Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Arielle]

Quote: Java-- nice looking roaster!! Look at all that meat!!

Rocks--Keeping the skin is important as far as I am concerned regarding flavor and moistness. THere is fat hiding under the skin that gets removed when the bird is skinned-- at least that has been my experience.

I have a turkey in now-- I like a slow oven 250 until browned and done. Takes a long time. Low and slow

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Looking for any Heritage LF Barred or White Plymouth Rock breeders near Colorado Springs, CO. Anybody know of anyone?
Speckled Sussex too.

Jeremy Woeppel on here as Jwip is THE place to go: XW Poultry Ranch

Really seconding the Mediterranean breeds suggestion that Daniel made. Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona, Andalusian, Spanish, Buttercup, Catalana.

Definitely go Mediterranean or even Continental, although Mediterraneans tend to lay larger eggs: Anconas, Leghorns, Minorcas, White Faced Black Spanish or Andalusians is egg size is part of the concern---which it only needs to be if one is selling eggs.

 

[ronott1]

Jeremy Woeppel on here as Jwip is THE place to go: XW Poultry Ranch

Definitely go Mediterranean or even Continental, although Mediterraneans tend to lay larger eggs: Anconas, Leghorns, Minorcas, White Faced Black Spanish or Andalusians is egg size is part of the concern---which it only needs to be if one is selling eggs.

There is a group working on a Standad and getting acceptance for EO Marraduna Basque Hens.

They are heat hardy, friendly, Dual Purpose and stand confinement well. They lay lots of large brown eggs too.

This one will be laying for me soon:



The one on the Right is a Basque Hen. They are Spanish and should do well in the heat in Florida. They handle the Heat in Woodland, CA fine--We hit 110 last summer.

 

[Lacy Blues]

In our house attic, the air is not drawing correctly. Vents that run from the gutter don't seem to be drawing in enough air . . . to keep the roof on the south side evenly heated/cooled. ANd this is based on the deteriorating shingles that have curled in a very specific pattern that I can clearly identify with the structure of the second floor.

I have wondered if the large vents at the 2 ends of the house have played a negative role in the situation.

Or the ridge vent is not big enough = air moves too slowly to provide adequate ventilation.

I am not an engineer-- I can only report my observations, but I'm not clear on why this happened.


In general with all the coop designs that we have tried-- some 6-- lack of ventilation is the biggest issue. FLow of air seems to be a critical point, and Beekissed and other have helped me see an open coop is a better option. THat is when I re discovered the woods style coop. THere maybe newer coop designs based on this early 1900's design that I have yet to discover, but I do think that closing up a cooptight is worse than a coop that is too open.

With your last design above, have you considered the monitor type roof? Adding windows and a allowing for a larger air flow upward? I like the low vents on two sides, it seems like it creates two pockets of warm air IF the large windows are closed tight.

Which leads me back to why not just make a woods style coop?? YOu are 90% there already.

Please understand I am just putting ideas out there for you to ponder-- your coop, your design, your choice.

(My husband jokes that I should have been an engineer-- )

Mainly because I get wind (and I mean WIND) from every side but the east. If I had the east side fully open like the Woods Style, I would come out to roasted birds. Our sun is BRUTAL from the time it comes up til the time it goes down!

I've pretty much decided that with world economics being what they are, plus I believe in Biblical prophecy to the point that I don't think its going to get any better, but rather worse and I doubt very highly that many people will be looking to buy Andalusians. They haven't up til now and they won't in the future either. I think I'm going to cut back on my birds. However, I still want them to have a nice place to live. Right now, the barn I have is PATHETIC but its better than no barn around here. I want to build two 6 x 20 barns (keeping me under the limit for building codes that require permits for anything over 120 sq. ft.) that will both be divided in half so I probably will have a slightly altered design than what is shown in my drawings. Thus, I will keep 4 small flocks of large fowl and that way I'll be able to give them more room to run around. Free ranging here is something of a joke but they'll be able to range freely in a very large yard for each pen. That's the best I can do for them. In their main yards, they'll have some plantings to munch on that will be mostly wired off and they can eat what grows through and I will get some kind of fruit trees (mulberry?) for shade and seasonal fruit. Also, someone on another thread recommended some Seafoam roses that only grow 3-4 feet tall but spread out something like 10 feet so they make a nice place for the birds to duck under cover in case of hawks or needed shade and they grow tons of rose hips for Vit C in the coming winter.

