Hampshire Reds. No thats what they call them in England as they are also on their top ten list.

Sorry for calling them Reds old habit. So if they are one of the top five strains in Europe on the farms and in the show rooms there is no wonder they look the way they did when we got them over here. One friend was telling me you cant hatch the New Hampshire's to early as they feather so fast they will be out of condition to show them. You have to hatch them in March instead of January so they will be in peak form. In my days of raising cherry eggers or what most people on this site call Rhode Island Reds they grow and feather fast like a New Hampshire. There for they are also good layers.

If people dont want a Rhode Island Red but want a pretty chicken that lays lots of eggs they should consider the new strain of German New Hampshire's as their main breed.

Just a thought.

Edit: Could not find a picture in my files but this is a profile that was used years ago by APA judges who where taking their tests. This is what the shape of a Orpington should have. Clean underline no skirts draging down as Schilling use to preach. Great chicken. I have a friend who has some killers maybe one night I will sneak over and get a few eggs out of the nests and put in my incubator.

 

[Maven]

The Buff Orpingtons that you pictured look like the ones a fellow got a few years ago from the local feed store. To me the could pass for Buff Rocks from the feed store. The do not look like any of the Buff Orpingtons that I saw from the Doug Akers line which are some of the true to breed Orpingtons I have seen in 20 years.

I will try to find you a picture if I can of the ones I am talking about.

There are not many good strains of Buff Orpingtons left anymore. They are very rare and they are a good all around chicken.

Thanks, Bob! I kinda figured as much.

 

[thedragonlady]

Good morning Everyone!

I don't want show birds, at least not at this point, I just want good DP heritage-style birds - decent layers and decent size for meat.

But I do have a couple of questions for thedragonlady and walt, or anyone else who raises Buff Orpingtons...

I picked up a couple of very young cockerels a few weeks ago that were supposed to be pure (American) BOs from a fellow says he breeds them in SEMO. As they have grown, I am not so sure. They are now 20 weeks old.

This first one - who we've named King Louie because he really does think he's the cock of the walk - has developed a bright spray of white at the top of his tale. He is also very aggressive to the other males. Not human aggressive, but will not leave off fighting the other cockerels. Makes me think he has some game cock in him or something because for the most part I've always found BOs to be very docile and laid back. (the pullets standing next to him are 19 weeks)







This fellow, Baldric (means bold prince in Teutonic), seems to fit the bill much better - he is filling out and up more like I expect a BO to do, and is very laid back and docile all the way around. (The black on his comb is where King Louie nailed him in a fight - all my other cockerels now have combs like that thanks to King Louie)







Here's one of them near each other for a size comparison...between them and compared to the pullets around them....




In the last picture it is hard to tell if you look just at the two cockerels, but if you look at them in comparison to the pullets you can see that Baldric is half again as big as KL. He's just enormous! The pullets they are standing among - Black Australorp, Columbian Wyandotte, RIR, and BO, are 19 weeks old.

I guess my question is, do you think it is possible that KL is indeed a BO, despite the white in his tale, or am I probably right in assuming he is not?

And, as a general purpose baby-daddy, do you think Baldric has the size and stature I am looking for to make good DP meat birds with the right mamas? (Ok, and in general,keeping in mind that I didn't buy him with SQ in mind, what do you think of his looks, 'cause I think he's sorta handsome

)

Thanks!!

King Louie, and Baldric look to be hatchery birds that someone is breeding from. Look at Louie's body type and comb. If there is not Leghorn in his background, I'm Minnie Mouse. He's far too red, and that white tail feather is a no-no, as you know. Baldric has more type and body mass, but not enough chest, or body mass to make a good meal.Take a look at my page. There are English, and SOP birds there. I just weighed my 8 month old pullets , and the ALL weighed over 8 1/2 lbs., with the heaviest weighing in at 9 1/2 lbs. They are not fat and have been laying heavily since they were 6 months old. Don't keep a mean Orp rooster! They will hurt you! My big guy, Monty, is as gentle as a kitten , as is his younger brother, Max. Good thing, as Monty weighs 14 lbs at 8 1/2 months!

