The American Cemani Breeders Club...open forum

[Randy2010]

I agree
We should swap lines.
But also make pledges to select and cull our lines to create a pure American breed we all can agree upon. With more lines involved it is very possible to breed out the non black anomalies and low egg production traits which plague the cemani breed.

Chickenwingo feels the way he does about not trading his birds because they are already pretty much pure. ( a fact I am jealous of) bravo and well done to him.

But for the rest of us.

I would love to trade birds until we can all set an American standard which we all can consistently breed. We cannot let one farm (green fire) define this entire breed simply because they charge more and have a fancy website.

We should band together
Sort of like a guild.

What say you?

Well I will have all of the lines out there as far as I know once I receive mine from wolfwhtye. I plan on breeding each line separate and keeping records on how the chicks, birds from each line turns out and the problems with each line. Then I plan on blending some of the lines together also to see what improvements that I can get and do to help fix the problems in the lines that need it.(example, any white down or feathers, skin color other than black, any reddish color in comb or waddles and so on.)

I agree with Chickenwingo, I don't think many people are going to just trade eggs from Greenfire lines with just anyone. I may sell chicks myself to help someone lines out, but I'm not to much into trading eggs.

I also don't plan on breeding for egg production either, my line from Toni-Marie lay fairly good and I don't intend on breeding them to be a laying breed. And hopefully I will know for sure myself how the ones that I have from Greenfire Farms do on laying.

For the first few years all I am breeding for is for each chick to hatch out as black as they can be, and hoping they are the blackish that I can get them. Inside and out. And I think this should be the first thing people focus on to improve their lines so we do have the best in the US. And not just to be in it to make a fast buck.

 

[Randy2010]

One more thing that I want to add, if you are trying to improve these birds, swapping eggs to me isn't the best way. I would rather buy the best rooster, hen, or pair and know what I am getting than wasting my time with eggs that you don't know what you are going to get out of them, and have to spend the time raising them and taking a chance that they could be less quality than what you already have.

 

[Steadfast]

I agree.
There are way to many problems with eggs
I was referring to swapping birds.

 

[Chickenwingo]

Listen to Randy2010 he is very smart and has knowledge beyond you can even start to understand.

 

[Steadfast]

Listen to Randy2010 he is very smart and has knowledge beyond you can even start to understand.

Amen brother!
Preach it!

Hey, I know my place
and I have zero problem acknowledging experience.

That is why I am such a good student.
And why I end up successful in the end.

 

[Pyxis]

Well, it seems like most people aren't going to want to swap bloodlines, and that's fine. If I sell a couple dozen eggs on eBay I could probably afford to buy my own Green fire pair anyway.

Anyway, here's some advice I got from wolfwhyte that I want to pass on to those of you will Greenfire birds: if they lay as badly as Greenfire says they does, don't cross the roosters from that line into other lines. Egg production comes from the rooster, so you want to pit roosters from your most productive hens over your hens. Otherwise you could damage egg production.

 

[Randy2010]

Listen to Randy2010 he is very smart and has knowledge beyond you can even start to understand.

Thanks Chickenwingo, there are a lot more people out there I know with more experience than me, I just try to pass on what I have learn or have been told by others.

I just don't want to see people waster their time or money and besides breeding better birds, that they breed them selves down or into a hole. And if they are going to trade, sell or what ever, at least be honest about what faults their lines may have.

 

[Randy2010]

Well, it seems like most people aren't going to want to swap bloodlines, and that's fine. If I sell a couple dozen eggs on eBay I could probably afford to buy my own Green fire pair anyway.

Anyway, here's some advice I got from wolfwhyte that I want to pass on to those of you will Greenfire birds: if they lay as badly as Greenfire says they does, don't cross the roosters from that line into other lines. Egg production comes from the rooster, so you want to pit roosters from your most productive hens over your hens. Otherwise you could damage egg production.

I do plan on crossing my rooster from Greenfire to my other lines, I'm not worried about egg production, I have Toni-Marie lines and my two girls are laying every day. I think everyone should be more worried about getting the breed right first so it does breed completely black and not worry so much about egg production.

 

[Steadfast]

I also agree
that when we breed we should go for consistent BLACK first.

That is why I will be immediately crossing my smithsonian line of black roosters with mikes line of very dark fast egg laying hens.

Once I finally get them.
And once they come of age.

 

[Phage]

One more thing that I want to add, if you are trying to improve these birds, swapping eggs to me isn't the best way. I would rather buy the best rooster, hen, or pair and know what I am getting than wasting my time with eggs that you don't know what you are going to get out of them, and have to spend the time raising them and taking a chance that they could be less quality than what you already have.

Well said!