Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[call ducks]

Quote: Totally agree with you Karen! I must say I do make an effort to read your posts. I respect you - you are very well articulated (something I am good at verbally, but not on paper).

 

[armorfirelady]

Charcoal For poultry

I also leave wood ash out in a pan for them to dust bathe in. It prevents mites & lice. I keep it out year round. I was lax at the beginning of fall & had a mite & lice infestation and I dust bathed them in ash daily for 5 days & then once again 10 days later. No mites or lice to be seen. I didn't use any chemical treatments.

My white EE does turn grey from it but she prunes herself white again.

 

[Arielle]

I see a few lurkers-- come on in!!! If you are interested in raising a heritage chicken and need help finding a source there are many here to help.

 

[3riverschick]

Totally agree with you Karen! I must say I do make an effort to read your posts. I respect you - you are very well articulated (something I am good at verbally, but not on paper).

I think you do a fine job writing what you know.
Best,
Karen

 

[craftiekids]

I wonder if anyonw would like to start a discussion on the different heritage breeds based on the different climates around the US and why one breed might thrive better than another in a given area. Might help the on lurkers think about a particular bird that is more likely to be a sucess in their own given area. For instance YHF has chosen dorkings, rose comb as I remember, to cope with the moist cold of his NH location; Ron has moved to birds that better cope with the California climate. ANy takers??

You've got huge Heritage Breed Poultry Fans Here!!! Susie Q & twins Annie and Abby!

I would love to post about Heritage Breeds and the different locations they would be great for. I only raise Heritage Breeds, They are slower growing but healthier all around than almost all genetically altered fowl. I think it's fantastic that your so up on learning all about the animals your so passionate about! My twin girls are just 9yrs old but already into being more about the "mad science" involved in raising our animals. I've got Rhode Island Reds the old fashioned large fowl and Light Brahma's. The RIR's breed easily and are great in almost any climate but don't lay well in winter. My L.Brahma's lay extremely well throughout winter even in colder climates. They also go broody much easier than almost every other breed. But have a hard time in Southern climates. Heritage Breeds are Sustainable and have been around since the time of Marco Polo and here in America since the first explorers came to settle American shores in the early 1600s. Sustainable breeds are animals that can not only forage for their own food if needed, live off a minimum of scraps and reproduce successfully on their own. Most modern breeds can't do this, they've been raised by incubators too long. Sustainable breeds also are mildly territorial in that they will stick around a certain area if given even a minimum of kitchen scraps..... Most Heritage Breeds were bred to survive our American environment, for example: Narraganset Turkeys etc.. were developed about 1700s. (I'll look up the dates again, I could be wrong but not by much.)

My mother had a whole yard full of these fascinating birds and I'm so excited for my girls when they come running inside with an egg they found in our grass, just like I did when I was that age! Thanks Bunches for your Enthusiasm!!! Susie Q & twins Annie & Abby

 

[thedragonlady]

Thank you for the reply! I got little response on the Cochin thread about it, other than they don't eat their birds so no one is interested in developing them into an edible product.

The only reason I asked was that I recently came into the possession of a SLC cock and was holding him over to gain more weight before processing...but became interested in studying up on the breed and was surprised to find they weren't always an ornamental breed..they had a reputation for good meat and egg laying qualities, not to mention broodiness of the females.

Was thinking it would be quite a challenge for someone to develop that particular breed back to a utility bird while still having it look good....just thinking.....

Bee,

Somewhere in all my files I have engravings of early Shanghi fowl, and Cochins. They resembled a Langshan x Cochin cross of today's birds.The feathering was not nearly as profuse , but some of those Asiatic birds were HUGE.They were used in the creation of the Orpington, and today's Langshan. The temperaments were said to be quite different also. I'll dig through my files when I get a chance.

 

[LindaB220]

Just a gentle warning based on experience.
I noticed on the homepage for "BYC Genetics and Breeding" that there is a closed image stating "double click" .
Double click is a particularly nasty adware/malware. Tough to get rid of. Run the other way.
Best,
Karen

Is that where I got it? hmmmm. Thanks

 

[3riverschick]

Are you a geek who is really experienced in the perils and fun of downloading freeware?
I have some question, please contact me. Yes, this is poultry related.
Thanks,
Karen

 

[Beekissed]

Bee,

Somewhere in all my files I have engravings of early Shanghi fowl, and Cochins. They resembled a Langshan x Cochin cross of today's birds.The feathering was not nearly as profuse , but some of those Asiatic birds were HUGE.They were used in the creation of the Orpington, and today's Langshan. The temperaments were said to be quite different also. I'll dig through my files when I get a chance.

That would be interesting! Thank you! Considering the breed has lent characteristics to other heritage breeds and used to have some great characteristics, I'm surprised that no one has picked it up and ran with it to restore it to its origins. It's a shame they've been relegated to pet status after their initial contribution to other breeds.

Though my heart and passions will always be with the White Rock, I recently came by a Cochin cockerel that has caught my imagination and got me to thinking of how these became just foo foo birds. He's tall, has a depth of chest that I find to be wonderful and has some great width to his back...love his carriage. It's a shame all the other aspects of his breed pretty much make him a worthless contribution to my flock.

 

[LindaB220]

You know, OTs used to give charred wood to the pigs and other livestock as a dewormer. I've used it for sheep and cows and have noted wild birds dipping(mostly barn swallows) into our fire pit after a night of having a bonfire, so not sure what they are snatching up but it has to be somethingcharred. I've also noted my chickens picking the charred pieces out of wood ashes, so not sure what they get out of it but the animals sure seem to like ingesting it for some reason or other.

In several of the old books I have read, they suggest adding 1% charcoal to the ration. And we're just now starting tto catch up with them.