BYC Breed Pages Facelift - Help Needed - Discussion

[Nifty-Chicken]

Okay everyone, this project is in full swing development. I'll post more details as they come along, but here are some of the important bits:

1. The submissions will be VERY simple fill in the blank / upload an image. Anybody that can turn on a computer should be able to use it.
2. There will be two types of submission forms:
a. Main Breed Pages – These will be the pages that contain all the details of the breed: History, characteristics, detailed pictures, etc. These will serve as the “master” pages and should be completed by members who are experts on the breed.
b. Simple Breed Pages – These are supplemental pages for each breed. It will allow members to submit color / breed variations along with pictures of their chickens, eggs, etc. along with their own experiences with the breed.
3. The information will be sortable, searchable, and presented in a very clean fashion.

We expect that in time this will be the ultimate and most diverse resource anywhere for breed information and will constantly be updated by thousands of chicken enthusiast from around the world!

There is an area where I need the help from breed experts:

Breed Specifics / Data Points: We want to find a balance between asking for too much specific information (feathered feet, feet color, egg size, comb type, temperament, cold tolerance, early maturing, egg color, etc. etc. etc.) and asking for too little. We want to have ample information for the chicken enthusiast, but not so much that it bewilders the chicken novice. So, my question to you all: Please list (in order of importance) the top 10 characteristics of chickens that matter to you!

We may only use a handful of these variables, so make sure to post them in order of what is most important to you.

For example:

breed size
purpose (meat, egg, ornamental)
egg production (low, med, high)
egg color (brown, white, blue etc.)
breed history
temperament
comb type
leg color
feather footed
broodiness

Again, thanks to everyone for helping us to get to this point. We think you'll be very excited about what we're developing. With that said, the success of this project will be completely determined by the support and help from our amazing community!

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I think it would be reasonable to have a general description followed by more specific information. The newcomer need not be overwhelmed because they can stop after the general description, but it is not long before ever those new to chickens want more detailed information about a breed.

For me:

1) Weights (actual or common for Rooster, cockerel, hen and pullet, rather than the age old standards that few chickens reach today)

2) Egg production qualities (including color, size and frequency)

3) Age of maturity/rate of growth

4) Hardiness (appropriate for what climates)

5) Varieties

6) Standard of perfection (which, as I understand it, would cover things like body shape, comb type, leg color, etc.)

7) Origins/breed history

I would put temperament at about #100 -- I tend to believe that this is as much a nurture thing as a nature thing and the breed stereotypes simply don't hold up when talking about individuals. For instance, I have found these two descriptions describing a single breed: “competitive and aggressive” and “friendly and placid”. I would prefer that descriptions remained as much as possible objective and avoided the subjective.

 

[LA~Poulet]

I'm guessing this will be different for everyone, because no one will have the same priorities. I'm a novice when it comes to breeds, and when choosing and reading up recently these were my main considerations:

1) Size
2) Egg laying quality (size/frequency)
3) Egg color
4) Rarity/Heritage qualities of breed (I wanted stock that could replenish itself and not be the same as commercially bred chickens).
5) Broodiness
6) Climate Tolerance
7) General appearance

My son's list would go something like this:
1) Size
2) Temperament (loved the breeds listed as hardy, spunky, good foragers, etc.)
3) Color/general appearance
4) Egg color

My husband's list would be
1) Hardiness
2) Food to egg/meat conversion ratio

I like the idea of having the main points in a general summary, and then more in-depth notes below. I think that as a novice or newbie to breeds, that would be absolutely ideal-you can read a little bit about them, find which ones pique your interest the most, and learn more about those.

 

[shay20]

Where do we post? and im also familer that showgirls are not yet reconized by some judges , but can i post on them?

 

[Settler'sDreamFarm]

This is my list:
1. Temperament
2. Hardiness
3. Colour of feathers/ apperance
4. Mothering Ability (Broodiness)
5. Egg Laying Ability
6. Size of bird
7. Egg size
8. Egg colour
9. Feathered Legs
10. Rarity

 

[muffi]

1.Temperament
2. Broodiness
3. Standard colors
4. Comb Type
5. Feather footedness
6. Tufts/muffs/beards
7. Number of toes
8. Egg Color
9. Egg Size
10. Egg Laying Rate

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Great everybody, keep them coming!

Also, I'm glad you guys are adding additional characteristics that I hadn't thought of.

Keep it up!

 

[GracefulBantams]

1. Purpose - I am mainly interested in show birds
2. Breed size - I like Bantams
3. Temperament - Now, we just cannot have any mean roosters running around here

! I also like tame birds for the show-room
4. Feather footed - These are much harder to keep clean and in condition for the show!
5. Egg production - It is always nice if they lay a high quantity of eggs
6. Breed history - The longer a breed has been around, the more information/breeders you will be able to find.
7. Egg color - It is nice to have different colored eggs from each breed you raise, that way you do not risk getting the hatching eggs confused. Blue/green eggs are just plain pretty, too!
8. Broodiness - This is just something that always comes in handy!
9. Comb type - Depending on your climate, this may be very important.
10. Leg color - Not much reason this affects me...

 

[CarriBrown]

Here is mine:

1. Temperament
2. Appearance
3. Hardiness
4. Body type of bird (I prefer a round bird to a "skinny" looking bird)
5. Type of plumage (Prefer "fluffy" or "puffy")
6. Size of bird
7. Egg Color
8. Egg Size
9. Likeliness to go broody
10. Feathered feet

 

[shay20]

I made page on a showgirl's, will you be able to see it or do i have to post my page somewhere, im not sure exactly what to do. Im sorry.