So far I have ordered two batches from MurrayMcMurray. My first flock is 15 weeks old mostly RIR, BJGiants, with some Delawares, BO, and a couple white rocks. The Brahmas and the Ameraucanas I received are just the sweetest birds. Handling and love has a lot to do with it too. Like I said, once I have a feel for what breeds I like I will get better quality birds locally. Thank you so much for all of the input! AletaG What are your favorite breeds?
I have not settled on a favorite. If I could, I'd probably have some of everything. There was an old-style rhody on my aunt's farm growing up, all eight of us cousins would love on that poor hen... carry her around, hand her off... not sure how often her feet actually got dirty! Anyway, I have a soft spot for Rhode Islands. Then I discovered that the RIR hens I got about 10yrs ago were, well, dumb, rude, pushy. And they had to be traded up every couple of years. I only had one that had any personality. That seemed odd to me, and now I know why. Originally when people were breeding, just like when building (look at architecture and what we've lost...) not only did a bird have to serve a function - and generally more than one, hence dual purpose, they had to be easy to care for and easy on the eyes. Art is good for the soul. Why not living barnyard art? Anyway, an HRIR hen should lay well, live a long life and lay well the whole time, allow your children to cart her about like luggage, then dress out nicely for the table. The cockerel should dress out nicely at full size, and be an amiable tough-guy in the yard. And, the hatchery RIR are hit and miss at best. Look up BGMatt and Robert Blosl. Can't go wrong with good info.
Regarding our Canadian's friend scoffing at SOP. I agree, when the judges push color over meat carriage, that's a problem. When the Cornish are overbred to the point they can't reproduce naturally, that's a problem. When some of these OEGB 'toy' bantam breeds have feathers so big a large fowl would be docked, that seems odd, too. But anything can be misused. The SOP should be a touchstone. Improvements are improvements. If you get a Delaware to lay larger eggs more often, good. If by doing so they are now red and black instead of white and black, re-name it! LOL. Or, if like was done to the RIR, intelligence and useful lifespan are degraded, then, well, it's no longer a Delaware, either.
Ok, this post is going on WAY too long, but I will say that sight unseen, I'm falling in love with Delaware. Great dress-out weights, well behaved animals, gorgeous to look at, and useful in making a backyard cornish cross to fill the freezer.
G'nite.
