Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Lacy Blues]

Pot pies.....   I don't have any left overs we ate out and at families.  

A brine is really a mix of salt and sugar.  If you just use salt..... it might be TOO salty   I add all kinds of stuff... pepper, rosemary, thyme really anything you like.  I usually soak for several days.

Would you share details on that please? recipe? instructions?

 

[CluckyCharms]

I found the definition of heritage chickens here: http://www.albc-usa.org/heritagechicken/definition.html

My question is...what do they mean by *prior* to the mid 20th century?? Two years prior to midway through 1901 and 2000? Five years? Two months? It just says *prior to*...it doesn't give a specific prior date!

How do we know that a chicken's ancestry is truly recorded and can be traced back multigenerationally? The AKC can't even *fully* guarantee the honesty of AKC breeders and there have been documented cases many times over where a dog is registered as AKC and is nothing even remotely close to that breed. So how is this *truthfully* possible with a chicken - reputability of a breeder via word of mouth I would assume?

So...would I need to purchase an APA book for that time period in order to know exactly which breeds could be considered heritage and which are not applicable? Additionally, like I said, there's no date given it just says "prior to the mid 20th century" which isn't specific whatsoever and there's a lot of room for questionability. What about the Rhode Island Red Rose Comb?? It wasn't accepted until 1952 which places it NOT prior to mid 20th century and thus not applicable according to the definition.

I think my main beef is that they say "prior to" without giving an exact date, so a bird could be accepted one day before mid 20th century and still apply, but a bird accepted 1 day later than the mid-marker of the 20th century would not - according to their definition there.

So really...how do you know exactly which breeds absolutely are considered heritage by acceptance date and which are not, particularly when it only shows the year as far as I can tell, and not the month nor day.

 

[Arielle]

Clucky, here is my take on your question. Many breeds were created by the 1950's, and there after the commercial type lines took over the American dinner table and almost eliminated the old heritage breeds by decades later. To encourage breeders to help save the genetic diversity by saving the breeds of years ago the general date was put in place of prior to mid century.

I have marans, which are a very recent import so they don't count. As are many other breeds that have been imported in the last 50 years. THe rhode Island Reds, Delawares, plymouth rocks and buckeyes, and many more, held a very important place on individual homesteads and as production birds to feed city dwellers before the 1950's.

If you have a particular breed you want to know about in regards to "heritage", you can ask here and get it answered. More breeders are needed to keep these old lines going.

Perhaps others have a different view; this is my understanding.

 

[CluckyCharms]

Clucky, here is my take on your question. Many breeds were created by the 1950's, and there after the commercial type lines took over the American dinner table and almost eliminated the old heritage breeds by decades later. To encourage breeders to help save the genetic diversity by saving the breeds of years ago the general date was put in place of prior to mid century.

I have marans, which are a very recent import so they don't count. As are many other breeds that have been imported in the last 50 years. THe rhode Island Reds, Delawares, plymouth rocks and buckeyes, and many more, held a very important place on individual homesteads and as production birds to feed city dwellers before the 1950's.

If you have a particular breed you want to know about in regards to "heritage", you can ask here and get it answered. More breeders are needed to keep these old lines going.

Perhaps others have a different view; this is my understanding.

Thank you, Arielle. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to breed chickens because we can't have any roosters (right now) where we live. We recently found out that we do indeed have 100 feet between where our coop will be, and our neighbors, which means we can have (legally) up to 10 hens instead of 6 - which opens up more possibilities.

I'm specifically wondering about the silver-grey Dorking. I think they are beautiful and as far as I can see they are a Heritage breed in regard to their APA status. It's a problem meeting the rest of the Heritage breed requirements, but I think with some effort on my part I could still find one..maybe? possibly? Chances are unlikely I would be able to breed her in the next year though, and I do know that thus far I've had a real problem getting anything heritage if I don't plan on participating in furthering the breeding program. If I had a choice, I would.

 

[Arielle]

While you are not able to be a breeder, you can support a breeder by buying stock. That will keep them breeding more birds and provide an outlet for the pullets. You can connect with sources at the shows.

THis is the time of year to pick up birds that are sexed and folks are down sizing for the winter.

 

[bnjrob]

Even if you aren't going to be breeding, you could still get some Heritage chickens by getting the culls from breeders. When they have birds that aren't quite good enough to put into their breeding program, then that is your chance to get non-show/non-breeding quality stock that you can still enjoy and get use from. If you aren't going to breed or show, then the culls from someone else's breeding program would be perfect for your backyard flock. I would just ask up-front for the birds they won't be using to show/breed. Maybe then you won't meet such resistance to sell you some birds.

And if things change in your future, then you'll have experience with the Heritage chickens and can start looking for quality breeding stock.

 

[Robert Blosl]

http://www.standardbreedpoultry.com/breeder/Duane UrchUrch-Turnland Poultry/190


http://standardbredpoultry.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=55&page=1

If you wonder what is considered a Heritage Breed go to the top web page and review Duane Urch breeding list. All of these birds I think fit that list. You dont have to get on a box and scream if your chickens aren't Heritage Breeds. Most of them have been started from the 1950s to the 1800s. I used this term to get the attention of people who want to go from the mean Production Reds that attach their children in the pens to a more docile true to breed original Rhode Island Red. My goal was to try to convince and convert one half of one percent of you people who read this tread. I knew that over 99 percent of the people on this site could care less of the genetic make up or if a breed was in danger in the first place. They are happy as can be with their feed store chickens anyway and in their eyes they are true to breed and are pure breeds as they seem them even if the picture in the catalog does not look like the birds they get they could care less. Also, many are more interested in the color of the egg shell or the color of the chicken if it matches the color of their house.

