Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[hellbender]

Ironicly, concerning the Standard, I have seen some hatchery Naked Necks that did not look that bad. Decent sized birds. I cannot remember what hatchery they were from.

The gal who gave me the dressed birds got hers from Cackle. Her flock birds, overall, didn't come near being as large as ours but we have been selecting for larger birds in conjunction with production for many years.

I have always caponized the Australorp cockerels in the past but I'm thinking of mixing it up this coming spring. The Australorps have proven to be great capons..good size, excellent meat texture and especially flavorful but after eating the gifted birds, I'm gonna' have to work with the Turkens/NN's!!

 

[gjensen]

I have considered caponizing some Catalanas. They still produce capon Catalanas in Spain. In Spain, it has a reputation for being on par with the La Bresse etc. I have never done it though. Something I would have to learn.

I will not do it this year. I am trying to get the quality of the flock up. This flock is in the project stage. A lot of work ahead, but I am better off than when I started. I like the idea of working with something neglected, and see what I can do or can't do. That is more interesting to me.

Are your Naked Necks dominant white?

 

[gjensen]

I wonder if they hatcheries view them as a meat bird? I often see them included in the broiler assortments. That'd mean they would try and keep their size up at least.

Would make sense to me. I have wondered why more did not keep them as dual purpouse meat birds. I guess we want them to be pretty. Right before we chop off their heads. LOL.

 

[BGMatt]

Would make sense to me. I have wondered why more did not keep them as dual purpouse meat birds. I guess we want them to be pretty. Right before we chop off their heads. LOL.

There's a lot of breeds over the years that never really got as popular as they should have before the hybrids took over. The Lamona is a classic case, developed for "what the market wanted" except never took off. The Wyandotte for unknown reasons never surpassed the Rock and the Red in popularity. Why the Leghorn over the Andalusian, Hamburg, Minorca, etc?

 

[gjensen]

There's a lot of breeds over the years that never really got as popular as they should have before the hybrids took over. The Lamona is a classic case, developed for "what the market wanted" except never took off. The Wyandotte for unknown reasons never surpassed the Rock and the Red in popularity. Why the Leghorn over the Andalusian, Hamburg, Minorca, etc?

I feel the same way. It is not all logical. Some of it seams general perception and preferences. Some breeds were just a victim of timing. Practical considerations is not always at the top of the list. Even when we think they are.

 

[BGMatt]

I feel the same way. It is not all logical. Some of it seams general perception and preferences. Some breeds were just a victim of timing. Practical considerations is not always at the top of the list. Even when we think they are.

It really does boil down to personal preference and appearance a lot of times though. I mean, in the long run the differences economically between a Dorking, a Red, a Rock, a Naked Neck, Orpington, Australorp, Sussex, the list goes on are not going to be (assuming same person breeding them, and selecting for the same points) astronomically different.

 

[8machines]

I do not have to use lights. There is some variance in genetics concerning low light laying. That is not new either.

The only birds here that are not laying now is the ones that I hatched too early and are molting.

This is from someone that used to use lights. I do not have a hang up with lights, I just do not have to anymore.

They would lay even better with lights though. I am satisfied with 3/4 eggs per week in the winter. I will wait for 5/6 late winter/early spring.

I do not have to use lights. There is some variance in genetics concerning low light laying. That is not new either.

The only birds here that are not laying now is the ones that I hatched too early and are molting.

This is from someone that used to use lights. I do not have a hang up with lights, I just do not have to anymore.

They would lay even better with lights though. I am satisfied with 3/4 eggs per week in the winter. I will wait for 5/6 late winter/early spring.

We are getting 6-7 eggs a day from our girls born this summer. We have 20 of varied ages, no lights.

 

[gjensen]

It really does boil down to personal preference and appearance a lot of times though. I mean, in the long run the differences economically between a Dorking, a Red, a Rock, a Naked Neck, Orpington, Australorp, Sussex, the list goes on are not going to be (assuming same person breeding them, and selecting for the same points) astronomically different.

I am glad that we are not all the same, and it is not pure economics behind it all. Otherwise we might all have commercial white leghorns.

 

[BGMatt]

Why does the mobile site suck so badly? Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Anyway, gjensen, I'm very glad for that too, if I had to raise commercial birds, I just wouldn't raise chickens.

 

[hellbender]

I have considered caponizing some Catalanas. They still produce capon Catalanas in Spain. In Spain, it has a reputation for being on par with the La Bresse etc. I have never done it though. Something I would have to learn.

I will not do it this year. I am trying to get the quality of the flock up. This flock is in the project stage. A lot of work ahead, but I am better off than when I started. I like the idea of working with something neglected, and see what I can do or can't do. That is more interesting to me.

Are your Naked Necks dominant white?

No, mine are not dominant white but we do have quite a large number of whites due to the Australorp hybridization. I am certain that's why my son plans to work with white birds when he begins his SOP breeding program.