Featured Breed/Variety for the month of May 2012

Welsummers

 Facts

Every morning as a kid I ate cornflakes and I never knew the Kellogg's Corn Flake Rooster, "Cornelius" was a Welsummer. I do remember thinking he was such a wonderful rooster.
Named after the village of Welsum, this Dutch breed has in its make-up such breeds as the Partridge Cochin, Partridge Wyandotte, Partridge Leghorn and still later the Barnevelder and the Rhode Island Red. In 1928, stock was imported into this country from Holland, in particular for its large brown egg, which remains its special feature, some products being mottled with brown spots. The dark brown pigment of the egg can actually be rubbed off as it is added at the end of the egg laying sequence. Welsummers have their own distinctive markings and color, and fit nicely into the light breed category, although it has good body-size. The colorful Welsummer has an upright stance with a strong, short beak, broad back, full breast and large full tail. It has a small single comb and medium wattles. The skin and shanks are yellow. The almond-shaped earlobes are red, and the eyes are reddish bay. While the standard color is red partridge, the male plumage is quite different from the plumage of the females. The saddle, head and neck of the male are golden brown; the back, wing front and wing bows are bright reddish brown. The female’s feathers have a distinctly lighter shaft, and each back feather is reddish brown, dotted with black. The breed was admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1991. There are 3 varieties, Silver Duckwing, gold and black-red partridge. Judges and breeders work to a standard that values indications of productiveness, so that laying merits can be combined with beauty.

Interesting facts about Welsummers

• Welsummer chickens are purported to be one of the top free-range foragers of all the layers and lay more eggs than Marans. They lay a large rich brown Terra cota colored egg.
• Pullet eggs average 1.96 oz (55.5 g) just a hair shy of the USDA "large" classification of 2.00 oz. Eggs from adult hens consistently hit the large and extra large USDA weights. The hens lay around 160 eggs per year.
• Chicks are strong and are easily sexed as females have much darker head and back markings than males.
• They lay fewer eggs during the winter.
• They are friendly, easily handled birds which love to free range and forage for food but can also be kept in runs quite happily.
• They do go broody but not usually until late spring but are not particularly good mothers.
• They are productive for 3 years of their 9 year lifespan.

Featured Breed/Variety of the month for April 2012

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire were developed from the Rhode Island Red around 1915 in New Hampshire. Farmers in New Hampshire continued breeding and came up with a hen that matures early, has large brown eggs, feathers quickly and has lots of strength and vigor. The New Hampshire was recognized by the Standard of Perfection in 1935. The New Hampshire is a large dual purpose bird, with a single comb. They are known for their friendliness,can be easily handled,and can be docile if they are handled frequently.
The accurate name for the breed is simply New Hampshire. These birds are of German bloodlines. If you are interested in raising quality New Hampshires email me at carondesign@yahoo.com and I will give you the contact information to order them. Mine are chicks right now so I can not provide eggs or chicks.

photo courtesy of J. Jefferson

photo courtesy of J. Jefferson

photo courtesy of J. Jefferson

Chicks for sale

Featured Breed/Variety of the month for January 2012

The Barred Rock 

The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety. Whatever you call them, you can't beat them for steady, reliable chickens. Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.The face of a Plymouth Rock is red with red ear lobes, a bright yellow beak, bay-colored eyes, and a single comb of moderate size. Their feathers are fairly loosely held but not so long as to easily tangle. The chicken's bottom feathers are soft and downy, like baby chicks feathers.
In terms of temperament, both roosters and hens are calm and will get along well with people and other animals such as pets. The hens often will go broody if in the right environment, and are good mothers. To read more about these magnificient birds and to view more pictures click here.

  

Update

My Barred Rock pullet "Baby" won Best of Variety, Best of Breed and Reserve American Class Champion at Bluebonnet Classic 2012.

