Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[3riverschick]

Just an aside,
I was surfing another breed and came across this BYCer with a small operation and looks like some nice birds including Legbars. The website is obscurely positioned but looks like the owner went to good effort to find good lines.
As always check with folk on the BYC Pennsylvania Unite thread on reliability of seller.
Always check anyone out before buying. It's just the wise thing to do.

Best,
Karen
http://4chicky.myfreesites.net/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/249441/dheltzel

Autosexing and sexlinked
Cream Legbars (pure Jill Rees line) - imported by Greenfire Farms. Blue eggs
Cream Legbars (3/4 Jill Rees) - "production" line that have less inbreeding, could be better layers. Blue eggs
Welbars - my own creation, but allegedly also being offered by Greenfire this year. Dark brown eggs
Silver Welbars - also my own creation. Dark brown eggs
Bielefelders - German breed. Medium Brown eggs
Olive Eggers - cross of Cream Legbars and Welbars. Autosexing, but not true breeding. Variable shades of green eggs
Blue Eggs Black Sexlinks - look like black Ameraucanas, but sexable as chicks. Lots of light blue eggs
Ameraucanas (not hatchery stock, most strains are from top show breeders)
Black
Lavender
Silver
Silkied Lavender
Bantam Lavender
Wheaten/Blue Wheaten
Blacks split for both Lavender and Silkied (look like normal blacks)
Lavender split for Silkied (look like normal lavenders)
Other breeds
California Greys - our only commercial breed, sexable at hatch. Looks like a barred Leghorn. White eggs
Blue Egg Blue Sumatras - imported by University of Georgia
Other Poultry
Turkeys - Royal Palm and Mottled Blacks
Ducks - Welsh Harlequin (light, laying breed, not for meat production)
Peafowl

 

[3riverschick]

Sharing one of my fav authors. A brilliant designer who understood the physics of proper ventilation. I am not sure if we will be building the 10x16 for 40 large fowl (page 89)or (one or more) of the 6x10 for 15 large fowl (page 130). I like the smaller size but want to be able to stand up in all parts of the house. Possible in the large house. Possible only in center of smaller house at 7.1 ft. but ends are only 4.6 ft. high, sigh. However, several small houses good for separate genetic families. Decisions, decisions, smile.

Modern fresh-air poultry houses; a new book on common sense housing of poultry--plans,
dimensions and instructions for building open-front poultry houses and fresh-air equipment
--fresh-air methods and open-air living--most practical and desirable for successful
poultry keeping in all climates; fully illustrated with reproductions from original drawings
and photographs, by Prince T. Woods, M. D.
by Woods, Prince Tannat, 1870-
Published 1924
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003138272;view=1up;seq=7
----------------------------
Pages 177 and 178.
Why Open-Front Is Better
Summarizing the evidence already presented herewith are a dozen
reasons why the open-front poultry house is better than the closed
type. The semi-monitor type of open-front poultry house possesses
these advantages:
1. It supplies an abundance of fresh-air at all times, day and
night, particularly at night when much needed.
2. Plenty of sunshine and light penetrate practically all parts of
. the house.
3. High windows in monitor admit sunlight to rear of house.
4. It is a dry house, having free circulation of air at all times.
5. There is more room for the fowls.
6. The floor space is less obstructed.
7. It is more comfortable than a closed house.
8. An open-front is more humane than the closed building.
9. Fowls prefer the open-front house.
10. Easy to care for and keep clean. Practically "fool proof."
11. Not expensive to build.
12. Simple in construction, a novice can build one.
Beneficial Results of Fresh-Air
The benefits which the poultry and their owner derive from open-
front housing and fresh-air methods of caring for poultry of all ages
are many. These beneficial results of fresh-air living may be summed
up as follows:
1. Both chicks and fowls enjoy better health.
2. They are more vigorous and hardy.
3. They possess greater vitality.
4. They have greater power to resist disease.
5. The pullets and hens produce more eggs.
6. Eggs show a higher percentage fertility.
/. The eggs hatch better.
8. Better, strong, hardy, livable chicks.
9. Birds of all ages are less affected by weather changes.
10. There is less danger of frosted combs and wattles.
11. The birds have better and more lustrous plumage with finer
texture and better color.
12. Fresh-air flocks do not consume any more food than closed-
house flocks and they make better use of their food.

 

[finnfur]

Karen - I agree thats the healthy way. Some times in certain cold climates you need to be able to close up some to retain heat and protect large comb breeds. I have some auto closing foundation vents in my coops that open at 40 degrees .

 

[3riverschick]

Here is the original paper cited in the Van Dort article below. Probably read Van Dort first.

Genotype on the Pigmentation Regulating PMEL17 Gene Affects Behavior in Chickens Raised Without Physical Contact with Conspecifics, 2011, BEHAVIOR GENETICS, (41), 2, 312-322.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-010-9379-4



Sweet Chickens Are White
By Van Dort
http://www.chickencolours.com/Sweet chickens are white.pdf

ok this is interesting. Science now says dominant white chickens have the sweetest temperaments.
One more reason not to breed my White Chanties into total Silver asI was planning.
Right now, they are a mix of Dominant and Recessive White and Silver.
Best,
Karen

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Here is the original paper cited in the Van Dort article below. Probably read Van Dort first.

Genotype on the Pigmentation Regulating PMEL17 Gene Affects Behavior in Chickens Raised Without Physical Contact with Conspecifics, 2011, BEHAVIOR GENETICS, (41), 2, 312-322.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-010-9379-4



Sweet Chickens Are White
By Van Dort
http://www.chickencolours.com/Sweet chickens are white.pdf

ok this is interesting. Science now says dominant white chickens have the sweetest temperaments.
One more reason not to breed my White Chanties into total Silver asI was planning.
Right now, they are a mix of Dominant and Recessive White and Silver.
Best,
Karen

I don't think Sigrid Van D. has checked out Buckeyes- I don't think they have made it to Europe which is a shame. ........ very sweet too or they should be ......... sorry I couldn't resist!

 

[3riverschick]

I don't think Sigrid Van D. has checked out Buckeyes- I don't think they have made it to Europe which is a shame. ........ very sweet too or they should be ......... sorry I couldn't resist!

Ok, that;s funny! I guess Buckeyes paint the town red then, huh?
Hee,hee,
Karen

 

[NanaKat]

As always Karen, we can count on you to bring us great information. I'm going to find that book!

While not big, my open air coops, built like a short loafing shed, is very serviceable and easy to maintain. They can also be moved.

 

[3riverschick]

As I remember the limit is 10% by weight, then the eggs are fishy tasting.  !0% is a good amt of protein isn't it?? How much animal protein do you add? ANd what is the analysis of the protein?

Speaking of fishy tasting eggs, I found a study online that declared that if one fed a brown egg laying breed canola oil they would lay fishy tasting eggs. It was a recessive thing
See post 5 of the BYC thread ,
; fishy tasting eggs. :.

Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

T-SHIRT and cabinet incubator courtesy of my wonderful hubby Bob!
Holds 6 trays. Bottom 2 can be used as a Hatcher. Currently has 14 Light Sussex eggs and 10 crossbred Light Sussex ex Cuckoo Marans eggs. Put in today.
Best,
Karen

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

T-SHIRT and cabinet incubator courtesy of my wonderful hubby Bob!
Holds 6 trays. Bottom 2 can be used as a Hatcher. Currently has 14 Light Sussex eggs and 10 crossbred Light Sussex ex Cuckoo Marans eggs. Put in today.
Best,
Karen

OMG, that shirt is awesome!!!! (And congrats on the cabinet!!!)

- Ant Farm