Friday, March 6, 2020
2020 Chicks
Some of the cutest little teddybear chicks I ever saw! So proud to see the next generation hatching, Samson's grandchildren.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Quality Breeds For A Buck?
I'm pretty gripey this morning because I have the flu, but, this is something that bothers me even when I'm not sick...
I'm not trying to be a heifer guys, but, over and over again I see people wanting expensive birds for swap prices. I've seen plenty of breeders talk about this so I know I'm not alone here. If you dig around and talk with people who have really good quality breeds, you'll find out that they have often had to pay heafty prices to get started with their breeding stock, spent countless hours/years working on them, have all the expense of raising and housing them..it's ridiculous to expect to buy from them for next to nothing unless it's a cull bird that's basically pet quality only. People want pairs ready to go and laying so all the work has been done for them, they want only hens no roosters, show quality at that. LoL, well, that's just not going to happen. They also mention how they can get swap birds for $10..you're getting what you pay for then, and sometimes disease. Yep, you can get hatchery chicks also, a whole lot cheaper than from a breeder, but they'll likely never be what you want them to be.
The birds that I've listed for sale are at very fair prices for what they are, and alot of the time I've taken a loss on them!
I realize sometimes that people don't understand what it takes behind the scenes to raise them, but it's an insult to want excellent quality and rare breeds from someone for a buck. Shrugs
People will be people!
I'm not trying to be a heifer guys, but, over and over again I see people wanting expensive birds for swap prices. I've seen plenty of breeders talk about this so I know I'm not alone here. If you dig around and talk with people who have really good quality breeds, you'll find out that they have often had to pay heafty prices to get started with their breeding stock, spent countless hours/years working on them, have all the expense of raising and housing them..it's ridiculous to expect to buy from them for next to nothing unless it's a cull bird that's basically pet quality only. People want pairs ready to go and laying so all the work has been done for them, they want only hens no roosters, show quality at that. LoL, well, that's just not going to happen. They also mention how they can get swap birds for $10..you're getting what you pay for then, and sometimes disease. Yep, you can get hatchery chicks also, a whole lot cheaper than from a breeder, but they'll likely never be what you want them to be.
The birds that I've listed for sale are at very fair prices for what they are, and alot of the time I've taken a loss on them!
I realize sometimes that people don't understand what it takes behind the scenes to raise them, but it's an insult to want excellent quality and rare breeds from someone for a buck. Shrugs
People will be people!
Saturday, November 23, 2019
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.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
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.
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.
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
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
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