Breda Fowl thread

[dutchbunny83]

Thanks guys!
My rooster was absolutely gorgeous, but we can't keep roosters in town.
This one is really pretty (I think), but there's like a darker pigmentation almost like a lacing in some spots but it's not uniform. She's still growing so maybe it will even out more. I don't know much about the SOP for the Breda (or if there is one), it just seemed like it would be considered a flaw? I don't know, I've really never bred as I can't keep roosters, but I try to buy the best eggs I can find. I had one that was a light blue it was the prettiest bird! I should have taken photos before I sold them, I was just so upset over letting them go I didn't think of it.

 

[GaryDean26]

I like the light blue too. Very pretty. Out first pair was a light blue pullet and a bark blue cockerel. Ya, its too bad you didn't get photos, but since they are gone it is probably best that you focus on what you kept on not dwell on what is gone. I actually really like the one you kept. I like the bark almost black head with a lighter body color and very distinct lacing. I was told that it is harder to keep good lacing on the lighter hens, but that if you can pull it off that they are much better quality than the darker blue birds. If you can't pull it off, the light birds tend to look washed out though which is not what you want to have.

 

[Sylvester017]

Yes...I wondered what your image of perfect coloring was too. I have been reading and re-reading the color section of a breeding guide for the Andalusian and am starting to get an idea of what I want the goal for color to be in my flock.

Are you reading the APA Andalusian SOP or are you reading a printed author's expertise about breeding the Andalusian blue? I believe you mentioned the book before on a previous post? I imagine nice lacing is one of the goals? Of course with Bredas there's the lack of comb, large nostril beaks, vulture hocks, and feathered feet to keep perfect too. I bet at first glance many unfamiliar visitors assume your Blue Bredas are Andalusians?

As a matter of being a novice about Bredas every photo I see of a Blue have been just gorgeous. I have yet to see a bad shot of a Breda even from backyarders. Of course, judges would get pickier about finer points. I've seen photos of what some judges considered ideal Dominique pullets and as I'm a Dom lover I don't think it did the breed justice as my idea of visual perfection was different from the photo shot. I wouldn't give complete power to judge standards as it is too subjective IMHO. Some judges are in it for the love of the breed and yet there are a few personalities in it for the status/power manipulation. Good humble critique or status power play - two different personalities. I don't attend bird shows but realize they are crucial to getting breed acceptance into the APA - Catch 22 for me.

Don't know if you have a good qualified history of the Breda in America? Would love to know what you've researched. Mine has stated that they were a common backyard chicken in early America and were never considered for acceptance in the APA and eventually faded away from American history when the Asiatic and imported breeds took over the 1800s chicken craze. The Breda that were outside the USA were cross-bred and then re-introduced back to America but not really what the original backyard breed used to be. Is that it in a nutshell or do you have some other history? I'm never sure how much history is hearsay and how much is actually documented somewhere.

 

[GaryDean26]

I am not studying the APA standard for the Andalusian. I am just reading an book that was written by a breeder. I like the author of the book. He openly calls out breeders that are promoting their own birds rather than trying to perfect the breed, he readily points out that areas that the judges are not paying enough attention to better the breed, states the general trends and norms in breeding as well as his own preferences and what is required to improve the breed as well as his theories on what the next step will be to achieve a new level of quality.

With my flock I am seeing the chestnut color creep in as well as a pair of knobs protruding from the comb area. I will cull for these as well as vigor and production, but other than that I am going to type breed for color. I have always thought that "show breeders" were foolish for breeding for color only and neglecting utilities, but I think that improving the color is an area that will challenge me the most and an area that would be a big accomplishment if I can make any noticeable progress. So... that is what I am going to work on. Yes, Lacing is one of my goals. No. people that see my Breda never have a clue what they are, the feathery feet and lack of comb keep them from anyone thinking they are an Andalusian. The all want one after they see them though.

