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When I awoke this morning, my thoughts went quickly to Bob, and there again came the pall of sadness. Conversely, when I allow myself to go there, I realize that the sadness is covering a bedrock of gratitude and affection. I never--ever--thought that a cyber community could engender such...

What a beautiful witness to how genuine generosity of spirit can move so many to be strive for higher ideals. I find myself welling, too. What a clear witness to how many of us he inspires. Requiescat in pace.

Thanks, OSUman, I just saw the other thread. Darn it, my heart is really heavy. What a special gift, and what an honest inspiration. What a strange yet beautiful mixture of gratitude and sadness. What a mark he has made in each of our lives. How special. Let us, indeed, keep kicking that...

I'm very confused, can somebody please fill me in. Is there a miscommunication??!

Perhaps, but I think it killed the thread ;-)

Isn't that the way of it! Clerking just gets you into a position where knowledge is going to be flowing. I love the stories, and it truly is a great way to become more acquainted with breeds you don't intend to raise. When one combines it with reading the Standard, it just helps everything...

Before you clerk, attend shows for a season or so and read your Standard. Certainly read the first 50 pages multiple times, and then start picking individual breed standards to study. Mybe start with the heavy hitters in your region, i.e. the birds that you see the most so that you can take...

Last little piece of advice: If you ask for advice, take it. Poultry folk are very quick to notice if someone doesn't accept knowledge and act on it. I often talk with newcomers or witness others talking to newcomers that ask a question and then, when the response is one that would imply that...

Otherwise, OCAP, attend as many shows (not random fairs--APA/ABA sanctioned events) as possible. Volunteer for set-up and break down; it's there where you get to know everyone and make valuable connections. Volunteer to clerk whenever possible!!

Interestingly Ocap, the gentleman I mentioned above Don Castle specializes in Australorps (one doesn't need to add "Black"; it's like "mottled" Anconas) and Buff Brahmas. If I see by your tag that those are your two breeds, he's a great resource. Here's his website: Cross Road Poultry. Check...

I'm actually really excited for the opportunities. I very much enjoy clerking. One always walks away with greater depth of knowledge as well as new practices that enhance one's husbandry or assessment.

I'm not sure yet about the Congress. I'm clerking with Erik Nelson in RI, Jeff Halbach in Boston, and Lou Cunningham in Ohio. I haven't figured Congress out yet, Maybe Clell Agler or Jamie Carson.

You know, Bob, I've really come to understand that this "hobby" requires the same dedication that it always did in order to produce birds worthy of those Hall of Fame-ers. They were professionals, and we need to work professionally. We often call this a hobby because it's not a primary income...

Thanks a lot, Walt! It has been a lot of work, but one that has taught me a lot. It's nice to see things beginning to pan out. The Anconas are closer than the Dorkings, but they're both a lot closer than they used to be. I certainly will be at the Congress. I'll be clerking. I think there...

Gjensen, indeed, they look very zippy in the photos. I hope my comments came through in an encouraging way. It's plain to see there are a lot of strong qualities there. The comments of suggestions I made were based on the experience of working on bringing up the Anconas. I found that the...

Gjensen! Yes, they need work...have you seen my Dorkings?! I'm very glad you're working with these. They appear t have good height. They show a lot of thigh. The heads look right. The earlobes look right. They look rather light in colr, but I'm assuming that's sun bleaching from before...

Most people wing band right away. And you're welcome for the advise. Like the others who do this (and most much better than I) the whole goal is setting people who want to be successful up to be successful. The reality is that we need more breeders of better birds, which means we need more...

This pullet just took Champion Mediterranean at the New Hampshire Poultry Fanciers Association annual show. We had another Ancona take Reserve Mediterranean.:

Yup. In the second generation, you can breed the originally bred hens to cockerels as well. To track parentage, toe-punch each chick. This marks their parentage. Every chick from a specific breeding gets the same toe-punch. This is the bare minimum for identification. Then wing band them...

Or..... Put two pullets in a larger pen and then one pullet each in two smaller pens. Breed the cock to the two pullets in the smaller pens. Don't hatch from the two in the larger pen. From the two hens in the smaller pens, hatch as many as you can raise well. Nest generation (get rid of...