Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[fowlman01]

I don't have any rose comb breeds now. I am putting some of my effort in the New Hampshires. I am going to show 2 pullets this coming weekend. They are only 4 months old. These were originally from Kathyinmo. Each generation has grown faster than the generation before them....particularly the males. These fit the dual purpose criteria better than anything else I have had here

Walt

 

[maryhysong]

Well, I want my chickens mostly for eggs, but I wasn't sure I would like the leghorn temperament, so I got a mix of RCBL, NH and Barred Rocks. Turns out I like all of these breeds, but so far the RCBL are laying at 60% compared to 90% for the brown egg layers - and, of course, the dual-purpose are generally more calm. I am attracted to heritage breeds, as opposed to newer egg-laying crosses for both tangible and intangible reasons. Are the hatchery heritage breeds really more like a production bird - say, a "Production Red" than a true New Hampshire? What I love about the New Hampshires was how fast they feathered out. I really like the Barred Rocks as hens, but they were SO uneven in their maturation.

From what you are saying, Arrielle, I'm wondering if I might not just work with hatchery stock, selecting for things like health and reasonably good egg production, and maybe try to get a true heritage rooster at some point to improve the birds I have. I, too, thought I'd want dual purpose for meat, but I got straight run and found that the 7 roosters were causing problems (biggest chasing the others away - way away) by the time they were 4 months old, and I ended up butchering some pretty scrawny birds. Unless I want the birds for meat, I'm not sure that the cost of true heritage breeds is worth it for me, especially if egg production is lower. Yet, I've heard from several on this and another forum, about how different the true heritage birds are from hatchery. But, it sounds like it might be mostly SOP and size that is superior.

I have had hatchery BO. Meanest rooster ever! But he did make a delicious pot of Mean Rooster Soup. Yes he looked big but at over a year old weighed only about 8 pounds (SOP = 10). Hens barely weighed 5 pounds. I now have some English import lines and APA stock and crosses of the two.

Good layers, 5-6 eggs a week. Males that weigh 10 pounds at 6-7 months and dress out 6 pounds. Nice meaty thighs and legs; these guys are like small turkeys. They do have breast meat, just not the ginormous amount seen on commercial cornish cross birds. Pullets laying at 6-7 months also. Nice big girls (tho I haven't weighed them yet)

While the cockerels do often need an attitude adjustment as their hormones kick in, (bite me and I pin you on your back on the ground for a couple minutes; usually only takes once, occasionally twice. So far none of the BO have needed a third time) they are the sweetest I have ever raised; the young cockerels would come and sit in my lap to be petted when I sat in their pen. They come to the door and chatter at me when I go to feed. They are the calmest breed I have (EE, Ameraucana, BCM, Plymouth Rocks are the others).

I will never buy hatchery stock again.

 

[chicken farmer2]

Does anyone know where I can buy silver grey dorking or some ancona or another heritage breed, I want a breed that needs help, I would like them to be good quality not hatchery. Thank you

 

[desertmarcy]

I don't have any rose comb breeds now. I am putting some of my effort in the New Hampshires. I am going to show 2 pullets this coming weekend. They are only 4 months old. These were originally from Kathyinmo. Each generation has grown faster than the generation before them....particularly the males. These fit the dual purpose criteria better than anything else I have had here

Walt

Walt, do you have any extra cockerels? I ask, right after posting I wasn't going to work with the NH anymore

 

[bnjrob]

Does anyone know where I can buy silver grey dorking or some ancona or another heritage breed, I want a breed that needs help, I would like them to be good quality not hatchery. Thank you

Depends on what you're looking for in a bird. Javas need breeders if they strike your fancy. They come in Black and Mottled.

 

[3riverschick]

What have I missed? I thought birds had to be 6 months to be shown. I feel ignorant,
Karen

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, do you have any extra cockerels? I ask, right after posting I wasn't going to work with the NH anymore

I do, but I don't know how I could get them to you. I can't ship from here.

w.

 

[fowlman01]

What have I missed? I thought birds had to be 6 months to be shown. I feel ignorant,
Karen

When I first got them, the males had to be 12 months old to show. Now I can show a male at 7-8 months old. these birds will not be at their peak yet, but they won't embarrass me either. I will be showing against Dave Anderson's RIR's. You can show a chicken at any age, but it has to look mature or you are wasting your time. these pullets will get bigger, but they are 5 lbs and the Standard calls for 5.5....I just want to show how fast they grow. They will do better at 6- 9 months etc. They are laying by 5 months.

Walt

 

[Lacy Blues]

I do, but I don't know how I could get them to you. I can't ship from here.

w.

The PPFA show is in January. You could probably get them carried back to Tucson/Phoenix area by some one who regularly attends that show.

 

[desertmarcy]

I do, but I don't know how I could get them to you. I can't ship from here.

w.

Anybody close to you going to the Tucson show this coming weekend, or Safford, AZ (show run by James Smith) in January? I'll be at both those shows.