Bresse Breeding Program - 10 Year Plan

Summary

In this video, the hosts from Famous Farms discuss their chicken breeding program and the challenges faced during an unusually harsh California winter. Despite losing some top roosters, the remaining chickens have shown resilience. Elizabeth reflects on the importance of patience in breeding, emphasizing that it takes years to perfect the breed. They also touch on their other farm animals, including Black Mouth Cur dogs, mule foot hogs, and cats, which help control rodents. The video offers an insightful look into farm life, breeding challenges, and ongoing efforts to improve their livestock.

Takeaways

• 😀 The winter in California was one of the coldest on record, with heavy snowfall and rainfall, impacting farm activities.
• 😀 Breeding chickens is a long-term process that typically takes about 10 years to refine a strong, resilient breed.
• 😀 Despite the harsh winter, the chickens displayed good hardiness, with many of the hens proving to be resilient and disease-resistant.
• 😀 Two of the best roosters, chosen for their ideal traits (such as dark eyes and good spurs), were unfortunately lost during a winter storm.
• 😀 The breeding program was delayed this year due to the harsh weather conditions, preventing the planned breeding and movement of animals.
• 😀 Some roosters didn’t meet breeding standards and were culled or rehomed, such as a rooster with weak legs.
• 😀 Outcrossing, or introducing new genetic material, is being considered to improve the flock and speed up the breeding process.
• 😀 There is an ongoing effort to maintain chickens that lay plenty of eggs and are hardy enough to thrive in the tough climate.
• 😀 The chickens are not yet at the 'perfect breed' level, but steady progress is being made toward that goal.
• 😀 Broody hens have been hatching eggs on their own, which is encouraging for future generations of the flock.
• 😀 The presence of cats on the farm has helped significantly reduce rodent populations, improving farm health and productivity.

Q & A

What challenges did Famous Farms face during this past winter?

Famous Farms experienced a record-breaking cold winter in California, with an extraordinary amount of snow and rainfall, which caused delays in their breeding program and other farm activities.

What lesson did Elizabeth learn about breeding chickens?

Elizabeth learned that a successful breeding program for chickens can take up to 10 years. She realized that even with consistent breeding, only one out of ten birds might be worth keeping.

What happened to the two best roosters at Famous Farms during the winter?

The two best roosters, one with dark eyes and the other with good Spurs, unfortunately did not survive the harsh winter conditions. They were lost during a storm.

What did Elizabeth notice about the surviving roosters?

The surviving roosters were more hardy and better suited to the difficult weather conditions. Despite the challenges, the remaining roosters showed strong confirmation of body and good size.

Why was the breeding program at Famous Farms delayed?

The breeding program was delayed because the winter extended into May, making it impossible to work outdoors. The harsh weather conditions prevented them from setting up the necessary outdoor brooder and moving animals as planned.

How did Elizabeth feel about the resilience of their chickens?

Elizabeth expressed satisfaction with the resilience of their chickens. They are disease-resistant, hardy, and able to lay a lot of eggs. She is also pleased with their overall health despite the challenging conditions.

What is the significance of the squirrel-tail feature in their chickens?

The squirrel-tail feature is a distinguishing characteristic they are working to maintain in their chickens. It’s part of their efforts to preserve the breed, which has historical significance dating back to early 1900s France.

What are the plans for outcrossing and introducing new genetics into the chicken breed?

Elizabeth is considering outcrossing by bringing in new batches of eggs to improve the breed. This could help address some of the challenges in their current chickens, such as the lack of perfect body confirmation and other desired traits.

What role do the Black Mouth Cur dogs play on the farm?

The Black Mouth Cur dogs help manage the farm's animals, including rounding up roosters and keeping the farm organized. They are valuable in maintaining control over the chickens and other animals.

How does Famous Farms manage rodent issues on the property?

The presence of cats on the farm has significantly reduced rodent and snake problems. With one cat per acre, they’ve been able to keep their property largely free of these pests.