Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Arielle]

Quote: THere is abantam club that is also active, LF at the shows, a couple shows a year in MA. I realize these are outside NH, but perhaps the web sites for these shows will have links for more NE shows . . ..

Quote: Walt is a very generous person. He continues to stop by here and lend a guiding hand. . . . .

 

[Serica]

Just go with the brahmas!!

LOL !!! I am really very fond of them and they have a couple of neat characteristics that make them a bit different from others like their brows. They are the strong favorite at this point but I'm a bit concerned about their meat. I've heard great reviews and not so great so I need to figure that out.

 

[Wisher1000]

Need some expert opinions! Rhode Island Whites were a breed I was researching along with the light brahmas. Getting the feeling RIW's are a bit too far gone for what we are able to do. Even the thread here on them doesn't have a lot of activity.

Am I correct in feeling I should remove them from my potential breeds list?

The fact that you are entertaining the idea of dropping them is your answer.

If you take on a "real challenge" (translation - Frustrating Mission, nearly impossible) you must be so enthralled and fixated on the breed that when all your hard work seems to offer little reward, you don't give up. If the idea of only infinitesimal progress, over the course of several generations, will not put you off, you can tackle an extremely neglected breed. Be warned, though, most poultry people/breeders (not all, but many) will be hesitant to invest time in what they see as a hopeless cause (a novice they perceive has bitten off too much, not the breed) and most of your acquired knowledge will be through listening, researching, and keeping quiet about what you are doing.

I had one of these on my list. I kept coming back to them even though I was told over and over that it was too far gone to fool with. I became fixated on it and the problems became evident immediately. I am two years into this project and just now starting to select for breeding from some birds that are well below where I thought I would be starting.

This thread has been very helpful, in an indirect way. I read it daily. I have often started writing a post to get advice, realized that I didn't have enough information to even formulate a logical question, and ended up finding what I needed while researching how to ask what I wanted to know.

YellowHouseFarm invested some of his valuable time in me at the Ohio Nationals, and for his help, I am unbelievably grateful. I think about what he shared with me every time I look at my birds. One day, I hope to be able to hand him one of my birds that, while likely not impressive in and of itself, will cause him to say, "Wow, they've come a long way." That is a long term goal.

Thank you, Joseph, you rock. Serica, choose the ones that make your toes curl...........

 

[Arielle]

WIsher, you said it well . . . . .

 

[Serica]

Serica, choose the ones that make your toes curl...........

You know I loved your whole post but this right here just woke me up. Out of all of this research and talking with hubby and bouncing off ideas I think I have forgot this and to me it is one of the most important parts of this whole thing. For me, it should be at the top of my list along WITH the rest. We can't be a savior to a dying breed but we can be good stewards of our chosen breed and fill our needs too. That one comment just narrowed my list to two. Thank you for that!

 

[Arielle]

WHICH TWO ? ? ? ?

 

[mithious]

There is an all breed New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers Association which has a website. I was over there today just looking around.
Maybe something there for you? A neighbor you didn't know about?
Food for thought,
Karen

I do have it saved to my favorites, just haven't gotten around to checking it out yet. VERY busy here right now. Hopefully soon I will get there and would like to become a member of some! Especially the APA. Just need the funds for it. Right now, EVERYTHING, every penny, all my time, is going into the birds. VERY part time job starting back up for the summer, so will have more $$$, I hope, to join some! I hope? Seems every time I think I have a tad of "extra" cash, the birds need something, or something needs fixing or tweeking

Just started trying out the fermented feed, and hoping that will cut feed costs through less waste. That should help and am seeing benefits, I read about, but was skeptical about. So am quite happy with it so far. The birds are loving it. I left some dry feed and now, none are even touching it! The Barred Plymouth Rocks, that feather sooo slowly, I do believe they are feathering in a bit faster now. All the chicks are showing much more vigor also. and no, they are not drunk

That was what held me back initially, thinking it was part alcohol, but it is not. It's a different process LOL. Dumb me. There is zero feed waste now also and that, for me, is huge!

I really hope I can find other breeders near me!!! That would be so helpful! Even if our breeds are different, it would still be a big plus. Thanks Karen

 

[Arielle]

Quote: IT is a good quality to be skeptical and find sufficient evidence to try a new method-- I feel fotunate to have found a few like minded people to reach out to when I need i nfo. Sensable and knowedgable . . . .. I can see where you thought OH was part of the mix, but once you try a brew, you know there is none! ANd yes, the birds love it, Crazy huh??

 

[Beekissed]

WHICH TWO ? ? ? ?

 

[mithious]

IT is a good quality to be skeptical and find sufficient evidence to try a new method-- I feel fotunate to have found a few like minded people to reach out to when I need i nfo. Sensable and knowedgable . . . .. I can see where you thought OH was part of the mix, but once you try a brew, you know there is none! ANd yes, the birds love it, Crazy huh??

Yes it IS kinda crazy. Especially that they KNOW it is better and won't touch the dry feed at all. There's a saying, which I can not for the life of me remember at the moment, but I have lived by it most of my life about being skeptical or trying before believing? It's just not coming to me right now. Something then verify????? IDK??? Brain fart I guess.

You are so lucky to have people helping with info and sensible and have the knowledge! Hope I can find at least one too! There are so many new things today, compared to back when I was breeding and showing. So much more about the genetic side too. We didn't know all that back then, either you had the "sight" or you didn't and couldn't breed an SOP bird if your life depended on it. I've always been able to "see" them. I'm not going to throw out 30 years of knowledge, but need to learn the new stuff, as I do believe it will help my ability to be even more successful! Especially with this "project" I am working on.