Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Arielle]

Thank you for the advice, I think he had a good idea too (because I do tend to start projects with a LOT of excitement and then sort of peter out)...so I can understand the request for a 2 year wait, and he didn't impose it on me he just asked if I would consider it. I considered it and agreed to it, it makes sense. Unfortunately I have found THREE other Heritage Breeds that I very much like the appearance of so now I need to make a decision. I don't want to wait to decide 2 years from now and then know nothing about the breed.

I want to decide early so I know exactly where I need to look for information on that specific one. GAH I hate making decisions on breeds, it is too hard.

We took a small break from the confines of the house, and went to TSC to get some supplies. I needed three more waterers. We got 5 jugs of Diatomaceous Earth, 6 bags of riverbed sand and 3 gallons of paint (all for the new coop). It's finally becoming real and everything is coming together. I'm pretty certain our 4 week olds will be just fine in the coop by themselves at 6 weeks, too. Right now we have them acclimating in our spare room that I purposely am keeping at 60 degrees and they're happy as clams without the heat lamp. The little babies are in there as well but they do have heat lamps and they are fine as well (nobody is huddling due to being cold). I'm trying not to baby the heck out of my chickens anymore. I love them and I cuddle them and talk to them but I mean in regard to temperature...I want them to be cold hardy and I think that has something to do with how you raise them. They have no problem in there at 60 degrees and the babies are sitting at 75 with the lamps.

For what it's worth-- very hard to find info on specific breeds, the real info I mean. I read and read and read and little nuggets will pop out. I've asked breeders very specific questions, and get those questions passed over. So I read and hope breeders will share info in the heat of the moment. This has been my experience with horses too. sigh.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Robert Blosi, the originator of this thread and the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread has shared openly, plainly, honestly and frankly about breeding heritage birds. Go to the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread. Read the last 200 pages. Or the last 400 pages. You'll learn more than you ever imagined and more than you learn from asking a 1000 questions. Read this thread through, from the beginning. Lot of work, you say? Oh yes, indeed.

Bob answers questions, but also teaches. A bit here, A bit there. Read, read, read. Bob has a website that includes many, many articles he has written over the years on Rocks, Reds and other breeds. Again, read, read, read. These subjects simply cannot be answered by a few quips and with a few paragraphs, it seems to me. I've probably carefully read and re-read 40,000 of Bob's words over the past two years. Bill's (NYReds) and Walt's(Fowlman01) side comments here and there, sprinkled throughout those pages, are gems. Invaluable.

After two years of reading, I am now keeping and will be breeding one of the oldest lines of Barred Rocks known to be in existence. We've a few other new additions coming soon.

Without the commitment to quietly read, read, read the past two years, I wouldn't necessarily even have known the right questions to ask, frankly, and this from a guy who's kept birds for almost 53 years. Just sayin'.

 

[CluckyCharms]

Robert Blosi, the originator of this thread and the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread has shared openly, plainly, honestly and frankly about breeding heritage birds. Go to the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread. Read the last 200 pages. Or the last 400 pages. You'll learn more than you ever imagined and more than you learn from asking a 1000 questions. Read this thread through, from the beginning. Lot of work, you say? Oh yes, indeed.

Bob answers questions, but also teaches. A bit here, A bit there. Read, read, read. Bob has a website that includes many, many articles he has written over the years on Rocks, Reds and other breeds. Again, read, read, read. These subjects simply cannot be answered by a few quips and with a few paragraphs, it seems to me. I've probably carefully read and re-read 40,000 of Bob's words over the past two years. Bill's (NYReds) and Walt's(Fowlman01) side comments here and there, sprinkled throughout those pages, are gems. Invaluable.

After two years of reading, I am now keeping and will be breeding one of the oldest lines of Barred Rocks known to be in existence. We've a few other new additions coming soon.

Without the commitment to quietly read, read, read the past two years, I wouldn't necessarily even have known the right questions to ask, frankly, and this from a guy who's kept birds for almost 53 years. Just sayin'.

Thank you very much. I wasn't aware of any such thread, I'll go search for it. =)

 

[CluckyCharms]

I *think* I found it? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site

There are *several* RIR threads so I'm not sure, but based on the names you gave I assume this is the right thread?

 

[thedragonlady]

oh no...laced polish are considered a heritage breed?? That's not good for me, because now I have to add another one to my list of wants.

Your second paragraph concerns me because you're basically talking about people such as myself, who have a very easy time being naive and gullible when it comes to chickens. So...maybe you all can offer some advice regarding *true* heritage breeders, how you can tell the difference between a genuine one and a con artist - and...once you have distinguished between the two - where do you find them? It's very sad about the acquaintance of your friend, I'm sure she was simply devastated to learn of her flock's true identity.

