Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[BGMatt]

Quote isn't working...

Wisher- I know I was mocking people that think egg color matters. Nothing lays without light this time of year.

Brahmabreeder- Try non-hatchery stock. Have never had a human aggressive cockerel or cockbird in those breeds. Leghorns calm down if you spend time with them, but you do have to make time with them a priority. They'll always be more wary than the Asiatics like Brahma and Langshans, but I can actually catch all mine without a net and without diving in the muck.

 

[gjensen]

I've had Andalusians before, and Minocras, Hamburgs, Campines, and currently have Leghorns. I absolutely agree with you. More people should look into these breeds. They're all great. I would think they'd be a lot more popular especially with the folks that don't eat their birds, more eggs but less feed is absolutely right. Of course they're "boring" white eggs *rolling eyes* so maybe that's it? People are really missing out.

I expected my Catalanas to be flighty, but found that to be far from the truth. I like their activity level, smarts, confidence, and style. And . . . I could not care less what color egg they laid.

Maybe the hatchery birds have contributed to this reputation? Heck, I have had American breeds from a hatchery that had man fighting cocks and flighty hens.

For someone that has some room, they are missing out if they do not give some good examples a try. Especially with feed prices the way they are.

I still think back to Walt's Hamburg that he posted pictures of. That was a sharp bird. I wonder if there is any out there of that quality anymore?

 

[BGMatt]

Gjensen- yeah I would imagine it's the hatchery birds that give then bad reputation. Could just be the line too, there are probably a few breeders that might tolerate aggressiveness (I did have one line of Jersey Giants that I couldn't get rid of fast enough, great exhibition type but vicious to me and vicious to other birds) show breeders typically won't tolerate flighty birds because they don't show well.

 

[gjensen]

Gjensen- yeah I would imagine it's the hatchery birds that give then bad reputation. Could just be the line too, there are probably a few breeders that might tolerate aggressiveness (I did have one line of Jersey Giants that I couldn't get rid of fast enough, great exhibition type but vicious to me and vicious to other birds) show breeders typically won't tolerate flighty birds because they don't show well.

Those Buffs that you have. Are they large fowl?

 

[Lacy Blues]

I know Lacy Blues has Andalusians, YHF has Anconas, I have been trying to find RC Leghorns for the past year and tried to hatch some shipped Buttercup eggs (it was a bust). I quite agree, these breeds are beautiful and productive and economically attractive. I think people have been told they are "flighty" and that the males are "mean" - which is most certainly true of some hatchery stock. They can be more guarded, but that makes them, as a rule, better at staying alive while out foraging. Some are really tough to find nowadays. Seems like someone had WFBS they put some pictures up of, Wisher was getting some Campines, I believe, from Mr. Urch, and looked long and hard for them, and when you got your Catalanas weren't they among the few left you could find?

I feel the Leghorns in particular have an unearned bad reputation - when one wants chickens for eggs, they should be the go-to breed.

For rose combed leghorns, contact Mark Atwood in North Carolina.

I have had a Hamburg rooster and he was the meanest rooster I've ever had. Every time I went out there I got attacked. Leghorns are just flighty. To me both of those are a turn off for a breed. I must agree though that they are flashy looking in the show ring but personality is just as big of a deciding factor to me.

You need to be able to spend some time around them. Like George said, they won't walk up to you and asked to be picked up but it is possible to get them to trust you so that they don't run off as fast as they can when you show up.

Any mean roosters I've had have been culled. I will not tolerate it when the hand that feeds gets either bitten or stabbed with spurs.

I expected my Catalanas to be flighty, but found that to be far from the truth. I like their activity level, smarts, confidence, and style. And . . . I could not care less what color egg they laid.

Maybe the hatchery birds have contributed to this reputation? Heck, I have had American breeds from a hatchery that had man fighting cocks and flighty hens.

For someone that has some room, they are missing out if they do not give some good examples a try. Especially with feed prices the way they are.

I still think back to Walt's Hamburg that he posted pictures of. That was a sharp bird. I wonder if there is any out there of that quality anymore?

I believe Bridget Riddle in California has really nice Silver Spangled Hamburgs. She has a lot of those elegant breeds.

 

[ve]

I know many of you have seen my Leghorns, but maybe some not. I love the Leghorns. I have nice Barred Rocks, Good New Hampshire's, but I think the prettier rooster is a Leghorn . They are great flock protectors, gentlemen, and from my experience nice fathers. My Leghorns are heritage and they are big, actually taller than Hampshire's and heavier than hatchery Wyandottes I had.I do not spend much time to tame them, but when I go in the pen nobody freaks, they all are in my feet.

 

[gjensen]

For rose combed leghorns, contact Mark Atwood in North Carolina.

You need to be able to spend some time around them. Like George said, they won't walk up to you and asked to be picked up but it is possible to get them to trust you so that they don't run off as fast as they can when you show up.

Any mean roosters I've had have been culled. I will not tolerate it when the hand that feeds gets either bitten or stabbed with spurs.


I believe Bridget Riddle in California has really nice Silver Spangled Hamburgs. She has a lot of those elegant breeds.

But who has blacks like Walt had? I cannot do anything like that now. You know why, but I can hope for the future.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I know many of you have seen my Leghorns, but maybe some not. I love the Leghorns. I have nice Barred Rocks, Good New Hampshire's, but I think the prettier rooster is a Leghorn . They are great flock protectors, gentlemen, and from my experience nice fathers. My Leghorns are heritage and they are big, actually taller than Hampshire's and heavier than hatchery Wyandottes I had.I do not spend much time to tame them, but when I go in the pen nobody freaks, they all are in my feet.

Thank you ve for posting those pictures. I had not seen your leghorns before and I can tell you... I'm swooning! I don't "tame" mine either, but I do spend time in their pens working around them and just letting them get used to me.

But who has blacks like Walt had? I cannot do anything like that now. You know why, but I can hope for the future.

Oh, I have no idea who has blacks. I don't think I've ever seen one in the flesh.

 

[gjensen]

I know many of you have seen my Leghorns, but maybe some not. I love the Leghorns. I have nice Barred Rocks, Good New Hampshire's, but I think the prettier rooster is a Leghorn . They are great flock protectors, gentlemen, and from my experience nice fathers. My Leghorns are heritage and they are big, actually taller than Hampshire's and heavier than hatchery Wyandottes I had.I do not spend much time to tame them, but when I go in the pen nobody freaks, they all are in my feet.

Yes, I like the Leghorns. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

 

[gjensen]

No comments needed on the pictures of the pair of Barnevelders I put up, Piet has already told me not to breed them. Apparently the pullet is probably not even a Barnevelder. No good deed shall go unpunished

We learn the hard way don't we? I am sorry that you are disappointed.