I have always like going to the poultry shows. At the Utah State Fair growing up my Dad and I used to spend 2 hours in the poultry barn every year looking at all the different varieties and dreaming of breeding chickens. 20 years later when I finally did move to the country and did start breeding chickens I wasn't interested in showing chickens myself. It just wasn't my thing, but after 2 years of encouragement and persuasion from other breeders I have started to take a few chickens to the shows with me now. I am doing this mostly to help with the APA process for the Cream Legbar, although I hope it will help me get the feed back required to improve my flock too. I am the only breeder I know in my area with the Blue Breda and after showing my Blue Cockerel at a Show in January I get a lot of request to bring more Breda to the events, so I want them to look good.

As far as the Breed history goes, the article by Craig Russell in Middleburg, PA that was posted in the 2001 SPPA Bulletin is the only real source of history I have come across for the Breed. If you are serious about the breed history writing Mr. Russell a letter would be a good start. His article is on Feathersite and the BYC.

Christine Heinrichs in California also may have information on the Breda History.

 

[Sylvester017]

I am not studying the APA standard for the Andalusian. I am just reading an book that was written by a breeder. I like the author of the book. He openly calls out breeders that are promoting their own birds rather than trying to perfect the breed, he readily points out that areas that the judges are not paying enough attention to better the breed, states the general trends and norms in breeding as well as his own preferences and what is required to improve the breed as well as his theories on what the next step will be to achieve a new level of quality.

With my flock I am seeing the chestnut color creep in as well as a pair of knobs protruding from the comb area. I will cull for these as well as vigor and production, but other than that I am going to type breed for color. I have always thought that "show breeders" were foolish for breeding for color only and neglecting utilities, but I think that improving the color is an area that will challenge me the most and an area that would be a big accomplishment if I can make any noticeable progress. So... that is what I am going to work on. Yes, Lacing is one of my goals. No. people that see my Breda never have a clue what they are, the feathery feet and lack of comb keep them from anyone thinking they are an Andalusian. The all want one after they see them though.

I have always like going to the poultry shows. At the Utah State Fair growing up my Dad and I used to spend 2 hours in the poultry barn every year looking at all the different varieties and dreaming of breeding chickens. 20 years later when I finally did move to the country and did start breeding chickens I wasn't interested in showing chickens myself. It just wasn't my thing, but after 2 years of encouragement and persuasion from other breeders I have started to take a few chickens to the shows with me now. I am doing this mostly to help with the APA process for the Cream Legbar, although I hope it will help me get the feed back required to improve my flock too. I am the only breeder I know in my area with the Blue Breda and after showing my Blue Cockerel at a Show in January I get a lot of request to bring more Breda to the events, so I want them to look good.

As far as the Breed history goes, the article by Craig Russell in Middleburg, PA that was posted in the 2001 SPPA Bulletin is the only real source of history I have come across for the Breed. If you are serious about the breed history writing Mr. Russell a letter would be a good start. His article is on Feathersite and the BYC.

Christine Heinrichs in California also may have information on the Breda History.

I think she is the only Breda breeder in NoCal and I have been on PM with her already. No one else has responded to my queries for a SoCal breeder. She is on the ball and I hope to get a Blue and a Black from her next Spring.

I wished I could find a closer Breda contact as I hate to stress juvies in USPS shipments - sometimes the Post Office can really be stoooopid when it comes to safely delivering live birds. I called ahead to my city Post Office to be sure to call me when my birds arrived so I could pick them up even if it was 4 a.m.! I called more than once checking as the breeder had informed me that shipment was made. Well, the stooopid Post Office put the live birds in a tiny mail truck on a hot day!!!! When I found out what the stoooopid mail delivery did I made them immediately deliver the pullets NOW before they suffocated in the mail truck. Where are their brains?? My order was two juvenile birds - I don't think baby chicks would've made it through the mail at all. Left hand never knows what right hand is doing in govt-type jobs.

