The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[SallyinIndiana]

Sorry to hear about the chick but it's better to loose it now then have a weak sickly one that doesn't make it later on. As for the weather, it is nothing for us to get 2 to 3 feet at one time. I'm right at the bottom of the mountain and the wind bellows down off of there. My worst job with the chickens is running back and forth every 2 to 3 hours giving them some warm water. It freezes back up in a really short time. Drives me crazy.
Jim
This may seem like nothing and I've never seen it before but my dusk to dawn light wouldn't even stay on. It would be on for an hour or so then looked like a little candle then it would come back on for a while. lol

I agree better now before I feed it and care for it.
Our outside lights in the coop worked well but the ones on the house did not come on. Now ours are on switches but we would turn the switch to on to keep shoveling the drive but it was too cold, it took almost 30 minutes for the bulb to warm up from a barely visible glow to a dim light. They did not get to be the bright flood lights they normally are.

 

[chixmix]

I came across this the other day, I'm sure some or most of you have seen it. Seems like a simple, effective system. Of course, I would add 1/4 new blood every 5 or so years just to be safe tho. Or do you think that would be too much new blood or too little? I tried copy/paste, it was super messy....So here's the link, it's only 1 page.

http://www.iowabluechickenclub.com/line-breeding-via-spiral-breeding-program.html

 

[Fred's Hens]

I came across this the other day, I'm sure some or most of you have seen it. Seems like a simple, effective system. Of course, I would add 1/4 new blood every 5 or so years just to be safe tho. Or do you think that would be too much new blood or too little? I tried copy/paste, it was super messy....So here's the link, it's only 1 page.

http://www.iowabluechickenclub.com/line-breeding-via-spiral-breeding-program.html

That system would work just fine. It is pretty well the standard fare.

Your statement about adding "new blood". New Blood only means getting some "blood" from a related flock, your partner or someone who has your line elsewhere. To get a cockerel or a couple of cockerels from such a related flock is fine and often done, although as the article you pointed to suggests. That method has been employed with a flock for 90 years with no outside new blood.

Bringing in unrelated "blood" means you now have a ginormous new set of genetics that can great disturb the stability of the line you've been working on. The combinations of freaky things popping out is well understood. Doing an outcross to an unrelated or distant strain almost always means years and years of very hard culling and hard work to stabilize the output and produce predictable results. Your article points to a system where a stable gene pool is left alone, generation after generation.

 

[smarsh]

I am interested in hatching eggs or chicks (soon on the eggs). Can someone put me on the correct trail for heritage RIRs?
closer to Kentucky the better. Thinking about picking up as opposed to mistreating in shipping.

thank you
scott

 

[RedRidge]

 
I came across this the other day, I'm sure some or most of you have seen it. Seems like a simple, effective system. Of course, I would add 1/4 new blood every 5 or so years just to be safe tho. Or do you think that would be too much new blood or too little? I tried copy/paste, it was super messy....So here's the link, it's only 1 page.

http://www.iowabluechickenclub.com/line-breeding-via-spiral-breeding-program.html

That system would work just fine.  It is pretty well the standard fare.

Your statement about adding "new blood".   New Blood only means getting some "blood" from a related flock, your partner or someone who has your line elsewhere.  To get a cockerel or a couple of cockerels from such a related flock is fine and often done, although as the article you pointed to suggests.  That method has been employed with a flock for 90 years with no outside new blood.

Bringing in unrelated "blood" means you now have a ginormous new set of genetics that can great disturb the stability of the line you've been working on.  The combinations of freaky things popping out is well understood.  Doing an outcross to an unrelated or distant strain almost always means years and years of very hard culling and hard work to stabilize the output and produce predictable results.  Your article points to a system where a stable gene pool is left alone, generation after generation.

Well worded Fred!

 

[RedRidge]

I am interested in hatching eggs or chicks (soon on the eggs). Can someone put me on the correct trail for heritage RIRs?
closer to Kentucky the better. Thinking about picking up as opposed to mistreating in shipping.

thank you
scott

I will have a limited number of RC chicks this spring. I am in East TN

 

[chixmix]

That system would work just fine. It is pretty well the standard fare.

Your statement about adding "new blood". New Blood only means getting some "blood" from a related flock, your partner or someone who has your line elsewhere. To get a cockerel or a couple of cockerels from such a related flock is fine and often done, although as the article you pointed to suggests. That method has been employed with a flock for 90 years with no outside new blood.

Bringing in unrelated "blood" means you now have a ginormous new set of genetics that can great disturb the stability of the line you've been working on. The combinations of freaky things popping out is well understood. Doing an outcross to an unrelated or distant strain almost always means years and years of very hard culling and hard work to stabilize the output and produce predictable results. Your article points to a system where a stable gene pool is left alone, generation after generation.

That's even better, I have heard varying opinions on the new blood thing. Some say it is necessary and don't believe for a second that someone carried a flock that long with out it, and some say if done right, no new blood is needed. I would love to never have to add in a whole new mess of genes. What is there to look for indicating it is needed? Infertility maybe?

 

[chixmix]

Also, I bet your original stock relation has a lot to do with that too. Like no brother/sister relations, right?

 

[chixmix]

I can handle the program, but where could I get the quality stock in order to be off on the right track, without getting ripped off again, LOL

 

[RedRidge]

As Bob discusses in several of his earlier threads... An ideal way of maintaining quality breeding lines is to develop a relationship with someone who had similar breeding philosophies, similar goals and likes, and that you can carry through and mirror breeding techniques in the same line. This enables each of you to periodically share genetics every several years without out crossing.
Attend poultry shows and ask questions there and personally of those who have been successful. A good mentor is a priceless and invaluable tool. And good mentors are always looking for good students. Be a good student. Don't be too quick to go off on your own, instead learn from those who have been there done that.