Great Questions!
Jeremy, Thanks for answering.
On the Basque Thread some one posted:
Originally Posted by HaikuHeritageFarm
I'm actually extremely impressed with these birds. Browsing through the pictures they seem really consistent. You're probably saying "WHAT?!" but look closer...the shape and size seems mostly really consistent on them as well as being consistent with what I read in the standard. The combs are tight and follow the skull and though they're not all perfect, they don't seem as disastrous and variable as you see coming out of other breeds. You're not seeing crazy tail angles or even much of a problem with narrow bodies (after maturity) or pinched tails, are you? If you are, you guys are doing a really good job of making sure you don't take pictures of those birds, LOL!
You can REALLY see the careful care and selection that has gone into them. Maybe it's good they they aren't popular—nobody's had a chance to pollute them with willy-nilly cross breeding or carelessness. I couldn't give a flying fig what color plumage or shank color they have—ok, I do like the bright yellow shanks, but I actually prefer the variable color patterns!—as long as that strong, solid type, consistency and production is there.
These are a real treasure. Let's not mess them up. PLEASE don't introduce garbage genetics to these birds to "improve" them or get other fancy colors! PLEASE!!
The Legbar as a breed will need a lot of work. You will need to get the British SOP for them. They are very rare in Brittan, so Green Fire could not get as good of a start with them. The Basque Hens you are hatching are a different story. They have been part of a preservation and improvement project in Spain since the 1970s, so they do not need as much work. The Rhodebars probably need to be improved by breeding back to Heritage stock. I don't know if that is Heritage RIR and Barred Rocks or just the Heritage RIR. Cheryl was talking about doing that. If she does, I hope she gets the Mohawk or Don Nelson Line. She should try to get some from Robert Bosl since he is a master breeder of Heritage RIRs and his lay lots of eggs. The problem with many of the Heritage RIRs is that the egg laying gene has been lost.
With all that said, the Heritage folks say you can't really tell what a chicken is going to be like until the second year. That is why the advice to narrow the breeds to a manageable number is important. Maybe have a large variety for your laying flock and keep less breeds for improvement.
Enjoy the new chicks
Ron
Jeremy, Thanks for answering.
On the Basque Thread some one posted:
Originally Posted by HaikuHeritageFarm
I'm actually extremely impressed with these birds. Browsing through the pictures they seem really consistent. You're probably saying "WHAT?!" but look closer...the shape and size seems mostly really consistent on them as well as being consistent with what I read in the standard. The combs are tight and follow the skull and though they're not all perfect, they don't seem as disastrous and variable as you see coming out of other breeds. You're not seeing crazy tail angles or even much of a problem with narrow bodies (after maturity) or pinched tails, are you? If you are, you guys are doing a really good job of making sure you don't take pictures of those birds, LOL!
You can REALLY see the careful care and selection that has gone into them. Maybe it's good they they aren't popular—nobody's had a chance to pollute them with willy-nilly cross breeding or carelessness. I couldn't give a flying fig what color plumage or shank color they have—ok, I do like the bright yellow shanks, but I actually prefer the variable color patterns!—as long as that strong, solid type, consistency and production is there.
These are a real treasure. Let's not mess them up. PLEASE don't introduce garbage genetics to these birds to "improve" them or get other fancy colors! PLEASE!!
The Legbar as a breed will need a lot of work. You will need to get the British SOP for them. They are very rare in Brittan, so Green Fire could not get as good of a start with them. The Basque Hens you are hatching are a different story. They have been part of a preservation and improvement project in Spain since the 1970s, so they do not need as much work. The Rhodebars probably need to be improved by breeding back to Heritage stock. I don't know if that is Heritage RIR and Barred Rocks or just the Heritage RIR. Cheryl was talking about doing that. If she does, I hope she gets the Mohawk or Don Nelson Line. She should try to get some from Robert Bosl since he is a master breeder of Heritage RIRs and his lay lots of eggs. The problem with many of the Heritage RIRs is that the egg laying gene has been lost.
With all that said, the Heritage folks say you can't really tell what a chicken is going to be like until the second year. That is why the advice to narrow the breeds to a manageable number is important. Maybe have a large variety for your laying flock and keep less breeds for improvement.
Enjoy the new chicks
Ron
I know this isn't the breeding/genetics forum but you folks are in my area so for whatever reason, I'm more curious to get info from some local chicken crazies! When you are starting toward a breeding project from chicks, how many do you keep to choose your breeders from? I have been acquiring chicks from different sources and trying to get different lines (.ie. legbars) but I'm also paying out a fortune. How do I know how many to keep if I want a solid base to start from? Not sure if it's an easy question, this is all new and exciting to me but I am feeling chick and chicken overrun!! I already know I am trying to mess with too many breeds but I can't help myself!just looking for some words of wisdom from you folks who've been around the block a few more times than me!
