The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Fred, what do you do about your birds when you go south? How long do you go for? Just curious. We used to go up to New England in the summer but the fellow that was looking after the birds died so now I haven't been going up mainly for one reason I have so many birds and it is work to care from them all (a labor of love for me) and I could trust the fellow that did take care of them but I'm leery of finding someone new. There is a young girl, a neighbor but her elevator doesn't go to the top floor. She may do ok. I guess I could give her a weekend try.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Miss Alleda, a few years back, when we had our hands full of produce farming and a small egg business, there was no going anywhere for more than just a couple of quick days here and there. That's it. Always had to rush back for the birds. But life changes. It just a "time in life" deal.

 

[waddles99]

Yes, they were hatched in early April. Cutting it very close for the Red's National in the Ohio National. We'll just have to see how it goes.
But progress is coming along. Nature has to take ti's course and won't be rushed. Here's last week. I can see them change by the week now.

Gorgeous birds. Tails are always late to come in, huh?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Gorgeous birds. Tails are always late to come in, huh?

Everything is late to come in. LOL The tails are now sprouting. I can see some of the birds have very minimal red in the tail. That is a challenging part of breeding Reds. Getting the females free of red and having those tail feathers pure, black/beetle green. Beautiful to see when they're right. Equally important is medium length and a nice wide tent. Remember the Standard says the female's tail angle at 10 degrees is slightly lower than the male's 20 degrees.

 

[waddles99]

Everything is late to come in.  LOL   The tails are now sprouting.  I can see some of the birds have very minimal red in the tail.  That is a challenging part of breeding Reds.  Getting the females free of red and having those tail feathers pure, black/beetle green.   Beautiful to see when they're right.    Equally important is medium length and a nice wide tent.  Remember the Standard says the female's tail angle at 10 degrees is slightly lower than the male's 20 degrees.

One of the first things I noticed when I sold off my production reds and got a couple heritage birds was the tail. Not only is it held much lower, but it is so full and has a great green sheen to it. I have heard people refer to a good tail as a "teepee tail" is that correct? Because that's exactly what it looks like to me. Definitely one of my favorite things about heritage reds. This is one of my birds. I've probably posted this pic before on here but this made me think of this pic.

 

[daxigait]

Some of these pullets are his daughters. The ones that are toe punched outside left. You'll have to zoom some to see those. Still waiting on those tails. I looked. They're coming, but it's sloooooow.

Beautiful. I like the one in second picture. I look forward to seeing them with tails. Still remembering your family. I hope you are getting rested up.

 

[cmom]

My birds aren't quite that far along yet. I do hope by show time I have some ready to show. The big molt has started. It looks like there have been pillow fights in the pens. I have some male birds that need to go so I can rearrange the others. I have someone who will take them but she has to get rid of some birds before she can take them. My plan was to cut down on my hatches this year but that didn't work out so well. I'm taking a few pullets that definitely won't cut the mustard to a swap tomorrow. Hopefully I can find new homes for them. I still have a lot of nice ones.

 

[daxigait]

Mine are starting to get tails


Please ignore the Ameraucana.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Haven't even finished these out this year and my mind is already thinking about the matchup possibilities for next year. But, that's honestly how the mind works. Really want to calm the gene pool down. We've enough diversity just a branch or two up the family tree, so next year should do best by ourselves with only doing father-daughter and mother-son line breedings. Just calm everything down a bit. That's my thinking anyhow. Limit the cousins, uncles or aunts such like that. But first? It's show season coming up, egg laying evaluations and keeping the birds healthy through the long winter which is to come.

But I'm always thinking about how do we get better.

 

[cmom]

I have four different males that I have gotten from Matt so now I have four families. I'm running out of space so should downsize too. I will pick out my best and sell the rest and have one general population pen for my egg layers for my egg customers. I have been doing it so long that some of the customers get a bit upset if I don't have eggs. Now with the molt starting, my egg production has dropped significantly. Now I'm raising my RIR, RIW, White and Brown Leghorns.