I'll also have 4 small flocks of bantam Andalusians with pretty big yards.

This, once built, will save back pain too.

Wouldn't it be great to have someone be really successful with Buttercups? Those darned combs are so tough anywhere there's fear of frostbite, but south FL would be excellent for them.

Bridgette Riddle in California did pretty well with her Buttercups. I don't know if she still raises them but she may. It seems she is increasing in the number of breeds she raises but hey, if she is successful with them... more power to her.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: With so many building constraints, you are doing a good job designing a coop. Trees and plants can make a big difference in the effects of the sun. I have often envisioned vines growing over the roof to reduce the summer heat.

 

[bnjrob]

wowza!!!! Can you give me a quick lesson in how you processed him? Plan to cook him? I processed a few last yr but "skinned" them and they were tough and tasteless

A good brining does wonders.

 

[3riverschick]

Someone else suggested leaving a small gap in the roof panels at the peak,
and putting a ridge cap over it allowing for ventilation out the peak. I second that suggestion. It is an excellent idea.
-----------------
Great idea. From what I have read, the roof is peaked /\ , it needs a cupola or a ridge vent. If it has only one angle \ , it
needs a wide window (which can be opened) or openable vent on the high side of the high wall.
Best,
Karen
My laptop charger died yesterday and just got a new one thanks to my BOB, Hubby Bob!

 

[Pozees]

LB I LOVE the redesign! I am waiting with bated breath to hear how it works for you, since our climates are so similar. I understand only too well what you mean by WIND - we have that here as well, we are out on the prairie with little to slow it down, and here we even get it from the East at times, so there is no direction safe. We are not right up against the mountains, so we get wind swooping down from them wind running alongside them, and wind heading toward them to swoop up and back down at times

Florida is perfect for the Med breeds, I'd look for Leghorns, Andalusians, or White Faced Black Spanish first, but having long longed for Penedescencas, I'd be torn LOL. I adore the Mediterranean breeds. Along with all the others LOL.

Extra Java that is one fine looking bird, nice job! I have read that leaving skin on helps meat retain moisture and does not add to the fat content of the cooked meat if you don't actually consume the skin. Also that letting the bird rest in the refrigerator 24-48 hours before freezing or cooking, and brining, both add to flavor and tenderness as well. And that the older the bird, the lower and slower the cooking should be. I cannot bear witness to any of those statements, but believe wsmith can.

My Speckled Sussex all fell victim to Marek's and the only ones I have right now are hatchery hens. I am seeking new SS, and if I can find someone from near here going to shows in the Southeast I may be able to purchase a pair, or some hatching eggs, from Walt Reichert. It has been a difficult summer here. Marek's, then weakened birds attacked by parasites (mites and worms) which I was too slow to realize and respond to. I won't let this happen again. I won't vaccinate but will stay on top of any possible parasite problems. I need to have a resistant flock. I had 25 non-resistant Sussex which were beautiful, and it about broke my heart.

All of life is learning, most of it not the easy kind.

 

[Pozees]

Someone else suggested leaving a small gap in the roof panels at the peak,
and putting a ridge cap over it allowing for ventilation out the peak. I second that suggestion. It is an excellent idea.
-----------------
Great idea. From what I have read, the roof is peaked /\ , it needs a cupola or a ridge vent. If it has only one angle \ , it
needs a wide window (which can be opened) or openable vent on the high side of the high wall.
Best,
Karen
My laptop charger died yesterday and just got a new one thanks to my BOB, Hubby Bob!

Nicely said

 

[Pozees]

With so many building constraints, you are doing a good job designing a coop. Trees and plants can make a big difference in the effects of the sun. I have often envisioned vines growing over the roof to reduce the summer heat.

I think Dragonlady does this annually with hops vines, I want to try it here if I can get them to grow.