Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Yellow House Farm]

The way I've always understood it is that a strain is a line that poses generally recognizable traits. Ergo, when one's line starts to reproduce in a dependable manner, with recognizable uniformity of characteristics, one is said to establish a strain, i.e. when one says "Oh that's one of so-and-so's birds, I know it anywhere."

 

[CluckyCharms]

Enough with the guppies.

I was using them as an example of lineage. Line is the shortened term for "lineage" and anything that procreates creates a line. Guppies are freshwater fish, they are what I call "nuisance fish" that will quickly fill your entire tank with their babies and ammonia.

Unless you already knew that and you were just being funny then...disregard this post and I'll have to return one of Walt's cookies. :'(

I'm saving them up and so far I have two cookies!!!

I'm trying to decide if I should frost them or leave them as they are. I also do not know what kind of cookies they are...wondering if they are milk dippable or if they are more like coffee dippers?

 

[imtrying]

where are you that's 118 degrees in November? and why are you concerned about it being cold?

 

[CluckyCharms]

According to the SOP Glossary of Technical Terms....

"Strain - Fowl of any breed or variety that have been bred as a closed population for a number of years and which reproduce uniform characteristics with marked regularity."

There is no definition listed for "line".

hmm.

I like Robert's "whose on first?" analogy methinks.

 

[CluckyCharms]

My brain is missing at 8:00pm, I'm sorry. I was looking at what kind of celestial seasonings tea I wanted this evening since it's brrrr cold outside, and for whatever reason I said Celsius instead of Fahrenheit..I blame the celestial (I decided on peppermint by the way). In any case, I'm in Missouri, and it's now 45 F where we live...just wondering if that is too cold for 4 week old fully feathered birds.

Thanks, and sorry again for the misinformation. =)

 

[CluckyCharms]

Someone asked about their size - I just measured them (they were a bit perplexed by that haha!) The male is 10x4 and the female is 8x3 (inches). [Edited to add] I didn't weigh them.

If it's that close of a call and that big of a question with things to consider it's fine...I'll just keep them inside for a few weeks more.

 

[CharlieVoda]

It might be very helpful for some of the very knowledgeable folk here to post a list of some breeds that they consider need attention, whether:

1. on the brink of real and dire extinction, in need of simply increasing the population, then improving them
2. very rare and in need of more dedicated individuals to continue the old strains and keep them good
3. real project birds, with difficult problems, whether genetic or building breeder consensus or getting APA recognition -- i.e. the Orloff
4. rare breeds that are a bit easier to find stock and breed mentors for than the really rare ones

Or whatever categories you would think useful.

p.s. I know the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has rarity designations for chickens and other animals, but I'm looking for your own opinions on specific breeds that might be a good fit for people with different levels of experience and dedication or slightly different goals, like the categories above.

Here is a list of breeds that need attention
95% of all Standard Breed Large Fowl

It is my opinion that 95% of all Standard Breed Large Fowl chickens are in trouble and in need of serious breeders.

There are currently about 520 breeds/varieties of poultry in the Standard Of Perfection. If I remember correctly 187 of these are large fowl chickens. So if 95% is a good estimate that means 177 of the 187 need help.

With all of the breeds that are in need of help I personally can see no reason to try and create a new breed or variety that is not currently in the SOP.

Pick a breed and if you are not sure if it is in need of help just ask the folks here and you will get some answers.

Good luck with the birds
Charlie

 

[cluck-cluck]

I weighed couple of my Crevecoeurs and Sultans at a couple of days short of 6 weeks of age today and they were about 15 oz and 14 oz Crevecoeurs males (which I weighed) should grow up to be at least 7 lbs. I also weighed them at 4.5 weeks old, and the average crevies weight was about 9 oz. I have no idea if that is helpful, but... there it is

 

[buffalogal]

I'm in Missouri, and it's now 45 F where we live...just wondering if that is too cold for 4 week old fully feathered birds.

I'm in Oklahoma, where the temperature here at the bottom of the hill dropped to the mid 20's just before Thanksgiving and the 14 four to five week olds I have outside in a cage are doing fine without supplemental heat and i haven't lost one yet. They do have a small plastic dog carrier with a layer of leaves in the bottom to snuggle in, and when it rained the other night, I split a plastic bag and loosely put it over the top so they wouldn't get wet, but the front was wide open. Once they're feathered, lack of fresh air is harder on them than the chill. Especially with a late hatch, I want them used to the cold since I have no intention of keeping the little darlings in the house all winter.

 

[CluckyCharms]

I weighed couple of my Crevecoeurs and Sultans at a couple of days short of 6 weeks of age today and they were about 15 oz and 14 oz Crevecoeurs males (which I weighed) should grow up to be at least 7 lbs. I also weighed them at 4.5 weeks old, and the average crevies weight was about 9 oz. I have no idea if that is helpful, but... there it is

Thank you for your input I appreciate it. I'm not entirely sure what NJs are supposed to weigh exactly, but I know they're a smaller breed. Thanks!

I'm in Oklahoma, where the temperature here at the bottom of the hill dropped to the mid 20's just before Thanksgiving and the 14 four to five week olds I have outside in a cage are doing fine without supplemental heat and i haven't lost one yet. They do have a small plastic dog carrier with a layer of leaves in the bottom to snuggle in, and when it rained the other night, I split a plastic bag and loosely put it over the top so they wouldn't get wet, but the front was wide open. Once they're feathered, lack of fresh air is harder on them than the chill. Especially with a late hatch, I want them used to the cold since I have no intention of keeping the little darlings in the house all winter.

Thank you very much for posting your experience(s). I think I might try them out there tomorrow evening, as the one seemed just fine to be outside earlier tonight and it was 40-something when I had him out there. Thanks again - we'll see how it goes. =)