Cubalaya Thread For Sharing Pics and Discussing Our Birds

[gallorojo]

Well done Saladin! I would also add: High tails, pinched tails, pearl eyes, and generally over refined and crow-headed birds.

The way I see it, is every strain or color or what have you I have seen, has to my eye many excellent strong points and some weak points as well. Of course when I cross strains I run the risk of getting a chick with all the bad points of both strains. I also run the "risk" of getting a chick with all the good points..

I'm thrilled personally to finally have multiple strains as well as a colors here on my yard, and I fully intend to cross them this season.

I think my final statement is that selection only works if the trait you want is there in the first place. If you want short beaks and multiple spurs, and your birds don't have them at all, you are never going to get them in any reasonable timeframe without crossing to another strain or breed that has the traits you want. The diversity has to be there in the first place to make selections from. Most of the folks who say never to cross strains have experience in breeds with very high degrees of perfection that need only minimal work on minor points. Most of the Cubalayas need a lot of work on many issues-I'm working on bringing the breed back up to the standard, not on perfecting minor details yet. So don't be afraid to cross strains!!

 

[cubalaya]

ideally, a perfect cubalaya could end up in anyone of our yards from the diversity that is bred in but most likely will have to use selection, just picking the right birds and whether they survive to breed even better chicks genetically than the parent stock.

 

[cubakid]

Watch the overall height, I have much experience with squatty birds and it is annoying
Plus the points made by Doc and Chris.
You will not find a perfect bird, but can come super close in different ways with a different fault( or the same fault) . Mixing lines helps with vigor too

Zach

 

[gallorojo]

Quote: Very good point. Yet another thing I struggle with here. You can't get the topline and the angle of back and tail right if the legs are too short.

 

[fowlsessed]

Excellent guys. Now for me to get some and join in the discussion, lol I'm hoping that when I have some Asil young I can spare a couple and trade someone for some nice Cubas, preferably bantams. I'll see, If I end up wanting to part with any.

 

[tigercreek]

Thanks X2, taking notes!. ........stan

 

[saladin]

(fowl and tiger: this is NOT directed to ya'll in the least, it is just conversation)

Y'all know I have gifted and sold a bunch of Cubalayas thru the years. This is exactly the problem I have with doing so and the reason I'm so cautious about who gets them. Birds have faults. ALL BIRDS HAVE FAULTS. The breed is a work in progress and it seems folks want something ready made. (you know: you do the work, I get the credit: remember that ethics thread!!!!!!!!)

It just don't happen that way. I could sell or gift the best two birds on the place to someone and they are going to still have to cull the chicks like crazy. No bird is perfect and as far as we've come with these birds they still throw culls. People just don't get that. So, I'm forced by the name callers to hold on to my birds with a tight fist; except to people I get to know.

 

[tigercreek]

Well. let's sit down, have a coke and get to know each other!!..lol, I know exactally what you are saying. I have a lady that bought some very nice Aussies from me and is really proud of what her birds look like. I don't mind not getting the credit as the breeder, but at the same time, don't blame me if the bird has one comb point too many. The problem is that the perfect bird has not been bred as far as I know, (unless it is one of mine). Everybody else's have faults, and you got to blame somebody!..........stan

said tongue firmly in cheek of corse.....

(fowl and tiger: this is NOT directed to ya'll in the least, it is just conversation)

Y'all know I have gifted and sold a bunch of Cubalayas thru the years. This is exactly the problem I have with doing so and the reason I'm so cautious about who gets them. Birds have faults. ALL BIRDS HAVE FAULTS. The breed is a work in progress and it seems folks want something ready made. (you know: you do the work, I get the credit: remember that ethics thread!!!!!!!!)

It just don't happen that way. I could sell or gift the best two birds on the place to someone and they are going to still have to cull the chicks like crazy. No bird is perfect and as far as we've come with these birds they still throw culls. People just don't get that. So, I'm forced by the name callers to hold on to my birds with a tight fist; except to people I get to know.

 

[cubakid]

I suggest you join the ultimate fowl forums as well. Lots of info already there. I agree with doc about the ethics thing. I don't have a line of my own but breed majority britt( Sams line) and Zook. And mixes of the two. I also get people that ask for great quality too, one here in CA I really trust, but others just ask for like an awesome pullet or hen or two. Most likely for a pretty flock of backyard birds that have the correct breed characteristics. I don't mind too much but I lost really good birds that I could have added a male and sent to someone truly interested in breeding.

 

[fowlsessed]

Saladin, I realize your post wasn't directed at me/us. I reply simply in discussion and in an attempt to understand it as for all other post. When you wrote that, and addressed "name callers" were you referring to the fact that you sell/give good birds and then the recipients don't keep up the quality but are still attaching your name to the birds, therefor, in a way, ruining your and your birds reputations? Just how I read it, but I detect it may have a different point. Not that it matters, though. And either way, good point, totally agree!