 

[catdaddyfro]

And, as a general purpose baby-daddy, do you think Baldric has the size and stature I am looking for to make good DP meat birds with the right mamas? (Ok, and in general,keeping in mind that I didn't buy him with SQ in mind, what do you think of his looks, 'cause I think he's sorta handsome

)
Maven

Baldric will serve your purpose well with like you said the right hens(the ones in your picture are just good unless you are wanting one specific breed/type) and you will have eggs running out your ears and a decent meat bird to butcher at the right time.

when you post up on a heritage thread such as this, you won't get an all out straight answer most of the time unless you are showing SQ/Heritage type birds as most folk on here are here just for the fact of seeing an learning about SQ(Heritage types for whatever this means to the individual). The mean boy would have to go as you don't want to keep procreating such genetics in the future generations and the big boy with some decent BO hens from Ideal/or any other hatchery of your choice (as they all about the same) or and individual that has some decent hatchery stock will make you some fine backyard birds(pretty ones too) and if you later on decide to go with some of the "real old-timey BOs" I'm sure you could get taken care of right here, there is vast knowledge here on this thread (they just don't talk too much on hatchery type birds)

even if they are good for what their intended usage is, LOL

Dragonlady I don't know exactly where or whom (internet/news maybe lol) I got the info on the black iron pots causing problems don't know if it was a credible source or hear-say but it had something to do with the carbon black in the pot and pans and everybody is supposed to know "how" bad the burnt fat and meats off a BBQ is supposed to be such a cancerous causing carcinogen. MEE, I'm just glad someone figured out how to cook a cow over fire for better digestion much less getting it past my eyesight or I definitely would have to be a 'collard green only eater' I can't down red bloody runny meat, LOL

Jeff

 

[thedragonlady]

And, as a general purpose baby-daddy, do you think Baldric has the size and stature I am looking for to make good DP meat birds with the right mamas? (Ok, and in general,keeping in mind that I didn't buy him with SQ in mind, what do you think of his looks, 'cause I think he's sorta handsome

)
Maven

Baldric will serve your purpose well with like you said the right hens(the ones in your picture are just good unless you are wanting one specific breed/type) and you will have eggs running out your ears and a decent meat bird to butcher at the right time.

when you post up on a heritage thread such as this, you won't get an all out straight answer most of the time unless you are showing SQ/Heritage type birds as most folk on here are here just for the fact of seeing an learning about SQ(Heritage types for whatever this means to the individual). The mean boy would have to go as you don't want to keep procreating such genetics in the future generations and the big boy with some decent BO hens from Ideal/or any other hatchery of your choice (as they all about the same) or and individual that has some decent hatchery stock will make you some fine backyard birds(pretty ones too) and if you later on decide to go with some of the "real old-timey BOs" I'm sure you could get taken care of right here, there is vast knowledge here on this thread (they just don't talk too much on hatchery type birds)

even if they are good for what their intended usage is, LOL

Dragonlady I don't know exactly where or whom (internet/news maybe lol) I got the info on the black iron pots causing problems don't know if it was a credible source or hear-say but it had something to do with the carbon black in the pot and pans and everybody is supposed to know "how" bad the burnt fat and meats off a BBQ is supposed to be such a cancerous causing carcinogen. MEE, I'm just glad someone figured out how to cook a cow over fire for better digestion much less getting it past my eyesight or I definitely would have to be a 'collard green only eater' I can't down red bloody runny meat, LOL

Jeff

I can char a mean steak in my cast iron pans. The pans do not burn, and char the pan because they are well seasoned. My cornbread doesn't stick to my CB pans either.
I've always seasoned my pans with Crisco. Rub the inside down well with Crisco, and cook in them. When you are through, wipe out the pan, rinse with hot water, and dry. Do not use a scouring pad on CI, or you have to re-season. If you get a build up on your pans, throw them in a really hot oven to burn it off, or into a fire until the build up is gone, and re-season.