The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Matt1616]

The Rev Jim Fegan stopped by again yesterday.  Always great to spend some time with Jim, who is getting up there in years.  Jim was telling me about a big Reds show he was asked to judge out east recently.  As he did his chicken pickin' he found most the Red bantams quote: "didn't have any black in their wing cuts".  He was sorely displeased with that.

He did find one good Red, he said.  In fact, he took him up to Champion row and the bird was made Champion American. 

@Matt1616
  Jim looked over a bunch of these bantam chicks.  Took two pair home with him. I was delighted to have him do so. 

That is quite a compliment Fred...or at least that is the way I'm going to take it....lol. I hope you get some good ones out of those chicks!

Matt

 

[Fred's Hens]

Matt, I've not done any sorting or culling at all. Have taken no photos at all. Just feeding them out. They're healthy and there's around 40 of them be-bopping around in outside grassy pens now. I'll tell you more what Jim said when I see you. Yes, it was/is the highest of compliments. You took it right.

The birds are just terrific Matt. I cannot wait to condition a few of the better ones, along with E-man the grandson, and take them this fall somewhere or somewheres.

Yet to be determined.


Rest asssured, these Reds will indeed have black in their wings cuts. I've seen a whole lot of bantams in my day, thousands of them probably. You already know why I like this strain why I cose what I chose. If they make me happy, then I'm happy. You gotta be happy with what you're feeding. Other strains might please other folks and that's fine. That's what makes the fancy world go 'round. It's all good. Like what you're feeding. If they please you? Then, thank the good Lord for life and health and get on with it.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I have always fed my chicken game bird feed as chicken feed did not have what it took for my birds to mature out properly. I was told by a poultry nutritionist that if you give a chicken excess protein that they just expel it in their waste. He said it didn't hurt them. You may get a different opinion from someone else. I know people that feed show birds 30% Turkey starter their whole life so I don't really consider 20-25% protein to much. My starter is 26% and the grower is 20%.

Matt

That's a handy piece of information for my notes, Matt. Thank you for sharing. Between you and Fred, I may have a shot at being successful...

That is quite a compliment Fred...or at least that is the way I'm going to take it....lol. I hope you get some good ones out of those chicks!

Matt

You should definitely take it as a compliment! I started drooling when Fred changed his avatar to those birds. They're gorgeous...

 

[waddles99]

I have always fed my chicken game bird feed as chicken feed did not have what it took for my birds to mature out properly. I was told by a poultry nutritionist that if you give a chicken excess protein that they just expel it in their waste. He said it didn't hurt them. You may get a different opinion from someone else. I know people that feed show birds 30% Turkey starter their whole life so I don't really consider 20-25% protein to much. My starter is 26% and the grower is 20%.

Matt

Maybe thats why the brooder always smells bad when I use high protein feed

In all seriousness, though, that is very interesting that you bring that up. I would've guessed there is such a thing as too much protein, and it could damage a bird. I can see how it makes sense, though. Im planning on making a run to TractorSupply this weekend, and I will have to look around at some starter/grower for my girls(and one boy, oops). Their current feed is 16%, they don't look particularly bad, but just a little bit more would probably make a big difference. They are only 7-8 weeks old currently and have a show this October. I would maybe like to have them at the NJ State Fair in August, but that may not happen. For the meantime, Im probably going to pick up a good 20% feed for them. I don't want to go any higher. And, you said your grower is 20%, too.

 

[cmom]

This is what I feed mine.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

 

[waddles99]

Very nice birds. The cockerel at 0:05 in the middle looks like a beast. Love the depth on his chest. Same with the guy at 0:36. They all have really good type. Hard to believe they're only 7 weeks old. They're growing like weeds. I can't wait to see how they turn out. Which ones do you have your eye on to breed?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Very nice birds. The cockerel at 0:05 in the middle looks like a beast. Love the depth on his chest. Same with the guy at 0:36. They all have really good type. Hard to believe they're only 7 weeks old. They're growing like weeds. I can't wait to see how they turn out. Which ones do you have your eye on to breed?

Thanks, waddles. You have a good eye... the two cockerels you mentioned are the top choices at the moment. They're cousins. The first (0:05) one's sire was a grand champion, and the second (0:36) one's sire was the champion's brother. Different dams, of course. I have at least 2 good pullets from each family that I can use to breed with them.

 

[waddles99]

Thanks, waddles. You have a good eye... the two cockerels you mentioned are the top choices at the moment. They're cousins. The first (0:05) one's sire was a grand champion, and the second (0:36) one's sire was the champion's brother. Different dams, of course. I have at least 2 good pullets from each family that I can use to breed with them.

May I ask, where did you get these chicks from? Did you breed them yourself?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Of course you may ask! I may not tell you, but you certainly can ask...

Just kidding!!! I got my eggs from cmom (Hilltop Farms) and hatched these. Looks like there are going to be some nice birds in this group, and I'll be starting my breeding program in the spring. I'll keep evaluating them throughout the year, but won't make my final decision(s) until breeding time...