Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[fowlman01]

Joseph, have you seen any at all?

Walt is familiar with Bridgette's birds, and as far as I know, they are all that has potential. There are some things that I like about her birds. She has done well by them. She shared a trio with me, and I have a lot of hope that one of the pullets can help me. Her flock is producing better individuals than mine has.

I like that bird. He is not a bird you get excited about sharing the photo, but the picture points to the picture I have in my head.

Speaking frankly, we do not know what a good Catalana is here. I do not like the picture in the Standard, but I like the written section. The birds are a little short in height in the picture. Catalanas have some legs up under them, and stand proud. They do not have a low station. I have compared the language in the written section to others in the class to interpret what is written. Along with getting a feel for what they are like around the world, I have where I think they should be in my head.

Every where you read, they speak of how common they are in Latin America and Spain. I do not get that impression. I get the impression that they were.

The downside is that it has been difficult to decide for myself what a picture of correctness looked like. The upside is there is a little more "freedom". I am not bound by prevailing perceptions, or misconceptions.

The challenge of actually putting together a good bird is appealing.

Bridget Riddles Catalana's are good enough to win the class with the right judge. They are good enough that they stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw them. Do they need work.....yes, but they have everything you need to produce above average birds.

Walt

 

[bnjrob]

Speaking of breeding for shape, this bird's profile jumped out at me when I was reviewing this evening's Black Java chick video. Hadn't paid much attention to her until I saw this photo. Now I'm going to have to figure out who she is. The birds are all wing-tagged but that doesn't help identify them from photos. She is probably14-16 weeks old. She is from one of the first ever complementary pairs I selected. I've been looking for a straight backline on a block-shaped body. Maybe there is hope:



Here she is again from a slightly different angle:



Now I am going to sign off before I start picking her apart, because there is a long way to go...

Sarah

LOL - you sound like me. I swear I can find a ton of faults with our chickens. Something I have noticed with ours is the pullets that seem to have a good back/tail angle when young, can mature into having a tail that looks like a rudder standing straight up. I've been keeping an eye on the ones that look flat from neck to tail - those seem to end up with a bit better tail angle when they mature.

 

[gjensen]

Bridget Riddles Catalana's are good enough to win the class with the right judge. They are good enough that they stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw them. Do they need work.....yes, but they have everything you need to produce above average birds.

Walt

Did I give you the impression that they needed to be defended?

I suspect you took that the wrong way. Maybe it is the way I speak. I do not tend to lay it on Walt. If I say something is putting out pretty good birds, that is a compliment.

I hope a positive is not being turned into a negative just because.

 

[mithious]

I appreciate ANY and ALL discussions on the birds and breeds. Negative, positive, neutral, ect.

That is why Bob started this thread and why we have phase 2 of it. Bob was my mentor and I will be forever in his debt, for all he did for me, getting started back in breeding and finding the breed I wanted and the breeders that had that breed/line. I wanted something specific and he knew who, where, ect.

In honor of Bob, and continuing his thread, lets not let, the written word, get taken wrong, as it often does.

I think you BOTH had great points, and am grateful for BOTH posts and comments! I did not read a negative in the response. Maybe it's just me?

I would HATE to think, because of a miscommunication, one or both of you would leave this forum , as you BOTH have information that is valuable beyond belief to ALL of us!

Please. let's keep the original intent of Bob, for this thread alive, and enjoy the learning and networking he tried so hard to get started and did succeed in, plus all the information on breeds and such.

Thank you BOTH for coming here and teaching us all. I believe we never stop learning until we reach that big chicken house in the sky

 

[gjensen]

No, I did not mean to imply that I took anything personal.

I probably do need to back off a bit. I am not doing especially well, and should wait for better times. I am on here so much because I am essentially bed ridden. I try to keep my mind off f things. Was considering taking some online classes, but my cognitive function is a little impaired.
My sleep has been taken away to. I can go a couple days without any, then get five. The two. Then five. The autonomic nervous system has complete control while you are asleep. Mine does not work so well. I quit breathing, retain to much CO2, wake up hyperventilating, heck even my heart stops while I am asleep.
I can't swallow so I cannot eat a meal. Even starting to gag on liquids. My digestion is off, so I have trouble getting anything in me anyways. My vessels do not constrict properly so I do not keep enough blood to the brain. It is called cerebral hypo perfusion. One minute my BP is too low and then too high. HR as fast 200 and as low as 40. Can't find anything to take for it, because it goes both ways.

The truth of the matter is, I do not know what I will be able to do in a couple years anyways. I am probably fooling myself. I am still trying to play around with this. I keep trying because I like the darned things.

There has been a good discussion going on of late. Keep that going. Don't let tis mess it up.

Don't comment on this post. It is what it is, and this is a chicken thread. I am going to back off a bit, and get back to reality for a while. I will post on better days.

 

[Apdeb]

Wow sorry jensen!!! Feel better chickens are really the best medicine!!! I want to second what joe said!! Find a breed you are passionate about and run with it!!! Joe is very helpful and kind to us newbies!!! If he has the time he will go over your birds! I am grateful for the help i got from the great new england poultry group showing does build bridges dip your toe in and try!!!

 

[Lacy Blues]

George, if you need this diversion, you stay on here. I didn't see anything negative at all in what you or Walt said and no conflict either. Your post was fine, like always.

 

[fowlman01]

Did I give you the impression that they needed to be defended?

I suspect you took that the wrong way. Maybe it is the way I speak. I do not tend to lay it on Walt. If I say something is putting out pretty good birds, that is a compliment.

I hope a positive is not being turned into a negative just because.

You mentioned that I had seen them so I just expanded on that. That's all.

Walt

 

[mithious]

George, if you need this diversion, you stay on here. I didn't see anything negative at all in what you or Walt said and no conflict either. Your post was fine, like always.

X2

 

[pigsflyacres]

I really had no idea where to put this, so I'm putting it here. Take a look at this Craigs List add. Leave the person posting alone, they aren't actually the subject! https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/grd/4435544019.html

Here is a chicken being put forth as something special as far as meat. I happen to know of a 'Farm to Table' operation that has invested in breeding stock of Bresse chickens. Why didn't they go to Dorkings? If the bird in the add was typical, they would do better with Dorkings. Or any number of breeds that are already here. But they went with an import. Of course maybe the chef liked Bresse when he was in France.

This was kind of my point when I said the breed clubs aren't using the power of the internet to good. There is a market that is small but it isn't being marketed to. I have no doubt its hard being successful marketing to that niche. However at least with Dorkings, the end product can speak for its self as far as quality. Take a look at YHFs processed birds. Those are very appealing to any foodie. And if they taste anything like the one I had, they are very good. The kind of meat that a chef wants. Now making the chef happy with the cost of that bird is another story. There are however a lot of foodies that more and more are willing to pay for that meat or raise it them selves. No they wont be a breeder, but they provide a USE for the bird.

Producing a quality bird for that market doesn't fall under this thread, but finding a market for our birds and reinvigorating breed clubs maybe does.

For breeds to survive they have to be useful.

Jennifer