Taylor, they tend to be called by that name around here to. In fact if the bird is barred or cuckoo they use the name. They seam to associate the name with a color pattern more than anything. Keep hanging around these guys and they will keep you straight.
Kathy, I am going to share a couple pictures wth you. Bare with the quality. Neither the equipment nor the operator is up to par. Here is a couple @ aproximately eight weeks old. . . . .
Here is a few @ aproximately 14 wks.
I have not found these to be the best of foragers either. They are however, very calm natured and would do well with one that appreciates that in a bird. They are beautiful birds and I am very pleased with them. My original New Hampshires are more assertive in nature, much like the Delewares. This is another example of not being able to characterize an entire breed by one strain. Kathy, what color and size of eggs are your NHs laying?
You told me that your Barred Rocks were good foragers and you are right on. This is the best foraging heavy breed birds I have been around. I swear they seam a little smarter than the average bird. I moved the second batch that you sent me toward the front of the property, and the first evening I let them out they darted 300' to the back to scratch under their favorite spot (my wife's hydrangeas). They didn't miss a beat. We call them our little lawn mowers.
I am going to try to put a history together for this breed (New Hampshires), unless someone beats me to it (which would be great). I would like to see this breed get more recognition that I believe it deserves. They have had about as much influence on modern poultry farming as any other breed has. Both for eggs and meat. They are still / can be a practical breed to keep, and good examples are beautiful birds. I would like to see both large fowl and bantams bred by more people. I hope a few people that have gotten birds from you will pick them up and work with them and do well with them. I also hope a couple more people that have good birds will become known (at least by me
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Mr. (Mongold?) has contributed to a couple New Hampshire threads recently and I hope that he continues to. It sounds to me that he has been interested in them long enough to have alot to offer.
