Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[Jake Levi]

Chickens love pumpkins and squash, so do cattle, I used to raise the Atlantic Giant too, to put kids names on, they love them, the extras went over the fence to feed the cattle, never wasted a one, I have also cooked the big ones, for pies and also as winter squash, works for me. Plant them, great fun for the kids and lots of eating, for the whole farm.

I am concentrating on the RC RIRs, and breeding SQ but I dont think that is at all incompatible with selecting within the breeders for both eggs and meat qualities, thats what produced our great heritage breeds in the first place ! I am spending time this spring building quarters for pairs and trios, more work but I can see better what I have and what they can do. Roos will be in small groups and then singly until its breeding time. I also want to give any broody birds a real chance on doing it, I think that is a trait that needs encouraging in all of our heritage LF.

 

[spartacus_63]

As I have read over some of this thread again, it seems that some think that you can not have a homestead bird that is of SQ and that produces. I for one do believe it is possible. I also breed to maintain breed characteristics. The difference between the two flocks (really the breeders) is the priorities on which the selections for the breeding pen are made. If the homestead farmer's only criteria for selection is production, his flock will suffer eventually. If the show breeder only selects for color, his flock will soon suffer.

Responsible breeders will breed responsibly.

Tigers also love pumpkins. Several zoos collect pumpkins for an annual treat for their animals. It is hilarious to watch the big animals play with and eventually eat the pumpkins.

 

[Robert Blosl]

I dont have any pictures of this as this was over 23 years ago. Just visulize that you go to a lumber yard and buy you a 16 foot long 1x6s or better yet 1x12 or if they dont have them 1x10s. Then lay them on the ground and have some one hold the board on its side and nail one edge of the board or side to the other. When you get done you have all the boards nailed and you have a 16 foot lone wooden pipe. If you have sove pipe saw 8 inches inside diameter this would work to. Then cut a hole in the roof or the cealing of your barn and place the pipe or this wooden pipe in the hole. Then put something though the bords or nail some two by fours on the out side of the wooden pipe so it wont fall thought the hole. Let it dangle like this about a foot off the floor and the draft will begin. You want the pipe to be in the middle of the room so it can draw or draft the most.

 

[Ahab]

I hope this thread hasn't croaked. It was pretty much the only one that was consistently interesting, on a topic I'm consistently interested in.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Very good point, while it is important to retain a wide pool gene, focus should be on promoting utilitarian breeds which for various reasons become unpopular like Delawares (replaced by modern meat hybrids), or RIR originals replaced by lame "production reds" and other "sexlinks" by hatcheries pushing egg production over true dual purpose bird idea.

I remember real RIR,s from my mother's flock, they laid dark brown eggs for several years and their meat was more like Cornish meat in quantity and quality.

Todays " brown egg dual purpose breeds including RIR's (Production Reds) lay pale eggs and their meat resembles more of a Leghorn meat that a "dual purpose" bird.

For heaven's sake if I want record breaking egg producer, I get Leghorns, nothing beats them in quantity of eggs and efficiency.

If I want dual purpose breed" I want a bird which lays well AND produces carcass containing some meat not mostly bones like most current hatcheries "dual purpose breeds".

 

[zephyr66]

hello and nice thread! it's very important for me to have heritage breeds. i have only had chickens for 4 months but am hooked for life. i bought my flock at 6 months old from a grandfather who bought the birds for his grandson and he tired of them. so, they are all less than a year. he said they were "from a great line" but didn't try to charge much at all so that was not a line to get money. i have 5 RIR hens, RIR rooster and 2 delaware hens. one of my RIR hens went broody (lucky!) and she just hatched 4 RIR chicks (i only put the brown RIR eggs under her). I don't know if they are "true" RIR reds or the production reds. but, the eggs are medium brown and some very, very brown. very large eggs. i am thrilled one of my RIR's went broody as i would like to pass on that trait if that is something that can be brought back - i know commercially and from culling, the broodiness has been so lost for so many breeds. where does one find a "true" RIR - or i'm wondering if i already have them?

sylvia

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Hi Sylvia,
From looking at your site and avatar, yes, you do have production type RIR (cute chick pics BTW), I bet they lay tons of eggs for you.
Bob Blosl is probably the best person to find some for you PM here . Be prepared those birds are bigger than you birds.
good luck!
punky

 

[zephyr66]

thanks for your reply... will the true RIR's do as well in the heat as the production ones i must have? I live in the high desert and it can sometimes tip 110 degrees here. what a bummer i probably have the productions. well, i love 'em anyway, and yes, their eggs are beautiful but i would like to have the real ones as well and preserve them. thanks for the tip on where to get them!

sylvia

 

[Jake Levi]

Hi Sylvia

get a trio or more of real Heritage RIRs, and cull your production roos and use only the heritage cocks, you can upgrade your own stock, alternatively get 12-15 heritage RIR chicks and grow them out, keep your best production red hens and go on with your flock, old hens and roos make great chicken and dumplings.

I am moving my present RIRs to some teens for their first 'flocks', a trio each, and replacing with chicks from Duane Urch , at
[email protected]

email him and he will send you a brochure.Duane was highly recommended here. I am with you on wanting productive heritage chickens. I cant afford a farm zoo, my critters have to be productive, retirees are another matter.

 

[zephyr66]

jake - much appreciated! thanks for the advice and lead. have a great week.

sylvia