The second time I ordered a shipment I spent 3 days in a row catching every mail delivery guy and gal on our route to tell them to deliver the live birds immediately and not drive around in the truck with them all day. That did the trick. Whoever the regular driver and backup driver were they knew to get the birds to me immediately when they arrived at the distribution center.

Thank you for the tip on the Breda history.

 

[RhodeRunner]

I think she is the only Breda breeder in NoCal and I have been on PM with her already. No one else has responded to my queries for a SoCal breeder. She is on the ball and I hope to get a Blue and a Black from her next Spring.

I wished I could find a closer Breda contact as I hate to stress juvies in USPS shipments - sometimes the Post Office can really be stoooopid when it comes to safely delivering live birds. I called ahead to my city Post Office to be sure to call me when my birds arrived so I could pick them up even if it was 4 a.m.!  I called more than once checking as the breeder had informed me that shipment was made.  Well, the stooopid Post Office put the live birds in a tiny mail truck on a hot day!!!!  When I found out what the stoooopid mail delivery did I made them immediately deliver the pullets NOW before they suffocated in the mail truck. Where are their brains?? My order was two juvenile birds - I don't think baby chicks would've made it through the mail at all. Left hand never knows what right hand is doing in govt-type jobs.

The second time I ordered a shipment I spent 3 days in a row catching every mail delivery guy and gal on our route to tell them to deliver the live birds immediately and not drive around in the truck with them all day. That did the trick. Whoever the regular driver and backup driver were they knew to get the birds to me immediately when they arrived at the distribution center.

Thank you for the tip on the Breda history.

Normally, live animals are shipped and held at the post office for personal pickup. This helps prevent them from being driven around unnecessarily.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I think she is the only Breda breeder in NoCal and I have been on PM with her already. No one else has responded to my queries for a SoCal breeder. She is on the ball and I hope to get a Blue and a Black from her next Spring.

I wished I could find a closer Breda contact as I hate to stress juvies in USPS shipments - sometimes the Post Office can really be stoooopid when it comes to safely delivering live birds. I called ahead to my city Post Office to be sure to call me when my birds arrived so I could pick them up even if it was 4 a.m.! I called more than once checking as the breeder had informed me that shipment was made. Well, the stooopid Post Office put the live birds in a tiny mail truck on a hot day!!!! When I found out what the stoooopid mail delivery did I made them immediately deliver the pullets NOW before they suffocated in the mail truck. Where are their brains?? My order was two juvenile birds - I don't think baby chicks would've made it through the mail at all. Left hand never knows what right hand is doing in govt-type jobs.

The second time I ordered a shipment I spent 3 days in a row catching every mail delivery guy and gal on our route to tell them to deliver the live birds immediately and not drive around in the truck with them all day. That did the trick. Whoever the regular driver and backup driver were they knew to get the birds to me immediately when they arrived at the distribution center.

Thank you for the tip on the Breda history.

Have you considered hatching?
It's a lot of fun.
You can grow them out a little to pick the ones you want and sell the extras.
Takes a little more time, but better than waiting until next Spring?

 

[Sylvester017]

Have you considered hatching?
It's a lot of fun.
You can grow them out a little to pick the ones you want and sell the extras.
Takes a little more time, but better than waiting until next Spring?

Been there, done that. I don't want to deal with roos. And I don't want any new pullets until Spring 2015 so I'm in no hurry but thanks for the suggestions - Smiles

 

[Sylvester017]

Normally, live animals are shipped and held at the post office for personal pickup. This helps prevent them from being driven around unnecessarily.

Define "normally" as our Postal workers the first time around were stoooopid and didn't know their own policies!

When I was expecting a 2nd shipment I had to flag all drivers on our route for 3 days ahead of time to warn them not to drive around in a mail truck with live chickens and to call me for pickup!!!!!

 

[SFIcelandics]

I have Breda eggs and chicks available.

Buyer has the option to select their first pick of colors. PM me for details. I am running a special this week.

Nate