Freedom Ranger Vs. Heritage Breeds

[GreatBreeder]

Try looking at Whitemore Farms, they have quality delawares. Also, what was the hatchery you got the Sasso?

 

[Omega Blue Farms]

Try looking at Whitemore Farms, they have quality delawares. Also, what was the hatchery you got the Sasso?

yes, that was the farm I was thinking of. From what I've read about them, it sounds like they took a similar approach with their Delawares. Most heritage type birds imported into this region aren't worth the price of feed, but I suspect that the Whitmore Delaware would be worth the effort. Not for me though, I got what I need locally.

No idea on the Sasso Hatchery, they are a private inhouse hatchery and wouldn't sell to the public. I used a broker who has access to the hatchery. I wouldn't worry about it anyways, they are doing something fishy with their Sassos and the quality is not as consistently good as I would expect. When I shared my observations publically, the broker informed me that the hatchery has not replenished their breeding flocks with bona fide sasso birds from France but instead made their own from the parent lines they imported. As a breeder, they have the genetics I want to mine, but if I was simply wanting to buy chicks to grow pastured meat, I have found the Nova Browns out of Nova Scotia to be a far superior option.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Wait you have access to Nova Browns?

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Omega nice Am and I do think the breed needs work, I have hatchery ones, my birds lay blue eggs, but do have many different characteristics just between the two. My original Am from when I had a mixed flock in the the 90s where heavier.

Omega your in Canada so you do have some different options. I heard the Novas are nice birds.

 

[GreatBreeder]

You could try crossing a conventional broiler rooster to your Ameracauna x Sasso hens to create a CobbSasso-esque bird, or a pure Ameracauna over a conventional hen to create a Corndel-esque bird.

 

[Dave C]

I know some of you have seen these before but thought I would post some pics of my Sasso.

There 12 weeks now!
Haven't weighed them yes but they feel meaty enough.

This is the Slow growth x Medium growth Sasso's
Like the medium growth Sasso's they have bad movement and probably wouldn't make breeding age.





One of The Sasso x Marans



This is the most suitable slow growth Sasso Rooster to keep for breeding next year

 

[Omega Blue Farms]

Wait you have access to Nova Browns?

everyone in Canada does, they ship coast to coast. Excellent stock and excellent people to deal with.

 

[Omega Blue Farms]

You could try crossing a conventional broiler rooster to your Ameracauna x Sasso hens to create a CobbSasso-esque bird, or a pure Ameracauna over a conventional hen to create a Corndel-esque bird.

I think you have misunderstood my goals, I do not want a cobb looking bird in the end. I prefer the heritage look that one gets from the Sasso. It's about marketing, when trying to convince you customers that your product is different and better, it's easier if it looks different. Look to Label Rouge in France where Label Rouge chicken is twice the price as conventional and still has over 50% of it's domestic whole bird sales. Compare that to North America (or at least here in BC) where certified organic can't break 3%! If one wants to sell premium chicken at a premium price, the cobb shape doesn't cut it. I like the body shape and size of my ameraucanas, I just wish they got there faster. The Sasso gives me the genes I need, but the Kosher Kings may be a bit more efficient breeding choice due to less colour genetics issues.

Just for fun, below is a picture of some second generation Sasso's that should be approaching point of lay. The rooster is regular full size but pullets are bantam sized. This is due to the fact that Sasso uses bantams for their female lines to save on feed costs. My bantam Sasso hens dressed out to 3 pounds and the boys a little over 4. I think these little girls would make the best dual purpose layer for a backyard flock in that they are efficient egg producers but if crossed with a full size rooster, would produce meat birds. This was my primary motive for acquiring the Sassos, to get access to the bantam maternal line. We will see what happens with this pen. I can say this though, the bantam pullets are much slower to grow and develop.

 

[GreatBreeder]

Ok!

 

[Dave C]

I've got 15 buff coloured second generation Sasso and only one of them has the dwarf gene showing.

All are excellent layers.