The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

Quote:
I do.

 

[Fred's Hens]

So then how old do you cull? Surely you dont raise 100+ birds to over a year?

I've only culled a few LF this year, to date, but we started late. Didn't hatch until April, so they're just now coming into the age whereby I can cull. Breeding LF is expensive and helps explain why there are so few of these birds being bred. They take a long time to mature and eat the whole time. Infrastructure requirements are also tough. This is why Bob used to say that new folks come in with excitement but between the difficulties of all it soon join the "Here today, Gone tomorrow club" That was Bob term.

This is also why we try hard to tell folks over and over again that they probably have way too many breeds to do any of them justice individually. They tend to turn a deaf or not understanding ear to the warning. We can only do what we can to mentor folks in this hobby. Bob had another famous saying on this thread. "Many are called, but very few are chosen. Are you one of the chosen?" he'd ask.
What a character he was.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hope R4z6ghttps://youtu.be/Jl7mILR4z6g

 

[Fred's Hens]

youtu.be/Jl7mILR4z6g


If you haven't seen this long youtube video that Bob made almost 20 years ago, it is well worth watching. Hope these links work. I'm fighting the whole tech thing this morning.

 

[waddles99]

I've only culled a few LF this year, to date, but we started late. Didn't hatch until April, so they're just now coming into the age whereby I can cull. Breeding LF is expensive and helps explain why there are so few of these birds being bred. They take a long time to mature and eat the whole time. Infrastructure requirements are also tough. This is why Bob used to say that new folks come in with excitement but between the difficulties of all it soon join the "Here today, Gone tomorrow club" That was Bob term.

This is also why we try hard to tell folks over and over again that they probably have way too many breeds to do any of them justice individually. They tend to turn a deaf or not understanding ear to the warning. We can only do what we can to mentor folks in this hobby. Bob had another famous saying on this thread. "Many are called, but very few are chosen. Are you one of the chosen?" he'd ask.
What a character he was.

It surely is expensive, I cant imagine how people do it. It costs me $75 a month to feed my 12 birds. I cannot imagine spending $750 a month for a whole year raising 100 birds to get out maybe 5 good birds. Thats $9000 in a year. Maybe I need to find a cheaper feed! Everything is expensive in NJ. It surely does take dedication. I have so much respect for people who raise up 100+ birds a year, I can't imagine how they do it. I can only hope to one day work up to that amount. I'm still learning a lot and don't feel I am educated enough to be breeding yet. Plus keeping cock birds isn't really practical for me right now. I still have my entire flock at someone else's house until we move to our own place next summer.

There is no way I would ever be breeding anything other than Reds. Not only are they, in my opinion, the ultimate breed of chicken there is, but there is no way I could handle anything else! To decide to breed a certain breed to the standard requires such dedication and persistence I don't think I could offer that to more than one breed.

When we get our own place, I'll still love my ameraucanas and wyandottes, but you'll only find RIR's being bred there

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Right now I go through around 600 to 800lbs of feed a week. This is the expensive time of the year because I'm feeding my older egg laying birds as well as my youngsters. As long as I can I will. I feed my birds FRM Show Gold Grower pellets. If for some reason I run out of the Show Gold Grower, I feed my birds Game Bird Pellets. They are both 20% protein as now the molt has started so protein is good. Now I'm off to feed and repair a little damage to one of the coops from the storm "Hermine". We got a lot of heavy wind.

 

[waddles99]

Right now I go through around 600 to 800lbs of feed a week. This is the expensive time of the year because I'm feeding my older egg laying birds as well as my youngsters. As long as I can I will. I feed my birds FRM Show Gold Grower pellets.

Alright, my feed is definitely way overpriced. Unfortunately, its the only thing that I can get around here that makes my birds look good. I probably go through 120 lbs of feed a month and that costs $75. I feed a mixture of a bunch of stuff. I get a layer ration, put in 2 bags of conditioner, a can of oats, and then some black oil sunflower seeds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The Late Robert Blosl, Silverhill, Alabama​

For those who never had the pleasure of hearing Robert "Bob" Blosl talk Reds, this priceless old video Bob shot, I believe for Dennis Myers, back in the early 90's, some 25 years ago, is well worth a half hour of your time. It will enlighten those just getting started about history of the breed and those who pushed it's quality along during that time of the early 1990's. This will also help folks wrap their minds around hatching 60+ males and 60+ females, raising them, trying things in the breed pen, and work to perfect the breed. Whether Bob was really noted for being a top breeder I'll leave for others to judge. What can be said is that few folks did more to promote the breed than Bob. Here he is, in his own words. Enjoy.


youtu.be/Jl7mILR4z6g




Rest in Peace, Bob

 

[cmom]

Quote:
My birds get good feed too. There is no way I'll buy anything else. People are what they eat and so it goes also for the birds. Rural King at times sells feed for $7.99 a 50# bag and it is basic and supplies the necessary basic nutrients but that is it.

 

[waddles99]

My birds get good feed too. There is no way I'll buy anything else. People are what they eat and so it goes also for the birds. Rural King at times sells feed for $7.99 a 50# bag and it is basic and supplies the necessary basic nutrients but that is it.

I spend probably $30 collectively on 50 lbs of feed...