CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP

[lawatt]

I am TOTALLY new to campines, and am looking forward to learning from this unit of the "class"! I have two silver campine pullets, probably about 5 months old (i don't have exact hatch dates), that I got from Shannon at Die Fly Ranch earlier this summer -- she had been breeding them, but decided to focus on fewer breeds, and these two were the last of her flock. i took some picture of them just now -- one has blue ears (Anna), one doesn't (Elsa), and Anna's white head feathers has fewer dark flecks, but both have been getting less flecked as they get older, so perhaps they'll grow out of them entirely? anyway, here they are:


elsa



elsa


elsa


elsa once more!


anna & elsa (and their araucana friend in the background)


anna


anna



I'm just crazily in love with these birds -- and also have three eight-day-old chicks hatched from eggs that i got from Debs_Flock (thanks again, Deb!!) -- can't wait until they grow up!

 

[glddog]

Hey y'all .this is a fascinating subject/ thread. Want to make sure I don't lose it again. Got through American and got too busy!!!!!

 

[PrestonC]

This is Rachel, my favorite campine. She is a golden pullet, but weighs a little less than what I would like her to in order to match the standard.



Here is Richter, my silver cockerel. Not very fond of being caught so I will try to get some better pics later.


Here is a wing pic of another golden pullet in my breeding pen. She has very good barring on her wings and tail feathers compared to others.


And here is my trio, a silver cockerel and two golden pullets. Very pretty. We need to discuss breeding strategies for better barring, combs, weight, and cleaner hackles.

 

[stvnschnell]

Here are my two cockerels. Both are striking to look at but after consulting the SOP for Campines, the flaws in each become evident. The cockerel on the left has a disqualification in his comb. The picture probably doesn't show it well, but he has a small point growing out of one of his main points. Unfortunately for him that buys a spot between the potatoes and biscuits on the dinner table, and makes the cockerel on the right the beginning of my breeding program by default. His name is Ali, as in the greatest!!

 

[Wisher1000]

Okay, Fred said that without discussion, this breed would be closed and we would move on to something else. He also said he wanted some breeders to weigh in and to ask questions. I can't offer expertise, but I can sure as heck ask questions!

One of the first things I see that we need to be working on is size. The roosters are supposed to be 6lbs and the hens are supposed to be 4lbs. I have never even seen an American pic of a Campine that was close to that. In my limited knowlege, that is an easy process, you select the largest of the birds you hatch to use for breeders (as long as they have no DQs.) I understand the concept of "build the house before you add the paint" so I think that is one of our main areas of concentration, being careful not to sacrifice any true to type qualities that we already have.

The "good" Campines that I have seen (which is more accurately described as "best available") have a pretty good handle on earlobe, leg, and eye color. There are groups of Campines that are showing the side sprigs that Stvn mentioned, which is a DQ. Those all need to be culled. The combs without the side sprigs just need some tweeking for size and shape, but there are plenty that provide something to work with in that regard. I have seen tails on some of the roosters that are showing more sickles and saddle feathers than are desireable and hope that we will pay particular attention to retaining the hen feathering that is unique to this breed. The tail set is in need of attention, but I think that is an ongoing process in many breeds. Lastly, the barring is the area where I think the most work is needed. We are nowhere close to SOP on the feathering in terms of the correct ratios of black to white in any of the parts of the bird's body but especially in the tail, flight, and breast feathers.

What I really need (what I need some expert guidance in) is to learn to recognize the correct body shape (according to the SOP which I have read, but don't feel confident that I understand) and in determining which aspects of that should be given priority when selecting next year's breeders.

I have been hanging on Bob's everyword and know that I need a plan. My plan at this point is to hatch as many chicks as possible, provide them all with the best nutrition possible, cull all DQ's, then select the largest that have no glaring faults like saddle feathers, red earlobes, knock kneed, etc.

Any suggestions?

 

[Wisher1000]

Can anyone post a pic of a 6lb Campine cock? A 4lb hen seems more likely to be available, but the ones I have seen that look that heavy, don't have the body type that the SOP seems to call for. I forsee problems with this for me.personally. I like the brick shape and the "broomstick" legs, but the Campines are supposed to be more refined and graceful or streamlined (if I understand the SOP correctly)

 

[stvnschnell]

If I understand correctly, Campines are very tight feathered. Therefore they will weigh heavier on the scale than they appear to the naked eye. At 8 weeks old, I think it's still a little too early to guess where my cockerels will top out at. However, with my highly unscientific guess at his weight now and a little math, I don't think 6 pounds is out of the question.
I would like to second WISHER1000's request for things to look for in selecting next years breeding stock. With an SOP in hand, even the best of showbirds could be picked apart, so what is the first thing I want to see in birds that I plan on retaining?

 

[Wisher1000]

Stvn - have you weighed them? I bought a scale and weighed mine last week for the first time. I was suprised at how LIGHT they are! I really expected they were below the 6lb. ideal, but my "big" rooster was just over 4lbs! I was shocked! It blows my mind to think he is the size the hens should be. We have our work cut out for us........

Preston - what does Richter weigh?

 

[fowlman01]

It is pretty difficult to tell what the birds look like in most of the pictures posted here. We would need a good profile close up.

The male body should be barred straight across with white, the black being at least twice the width of the black bars. You want straight distinct barring in both sexes.

Walt

 

[BGMatt]

It is pretty difficult to tell what the birds look like in most of the pictures posted here. We would need a good profile close up.

The male body should be barred straight across with white, the black being at least twice the width of the black bars. You want straight distinct barring in both sexes

Walt

Clarification? Many (most?) sections call for slightly v-shaped barring. Off the top of my head its only the breast, main tail, primaries and secondaries that require straight barring, correct?

I will try to get posed pictures next day or so along with close ups.

As far as weight goes, I agree it's one of biggest issues. My cockerel is only about 4 lbs (guess based on other birds that I have actually weighed. Need to break scale back out) and even though he's only 22 weeks that's still a LOT of weight to put on.

Edit: I actually think the biggest concern facing the Campines other than size is tail angle. Which is important because its one of those visible things that shows the body underneath (see SOP fig 39-40, I know it's a different breed but concept is the same). That's vital for two reasons, the first is a minor reason, and that's a proper body will be closer to right weight, the second and imo important reason is a proper body is more conducive to good egg laying, which is probably something that attracted many of us to breed in the first place.