Hoppers

Most websites will tell you that LF Cochins are non-flyers and are easily contained by 2ft tall fencing...i will even tell you that. 

They do not however say that Cochins are non-hoppers LoL!

There's always an exception to the rule, and his name is Samson. 😄 

He wanted to look out the window.

How Cochins Have Changed..

My toes are frozen! I'll be glad to see this weather-in-the-teens stuff move out of here. The winterizing of coops paid off. The water had a tiny bit of ice but weren't frozen..success lol. 

Someone posted this drawing in a poultry group, and mentioned how breeds have change over the years and asked how people felt about that..

I have mixed feelings about it. I love how good quality Cochins and Silkies of today look. But, it seems like the quest for breeding living balls of feathers has not only changed how the breed looks over time, but has also affected fertility, function ect. to some degree. I guess each breeder has to decide if they will stick to current trends, or prefer to breed back to what we know of the breeds hundreds of years ago.

Competition, Catty Silkie People?

I saw a post reply in a group by someone earlier, someone who would know, that there's no drama between breeders like that of Silkie breeders(and owners.)
I'm sure that there is with other breeds, maybe lol, but I've definitely seen catty and stupid behavior over this past year.
Newcomers ask for help with breeding, feeding, showing and other topics and a lot of the time can't find anyone wiling to help. Can't give away those trade secrets! It's a shame.
Some are mad that you don't mention that some of your birds came from them. Some are mad that you DO mention it.
I've hatched from quite a variety of people. Many who show and have winners year in and year out. However, some eggs didn't hatch, some weren't even fertile, and some hatched fine but trust me, not every chick grew out to be a show quality bird. Some had faults that I'm kind of sure they've had to know crop up in their lines, some had more than one case of wry neck(but no chicks from my own birds did so I don't believe nutrition was a cause) but, I'll give the benefit of the doubt instead of accusing.
Some of us, including me, have spent quite a bit on eggs or birds, to sometimes end up pretty disappointed.
It's the risk you have to be willing to take.
I know someone who spent $150 on a dozen eggs, and only had one chick to hatch. That ended up being a $150 bird.
Sometimes flocks carry MG and other diseases that pass through the bird and the egg, and the breeder is totally unaware of it existing in their birds. Sometimes they are aware, and sell anyway. Some breeders never sell anything due to fear of someone competing against them, and others only sell their culls but don't mention why they are culls to the buyer.
I don't like dishonesty, or braggarts, or backstabbing, or competing like kindergarteners in a spelling bee. I also don't like people who apparently buy eggs or birds with unrealistic expectations or demands when they agreed to the terms of the seller beforehand, yet trash talk the seller anyway.
I've seen alot people saying that all of the above makes them want to get out of it totally. I don't blame them! I hope they don't give up the hobby though, even if they choose to keep chickens for fun, not showing or breeding.
All it takes is one false claim against you to make people believe the worst. I'm a person who stays to myself anyway. As they say, I'm not antisocial, but I AM selectively social lol.
I dont know if I'll ever bring new birds in again due to the risk of disease, defects ect. I plan to work with what I have at this point. I definitely am not mentioning where my foundation birds came from anymore because then you just might get accused of "name dropping."
I have a Bible verse on some of my page graphics ect, and I'll continue to apply it..
1Thess 4:11!
The pictures shared are my grandchildren, and nephew and nieces..and right there guys, is what's its all about.

When Beginning Breeding - Foundation Birds

Good advice for beginning your breeding adventure..

Harvest Breeze Farm - Buying Birds

Nutrition - Bred To Perfection Podcast

Bred To Perfection podcast - PT 3 of an Interview with Jeff Mattocks, poultry nutritionist. There's a wealth of important information shared on feeding, care and breeding!
What about apple cider vinegar, scratch grains, medicated chick feed, mixing your own feed, supplements, causes of fertility and defect issues? All that and more touched on in the series. I'm going to be changing a few things and sticking with others..when you think you already know everything, that's the clear sign that you don't. 
We never stop learning.

Bred To Perfection Podcast

Shipping Hikes

You all may remember me posting on facebook about shipping costs going up, a lot. Horizon has a tutorial for cutting down their original boxes(happens to be the size I have on hand,) to make it more affordable. It won't accommodate large birds but should work fine for bantams like Silkies or juveniles of any breed. They've also made new boxes, which I'll get after I use these up.
Here's the tutorial:

Shipping Poultry

Frizzle Satin AKA Sizzle

I just love this little cockerel 😄
King Harry..we had fun raising so many chicks this year, but there's always a few that stand out. Harry was hatched from Sheri Minkner, he's about 6-7 months old now. After asking Sheri what pen he came from, she said he's a blue based blue cream. I've had him available a few times for a new home only because I really didn't know what color girls I'd put him with. I'm glad there were no takers! I may put him with a blue girl, or self blue blue cream for fun and see what hatches, but he's got the best temperament ever. He's been my chick babysitter several times, and gladly feeds them and watches over them, and he's good to the pullets. I've raised several Silkie and satin boys this year and the majority became little jerks by 5 months lol.
But not Harry. And he definitely knows his name!
Even though Satins/Sizzles are not an accepted variety yet, I'd love to show him..everyone that sees him thinks he's the cutest thing!
I know some Silkie breeders are totally against Satins being accepted as a variety of Silkie, but I hope they are one day. If bred to the silke SOP, they truly are identical to silkies except for the hard feathers. They're adorable.
Hopefully, I'll have some little Harry's available next year!

Snow On The Pumpkin

So, we're looking at dipping below freezing already this week..have you all done any winterizing yet? I got my large fowl moved to the farm and they love it, and the white silkies have moved in and are nestled in the "mini barn" now. I've been putting up plastic the last few days to block drafts and rain/snow. Deep bedding and adding just a little heat are almost done in each pen. I'm well aware of the debate about using supplemental heat lol, but my silkies and Satins, especially frizzles, need a little, and I'm hoping to keep their water from freezing. The lights are secured with chain and heavy wire and are out of reach..not hard to do with non flyers!
I'm going to experiment with this little portable greenhouse. I'm hoping to keep it above freezing at least and see if I can't grow some cool weather greens over the winter for the chickens. I've also got mouse poison secured to keep the nasty little varmits at bay. You've all heard me declare my hatred for mice and snakes lol.
Are you all ready to tread mud and watch your chickens from the window? You know, it would be fun to get a super cheap live cam and put in the coops..then we could still stay entertained by the fuzz balls over the winter.

Use Whatcha Got

We've always lived by it, being poor folk and all ya know lol..
"Use it up,
Wear it out.
Make it do, or
Do without."
Advice from the depression era, good for all generations.
Vinegar bottle becomes a feed scoop and treat bowl.

😊