What we need in the next 20 years is Poultry Hobbyist who will keep a breed going and not let it revert back to hatchery quality levels. If we dint many breeds will become extinct as many have in the first place all ready.

Like Charlie V says you better look at Mr. Urchs list and pick out what you might want as a day will come and he will have to give up his chickens. Father time has a limit to us old breeders and we will be gone be for you know it. I have tried to get you the best stock you can get and help you locate the future mentors of the future and present to help you. Its up to you who want to try to preserve these old breeds. What we need to think is Preservation of a old breed. Not making a new color pattern and get it into the standard.

Got a phone call a few minutes ago from a friend who I helped with chickens in North Carolina who is sending me some Heirloom Garden Seeds. Some over 50 or more years old. This is something I am getting into like many of you who are getting into Heritage Chickens. I am a nu bee and learning. Thanks to all who are helping me in this hobby.

At my old age my son has taught me how to make custom made ink pens with a turning lathe. With his 12 years of experience I have learned so much in just five pens how to do it right it would have taken me at least two years of experience of hard knocks to learn on my own. The morrow of this story you need a mentor for the breed you are going to choose to do it right.

Keep plugging away out their if you like your chickens and you are happy that what counts.

Now I got to go outside and cure two cast Iron Frying pans for my wife.

Walt I saw your dog he is a credit to the breed what a fine looking dog of this breed should look like.

You got any pictures of your hot rods?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
For the pot pies or the brine?

I will PM you if you let me know.

 

[CluckyCharms]

http://www.standardbreedpoultry.com/breeder/Duane UrchUrch-Turnland Poultry/190


http://standardbredpoultry.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=55&page=1

If you wonder what is considered a Heritage Breed go to the top web page and review Duane Urch breeding list. All of these birds I think fit that list. You dont have to get on a box and scream if your chickens aren't Heritage Breeds. Most of them have been started from the 1950s to the 1800s. I used this term to get the attention of people who want to go from the mean Production Reds that attach their children in the pens to a more docile true to breed original Rhode Island Red. My goal was to try to convince and convert one half of one percent of you people who read this tread. I knew that over 99 percent of the people on this site could care less of the genetic make up or if a breed was in danger in the first place. They are happy as can be with their feed store chickens anyway and in their eyes they are true to breed and are pure breeds as they seem them even if the picture in the catalog does not look like the birds they get they could care less. Also, many are more interested in the color of the egg shell or the color of the chicken if it matches the color of their house.

What we need in the next 20 years is Poultry Hobbyist who will keep a breed going and not let it revert back to hatchery quality levels. If we dint many breeds will become extinct as many have in the first place all ready.

Like Charlie V says you better look at Mr. Urchs list and pick out what you might want as a day will come and he will have to give up his chickens. Father time has a limit to us old breeders and we will be gone be for you know it. I have tried to get you the best stock you can get and help you locate the future mentors of the future and present to help you. Its up to you who want to try to preserve these old breeds. What we need to think is Preservation of a old breed. Not making a new color pattern and get it into the standard.

Got a phone call a few minutes ago from a friend who I helped with chickens in North Carolina who is sending me some Heirloom Garden Seeds. Some over 50 or more years old. This is something I am getting into like many of you who are getting into Heritage Chickens. I am a nu bee and learning. Thanks to all who are helping me in this hobby.

At my old age my son has taught me how to make custom made ink pens with a turning lathe. With his 12 years of experience I have learned so much in just five pens how to do it right it would have taken me at least two years of experience of hard knocks to learn on my own. The morrow of this story you need a mentor for the breed you are going to choose to do it right.

Keep plugging away out their if you like your chickens and you are happy that what counts.

Now I got to go outside and cure two cast Iron Frying pans for my wife.

Walt I saw your dog he is a credit to the breed what a fine looking dog of this breed should look like.

You got any pictures of your hot rods?

That's my problem - I'm not happy with what might count to other people. lol! I feel it's important to preserve the rich history of life and that includes breeds. Designer dogs are being bred all over the place and it makes me physically ill (sorry) and I know chickens aren't dogs, but they still deserve to have the longstanding breeds preserved instead of mixed into thing1, thing2 and every thing in between. I love easter eggers, but they're not even a specific breed and they're one of the most popular and purchased type of chicken...so don't get me wrong, I'm not completely against mixing chicken breeds. I would just love to have a chicken that comes from a long line of true bred, longstanding, strong and sturdy heritage ancestry, that's all. Namely, the silver grey dorking. There is something about those that is MUCH different looking than other hens available. Their body, especially the profile, strongly resembles the really old sketches and paintings of hens. They're just more "chickeny" looking and elongated and full than some of the 'newer' breeds. They're also lower to the ground and squattier in appearance than some of the newer breeds. I think they're fascinating, but I know getting a *real* heritage one is a far cry from possible at this point.

 

[Lacy Blues]

For the pot pies or the brine?

I will PM you if you let me know.

Got your PM. It was mostly for the brine. Thank you very much.