Do not fall into the trap of pretty colored chickens of no breed type. As a novice, stick with the soild colored breeds so that you can learn TYPE. Until you know what shape a bird is supposed to be, you are not ready to breed the rarer colored varieties with lacing, patterns, etc. That will come when you can spot the best TYPE bird in a class, regardless of color. Takes at least a couple of years, and some people never learn it.

 

[sgribble]

I *think* I found it? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site

There are *several* RIR threads so I'm not sure, but based on the names you gave I assume this is the right thread?

Yes that is the thread.

 

[Arielle]

WHen does everyone turn on the lights for winter eggs and hatching?? And what type of lighting do you use??

 

[fowlman01]

Also (another question sorry)

There is a breed I want, and it was recognized by the APA. Due to lack of interest from breeders (crazy if you ask me) it was removed. According to its initiation/acceptance date by the APA this bird would qualify as a heritage breed if it were to be recognized by the APA again.

...how do you make or at least give it your all - to get a chicken *re*recognized by the APA after it's already been removed? Also - would the *new* date of initiation into the APA's standard be applicable for that breed (no longer making them heritage) or would it revert to the initial acceptance date when they were first accepted (prior to removal)..which would make them heritage applicable since they were not removed from the list until 1875 (way before mid 20th century).

thanks in advance

If you are talking about the Orloff and I'm sure you are, the reason is was removed is a mystery. Removing it because there was no interest is a good story, but that would make it the only breed removed for such a reason. if that was the criteria, there would be a lot more breeds missing. The Orloff that was in the APA SOP is not the Orloff you will find on BYC or any other site that I know of. Be very careful about what you read online, as most of it is hearsay or just plain wrong info. This is one of the few threads on here that is pretty accurate. You should probably buy an APA Standard to read over the next two years. There are very few people on this site that have or know anything about the APA SOP...they just pull this info out of ...somewhere.

It can be put back in the SOP if it goes through all the fiery hoops the APA has for new breeds. (it is a new breed because it will be different than the description used back then) If you can make them like the way they were back in the day contact me and I will see what I can do.

Waly

 

[fowlman01]

WHen does everyone turn on the lights for winter eggs and hatching?? And what type of lighting do you use??

I don't use lights. Everything I do here including hatching is done naturally....I will occasionally use an incubator, but not if I can help it.

Walt

 

[CluckyCharms]

If you are talking about the Orloff and I'm sure you are, the reason is was removed is a mystery. Removing it because there was no interest is a good story, but that would make it the only breed removed for such a reason. if that was the criteria, there would be a lot more breeds missing. The Orloff that was in the APA SOP is not the Orloff you will find on BYC or any other site that I know of. Be very careful about what you read online, as most of it is hearsay or just plain wrong info. This is one of the few threads on here that is pretty accurate. You should probably buy an APA Standard to read over the next two years. There are very few people on this site that have or know anything about the APA SOP...they just pull this info out of ...somewhere.

It can be put back in the SOP if it goes through all the fiery hoops the APA has for new breeds. (it is a new breed because it will be different than the description used back then) If you can make them like the way they were back in the day contact me and I will see what I can do.

Waly

Thank you very much, and I'm not sure how you knew that, but yes I'm speaking of the Russian Orloff. I actually do have an APA SOP (blasted thing was 80 bucks, lol) - but according to the *old* SOP, they weren't even called Orloffs, but were only called "Russians".

The "lack of interest from breeders" is what Wiki states although I don't really think Wiki is all that accurate either - there are lots of discrepancies.

Personally, I think the reason the "Russians" were removed from the APA Standard is painfully obvious (and a lot of bs) but...I'm new to chickens so my theory may be bs too.

1875 is the year they were removed or "delisted". If you know about history, you know the 1870s were a very interesting time for Russia, particularly 1884-77 Coincidental? Yeh, maybe. I still think if the APA had said "Orloff" as the breed they'd still be in there.

But, I guess that's just another conspiracy theory and we may never know.

In any case, I LOVE THESE BIRDS and I'm angry that they're not APA recognized. In regard to breeding them back to what they were before? That...is my dream (with regard to chickens anyway).

Edited to add: I want that old Orloff that was so pitch black that it shimmered blue-green.

(and I really don't like black chickens) ...but the RO is something else entirely as far as chickens go. They're so regal looking, they're like the king of chickens. I like the ones we have now as well (the spangled) but they remind me of Jubilees and Speckled Sussex. I love those too...but they should be a separate breed since they don't look like the old Orloffs.

I'm rambling, done now.

(pretty sure this 2 year wait isn't going to work)