Baby in the photo-shoot box at Bluebonnet Classic 2012

Featured Breed/Variety of the month for December

Silver Laced Wyandottes

  

 The Silver Laced Wyandotte has white feathers with black edges to every feather, an effect called lacing. The tail is black and the standard of perfection states they should have yellow legs. The silver laced was developed in New York state in the early 1870s and was admitted to the standard in 1883. The silver laced wyandotte was the base for all other colors. Wyandottes lay good-sized light brown eggs and at maturity they weigh in at 8 1/2 pounds for the males and 7 pounds for the the females. Wyandottes are good dual purpose birds, especially the White and Silver Laced varieties which have been bred for utility, as well as for show. All pics are of my birds below.

All material © 2011 Wyandottes and Rocks (WAR's).  All rights reserved.

one of my 5 month old cockerals spreading his wings (bird belongs to WAR'S)

cockeral and hen (birds belong to WAR'S)

5 months old and still has a long ways to go to reach full size (bird belongs to WAR'S)

1 year old hen looking for bugs (bird belongs to WAR'S)

Girls looking for things (bird belongs to WAR'S)

To see more pics of these lovely birds click here

Breed of the month

Featured Breed/Variety  of the month for November 2011 - Partridge Rocks

My PR rooster "Romney" with one of his daughters (bird belongs to WAR'S)

What literature says about these birds-
 Partridge Plymouth Rocks are a very rare variety of the Plymouth Rock family. The males possess one of the most beautiful plumage patterns, which makes them an excellent exhibition bird. They have most of the common characteristics of the Barred and White Rocks and are considered a popular and efficient dual purpose breed. The hens are great layers of large brown eggs and are also known to make excellent setters. Males weigh in around 9 to 10 pounds and females weigh in from 7 to 8 pounds. Partridge Rocks handle temperature extremes with relative ease with the right accommodations.

All material © 2011 Wyandottes and Rocks (WAR's).  All rights reserved.

Lovely PR Rock pullet (bird belongs to WAR'S)

My own personal opinion of these birds-

The most important factor in breeding Plymouth Rocks or any other breed is shape or also known as type. "Type makes the breed, followed by color the variety." These Partridge rocks have correct type which can be readily observed.

Next I have to say that they are egg laying machines and the eggs have great fertility with my healthy virile males.  If I set 25 eggs 23 will always hatch. The males are a beautiful addition to the farm yard and the females look lovely next to them with their contrasting plumage. They love to free range and tend to adapt well to climate change and stress of living in Texas out in the wilderness.
I am breeding the father Romney whose type and color pleases me back to his daughters this year. This type of breeding style assures me that the offspring with be the same. Line breeding involves breeding a strain back to itself to promote and perpetuate the good qualities that the line possesses and not bring in unknown lines which may produce a bad outcome. In my opinion line breeding is a valuable breeding tool when you stay in its perimeters.

Romney eyeing someone else's girls look at his Rock body (type) (bird belongs to WAR'S)

Black Australorps invade Farmer in the Martindale

This cockeral "Socrates" is very friendly and huge

My friend Jeffrey has the most beautiful black chickens that have a world record for laying quite a few eggs and I decided I had to get me some, so I was able to convince him to help me out. These birds are descendents of a very good strain that does very well at shows. You know me I am convinced that it costs just as much to raise a good chicken as it does a bad one so of course they had to be quality birds. The Australorp was developed in Australia. It is frequently described in comparison to the Orpingtons, because the Australorp is based on Black Orpington breed stock, which was imported into Australia in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.The name says it all Austra (from Australia) and lorp (Orpington). The Black Orpington was created usingRhode Island Reds and a few other breeds including the Langshan, and the Minorca to create an “egg laying machine.”
The Australorp is a black bird whose feathers show flashes of metallic green and purple in the sun. They have a single comb, and are very weather-hardy.
Being descended from Orpingtons, the Australorp has retained the Orpington’s calm and friendly nature. The Australorp is slightly smaller than the Orpington with Roosters weighing in at about 8.5 pounds, and hens at 6.5 pounds. If you would like to get show quality Black Australorps contact Jeffrey Thornton click here to view his website.

Lining up for their pics