BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[bnjrob]

Quote:
The advances in chickens only stopped for the small flock grower. The advances kept going, but they aren't something that the average person would consider progress if it was even feasible. A handful of companies actually own the genetic rights to the birds that the commercial industry uses to provide meat for the country. They splice genes and do all kinds of test tube crap in hopes of getting birds bigger in a shorter period of time for the least amount of money. There just isn't a lot of modern information out there for the small flock keeper that has specific production goals because there hasn't been enough interest and not enough money to be made.

I think it was the 1920 census that had more people living in urban areas instead of rural areas. People didn't want to butcher their own chickens anymore - killing their own animals for food was being considered barbaric and unnecessary. And living in the city, there was no longer room for raising enough plant or animal food to feed your family. We are seeing more people that are unhappy with the way the commercial food supply chain is going, but the big companies are doing everything they can to squash the local, back to nature food movement.

Just this week the state of GA sent out a notice to all poultry producers that have free range flocks or flocks that have access to the outdoors - they have been ordered to get their flocks inside into "biosecure" facilities because of the new AI found in Indiana. Granted, the producers that put the words *free range* and *pastured* on their products often are still over crowded and while the birds have a door to the outdoors, it doesn't mean that they actually go outside, but still, the idea that the state veterinarian has ordered these people to put their birds inside a building because they are afraid of AI being found in their state, does not bode well for small flock keepers. Makes it hard to figure out your breeding plan to improve your birds and grow your own meat when the government is doing everything it can to try to force folks out of keeping chickens if they can't keep their birds in a sterile environment.

 

[nanasacres]

Someone asked earlier how many boiled quail eggs would fit in a pint jar. I put 35 - 40 in the jar with what I'm using to spice the pickled eggs and cover with boiling vinegar. For lunch today used some for deviled eggs....actually used a baby feeding spoon to fill the tiny egg halves. [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR]

Facinating! How large(small) is that plate? That had to be tedious work.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

The advances in chickens only stopped for the small flock grower. The advances kept going, but they aren't something that the average person would consider progress if it was even feasible. A handful of companies actually own the genetic rights to the birds that the commercial industry uses to provide meat for the country. They splice genes and do all kinds of test tube crap in hopes of getting birds bigger in a shorter period of time for the least amount of money. There just isn't a lot of modern information out there for the small flock keeper that has specific production goals because there hasn't been enough interest and not enough money to be made.

I think it was the 1920 census that had more people living in urban areas instead of rural areas. People didn't want to butcher their own chickens anymore - killing their own animals for food was being considered barbaric and unnecessary. And living in the city, there was no longer room for raising enough plant or animal food to feed your family. We are seeing more people that are unhappy with the way the commercial food supply chain is going, but the big companies are doing everything they can to squash the local, back to nature food movement.

Just this week the state of GA sent out a notice to all poultry producers that have free range flocks or flocks that have access to the outdoors - they have been ordered to get their flocks inside into "biosecure" facilities because of the new AI found in Indiana. Granted, the producers that put the words *free range* and *pastured* on their products often are still over crowded and while the birds have a door to the outdoors, it doesn't mean that they actually go outside, but still, the idea that the state veterinarian has ordered these people to put their birds inside a building because they are afraid of AI being found in their state, does not bode well for small flock keepers. Makes it hard to figure out your breeding plan to improve your birds and grow your own meat when the government is doing everything it can to try to force folks out of keeping chickens if they can't keep their birds in a sterile environment.

I would not be surprised if the days of free ranged backyard flocks are drawing to a close.

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Hi Angela...I don't think there is much better available on dual purpose breeds since the appearance of the CornishX.  It is possible that breeds/strains have become so degraded since then that early feathering doesn't correspond to growth rate much anymore...

In Brian Reeder's An Introduction to Form and Feathering of the Domestic Fowl, he writes that the slow and fast feathering genes have been the subject of much research due to their commercial value. These genes allow hatcheries to feather sex day old chicks. Most of the feather growth-rate genes are of the k series, and on the z chromosome, therefore sex-linked. Many things factor into carcass growth rate, few of which are on the z chromosome.

Certainly one can select for both rapid feathering and rapid growth in one's flock, I just don't believe they are genetically linked.

Angela

 

[Beer can]

@bnjrob is there any info or statistics on how many backyard flocks have had AI?
I think I heard of one last yr. Wondering if there's more. All I ever hear is biosecure 'sterile' facilities getting nailed with it.

 

[AnthNDacula]

In Brian Reeder's An Introduction to Form and Feathering of the Domestic Fowl, he writes that the slow and fast feathering genes have been the subject of much research due to their commercial value. These genes allow hatcheries to feather sex day old chicks. Most of the feather growth-rate genes are of the k series, and on the z chromosome, therefore sex-linked. Many things factor into carcass growth rate, few of which are on the z chromosome.

Certainly one can select for both rapid feathering and rapid growth in one's flock, I just don't believe they are genetically linked.

Angela

Excellent information. I'll look for Mr. Reeder's book. I love having people to bounce ideas around with. Helps me learn.

 

[AnthNDacula]

In response to our Canadian Buckeye, I like the middle chicken. I'm all for improvement, but we always seem to take it too far.

 

[Kassaundra]

In response to our Canadian Buckeye, I like the middle chicken. I'm all for improvement, but we always seem to take it too far.

I agree "improving" an animal to the point they can't self sustain is no "improvement" at all.

 

[NanaKat]

Someone asked earlier how many boiled quail eggs would fit in a pint jar. I put 35 - 40 in the jar with what I'm using to spice the pickled eggs and cover with boiling vinegar. For lunch today used some for deviled eggs....actually used a baby feeding spoon to fill the tiny egg halves. [/COLOR][/U]

Facinating! How large(small) is that plate? That had to be tedious work.[/quote] @nanasacres The antique glass plate is 7 " in diameter. Peeling the eggs is tedious indeed!

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

In Brian Reeder's An Introduction to Form and Feathering of the Domestic Fowl, he writes that the slow and fast feathering genes have been the subject of much research due to their commercial value. These genes allow hatcheries to feather sex day old chicks. Most of the feather growth-rate genes are of the k series, and on the z chromosome, therefore sex-linked. Many things factor into carcass growth rate, few of which are on the z chromosome.

Certainly one can select for both rapid feathering and rapid growth in one's flock, I just don't believe they are genetically linked.

Angela

Wasn't there a long discussion of this regarding New Hampshires or Delewares earlier, with @gjensen weighing in on it? Or was that in the Heritage Large Fowl thread?

Or am I imagining it altogether? (Which wouldn't be a stretch -hopped up on cold medicine at the moment, ugh.)

- Ant Farm