Hi, my name is Sarah. I am fourteen years old and living in Atlantic Canada. Don't let my age fool you, I have been breeding and showing chickens for four years now. Three years ago I learned about 4H, a program that teaches youth, between the ages of 9 and 21, all about different aspects of Agriculture and life skills, depending on the child's interests. Projects include Sewing, Dairy and Beef (cow), Welding, Scrap-booking, Dog- Obedience, Woodworking, Goat, and so much more! I could spend hours talking about each and every project. However, the title of this article is Poultry, and that's what I will be talking about...
So you could be a parent, grandparent, or a Hen-Passionate kid, but I hope that I can teach you something about what keeps me busy from May till October. You might know a kid that is in this project, or maybe you want more information.
Part 1- Buying Your Birds
My first and second year's rooster, a Black Australorp named "La Marcus' Yankee Doodle"
or "Yankee" for short!
Starting in about March, after you've been registered in January, you should be on the lookout for your 4H trio, if you don't already have them picked out. A trio consists of one rooster and two hens, all of the same breed and purebred. They should be without any disqualifications or faults of their breed. They should also be healthy and preferably under two-three years old. Search up the breed you are interested in so you can learn all about them. If you are just starting out, I suggest getting chicks so you can begin training them young so they are easier to work with. Its also important to know the ancestry of your trio, like their sire and dam and how well they did in competition (if they competed) as well as how old they are and their hatch date. Some questions to ask the breeder are
Are they the right color or color pattern for their breed?
How big will they get?
Are they vaccinated against common diseases? (If they aren't you as the new owner should probably do so.)
Do you have the parent stock on-site? If so, can I see them?
"Red Carpet Lady". Another hen in my Trio.
Unfortunately I don't have a pic of "JustanotherDream" the second hen in my Trio of Black Australorps.
Buying your trio is one of the best opportunities to learn about the breed you chose and be prepared to spend roughly $30-$100 for a show quality trio. Please feel free to ask me any questions or comment below on this Topic. Showmanship, Conformation, and cleaning your birds are coming up! I apologise if the images don't show up. i have them on my page if you want to look at them!
So you could be a parent, grandparent, or a Hen-Passionate kid, but I hope that I can teach you something about what keeps me busy from May till October. You might know a kid that is in this project, or maybe you want more information.
Part 1- Buying Your Birds
My first and second year's rooster, a Black Australorp named "La Marcus' Yankee Doodle"
or "Yankee" for short!
Starting in about March, after you've been registered in January, you should be on the lookout for your 4H trio, if you don't already have them picked out. A trio consists of one rooster and two hens, all of the same breed and purebred. They should be without any disqualifications or faults of their breed. They should also be healthy and preferably under two-three years old. Search up the breed you are interested in so you can learn all about them. If you are just starting out, I suggest getting chicks so you can begin training them young so they are easier to work with. Its also important to know the ancestry of your trio, like their sire and dam and how well they did in competition (if they competed) as well as how old they are and their hatch date. Some questions to ask the breeder are
Are they the right color or color pattern for their breed?
How big will they get?
Are they vaccinated against common diseases? (If they aren't you as the new owner should probably do so.)
Do you have the parent stock on-site? If so, can I see them?
"Red Carpet Lady". Another hen in my Trio.
Unfortunately I don't have a pic of "JustanotherDream" the second hen in my Trio of Black Australorps.
Buying your trio is one of the best opportunities to learn about the breed you chose and be prepared to spend roughly $30-$100 for a show quality trio. Please feel free to ask me any questions or comment below on this Topic. Showmanship, Conformation, and cleaning your birds are coming up! I apologise if the images don't show up. i have them on my page if you want to look at them!
