CSU - Chicken State University- Large Fowl SOP

[flocknfoal]

These are 5 month old Greenfire Barnevelders. I'm a complete newbie to chickens, so would love honest, detailed feedback on type, color, strengths, weaknesses, which would breed well together, etc. - ps: I know at 5 months they still have a lot of maturing to do - their tails are still not full enough, etc.

Rooster #1 (he doesn't usually hold his wings that low)


Rooster #2



Rooster #3




Hen #1


Hen #2



Hen #3

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

OK now. About the Barnevelders.... This year the Dutch will celebrate 100 years of Barnevelder breeding (though the year may not be all that accurate) at the Gallinova Barneveld show. A vast number of Barnevelders are expected, also from Germany. Meanwhile, there was a recent meeting of Barnevelder judges to discuss various points in placing the birds and to ensure there is reasonable agreement between judges on what to look for, what to reward, and what to punish. (Perhaps something we could emulate in the APA?) The Dutch also has a commission that has been doing a study on issues pertaining to the breed and its genetic complexities. Their findings are especially interesting when it comes to wing and breast colors of the male. Among other things, it was noted that a laced breast or a breast with brown in the male produces hens with a light shaft in the breast, which is a fault. Thus, a double mating breeding program would be necessary to achieve laced breast in the males along with hens without a light shaft in the breast. Perhaps this information should also benefit our breeding programs here in the US and could guide us in any future SOP adjustments, an approach adopted by the Dutch in the work with standard revisions. I just thought this little tidbit might be of interest. Meanwhile, I hope you all will keep enjoying the tail end of summer, relaxing, and enjoying all the diversity of opinions represented by us folk in the fancy.

 

[Fred's Hens]

CSU Announcement


The class will be moving on soon to another Continental Class breed, the Hamburg. Just a head's up.
Thanks to all the wonderful contributors during the Barnevelder unit.

 

[Piet]

Correct and especially with the light shafting on hens as it is a problem the Germans are constantly coping with. Also the inner lace is often lacking thickness and is not the same as the outer lace in lots if those cases.

 

[mountainvieworchards]

Quote:

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

Sorry, but I don't like any of them (color, balance, markings etc.). Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

These are 5 month old Greenfire Barnevelders. I'm a complete newbie to chickens, so would love honest, detailed feedback on type, color, strengths, weaknesses, which would breed well together, etc. - ps: I know at 5 months they still have a lot of maturing to do - their tails are still not full enough, etc.

Rooster #1 (he doesn't usually hold his wings that low)


Rooster #2



Rooster #3




Hen #1


Hen #2



Hen #3

 

[tls_ranch]

I used a male with a lot of red in the hackle and saddle and hints of breast lacing and ended up with pullets with much poorer lacing than I usually get. Really check your males for correct pattern and color to balance the females.

This pullet has a poor "broken" inner lace and shafting. The ground color is getting to light too.




I went out and plucked a bunch of feathers today to get some examples of lacing quality. But I am fighting my computer getting pics to up load. I will try one more time to get the pics uploaded.. this one pic took me 45 minutes! I really need a new computer, LOL.

Trisha

 

[tls_ranch]

Some hen's breast feathers

Left: Peppering Middle: broken/ incomplete lace, shafting Right: much better

Edited to add: I have more pics but at the slow rate of 1 pic per 1/2 hour...I probably won't load all of them.

 

[flocknfoal]

Dr. Netland, no need to apologize - I appreciate your honesty.

Andy, Roo #1 is my favorite too. I'm not particularly excited about the color on the females. It seems to be a mix of black and blue. I'm hoping maybe it will improve after molting.

I have a couple more roosters and a couple of hens that are too young to know much about coloring yet. It will be interesting to compare as they grow.

Thanks!

 

[tls_ranch]

Here are some feathers from young cockerels (around 3 months old). I just grabbed at random 3 and took juvenile feathers from their shoulder and wing bow area. They are too young to evaluate hackle, saddle, and wing feathers. But, I find you can get some good hints at this age as to quality of lacing. The pictures show shoulder feathers top row and bottom row wing bow area.

Left: incomplete and irregular lacing....Middle: not bad, but not great.... Right: best of the 3, but I have had better marked.



The cockerel with the feathers on the far left may have the worst pattern, but he is showing great vigor, size and type. Feather quality and width is excellent too. So, I might keep him and breed him to my best marked females IF he turns out exceptional in type and size. Color and pattern isn't everything, but if you get too far out of balance it is hard to get back.


Trisha