Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Canieldonrad]

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

I'd consider growing hop vines... but they wouldn't be there for the birds

 

[Arielle]

Quote: lol.

 

[thedragonlady]

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 have steel roofed runs, but I use Hops vines to shade the western sun here in SC.They are deciduous, so they die to the ground in winter, and come back with a vengeance in the spring. This is a first year photo. This year they kept thr e run completely shaded.

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you. I was worried about breeds from up north that they would not handle the heat well. I just got a black australorpe but wish i had seen this thread first so i could have gotten from breeder on here instead of feed store to make sure i have true bloodlines. I was looking at Delaware but none in my area so i thought they must not handle heat. I cant really breed for strong traits as im 100 yards outside of agricultute zoning so i am restricted to only 4 hens on my half acre.

HI GrammasGarden,
Welcome to the thread! There is something you can do,
even if you cannot have a large breeding operation.
It is very important that heritage breeders have a
secondary flock so if the main flock has some kind of
disaster, the bloodline isn't lost. One way to do this is
to have folk who are willing to safeguard the bloodline
in their backyard flock or a satellite breeding program.
If birds from the same bloodline and flock are kept
500 miles apart, after 5-6 years their descendants can
be used as a limited outcross to each other. Because
of the decisions of the different owners and the different
environments in which they live. The birds from the
same flock and bloodline become more like cousins
than siblings. Even if you are only hatching a few each year.
And even if you aren't hatching any chicks, just holding
the bloodline in reserve can be invaluable. As we have
seen in recent years when noted flocks have been decimated
by predators or fire. With "reserve" birds, there
is a place to start over again without having to rebuild the
strain from the ground up.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

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

Waltz's Ark in Colorado. (website)

 

[3riverschick]

I am so pleased with how well Knight N Day ( my "keeper" male from this year's hatch),
is coming along. He is the spitting image of his sire, Junior, tho a bit smaller because I
am not as experienced in raising fowl as Walt B. is. I have my breeding pens set for next
Spring. Knight N Day is in with the new pullet, "Sweetie". I am so excited to see what
this outcross will produce!
My 3rd choice cockerel " Tux", is in with my best layer, his dam, "May" (my avatar).
This is a full sibling inbreeding to see what recessives are in the strain. Tux's hackle is a
bit further down the crest of his neck than I like, however the 2 sides actually meet
underneath his chin. That's exciting, and something I have been hoping to see.
The remaining cockerel ( pet quality "Rocky") is in with the egg flock because I think
they do better with a male to anchor the flock. The rest of the pullets are starting to
lay so we have lots of eggs each day.

Best,
Karen

 

[Lacy Blues]

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

This past summer I went to an Alternative Crop field day through the local extension office. I just wanted to see what could be grown well here. Hops was one of them. One old farmer gave hops a try this year and though he had frames set up for them to grow 20 feet in the air, they weren't that tall, however, contrary to advice given him, they actually produced a good load of hops for him. I was thinking I would get a few to cover my runs with as well. Cascade was the better variety here.

 

[Lacy Blues]

As much as I have studied and done with chickens I don't know the outcome of this(never plucked feathers purposely on live birds). When one removes a feather in this way is there a trigger mechanism that kicks in to tell the system to replace that feather or (here's my way of thinking) one might would have to wait quite a spell for the new feather to come in, at the specific/sequential time during the molt. All wing feathers fall out and come in a certain order this was established way back along time ago(around feather development era) for flying birds to still be able to fly during the molting process. It may be just faster to find a suitable breeder if time is of the essence here. J/S or actually just asking

Jeff

Actually, I have pulled feathers and the big ones (wing and tail) take 6 weeks to regrow to full size.

 

[Lacy Blues]

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.

Thanks Pozees! Actually, its going to be a long time til I can get going on this. My husband is out of a job right now as the company he worked for shut down so just going to the feed store makes me

Regarding Mareks, you can run turkeys with your chickens and that little act will make them immune to Mareks. The turkey has a form of Mareks that is milder than the one that chickens get. You won't even know they have it but it will make them immune to the other variety.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THis is lovely-- reminds me of ivy on an old brick building. I was worried the metal roofing would be too much for plants . . . any thoughts on a clematis. Need to root the plants on the shady east side and then up and over the roof to the western facing hot sun. RIght now I let the tall trees branch over the building to help . . . and pray none fall on the building . . .

I am so pleased with how well Knight N Day ( my "keeper" male from this year's hatch),
is coming along. He is the spitting image of his sire, Junior, tho a bit smaller because I
am not as experienced in raising fowl as Walt B. is. I have my breeding pens set for next
Spring. Knight N Day is in with the new pullet, "Sweetie". I am so excited to see what
this outcross will produce!
My 3rd choice cockerel " Tux", is in with my best layer, his dam, "May" (my avatar).
This is a full sibling inbreeding to see what recessives are in the strain. Tux's hackle is a
bit further down the crest of his neck than I like, however the 2 sides actually meet
underneath his chin. That's exciting, and something I have been hoping to see.
The remaining cockerel ( pet quality "Rocky") is in with the egg flock because I think
they do better with a male to anchor the flock. The rest of the pullets are starting to
lay so we have lots of eggs each day.

Best,
Karen

WHen I have more eggs than I can sell, eat, or give away, I scramble them with a tsp of salt and freeze in tupperware. And in the low production times, pull out for use. I know you don't have 30 hens like I do but when you find you have too many eggs . . . .

Quote: My BIL would love if I grew hops-- he is a beer guru. I hate the stuff( shutter) but feeding the seeds off to the birds is also an alternative.