That egg is beautiful! I cant wait until my pullets start laying, but like your Sylvie it probably wont be until 9 months. And the eggs probably wont be as beautiful as yours either!
2015 Pacific Poultry Breeders Association Show NOW MODESTO
- Thread starter dldolan
- Start date
- Dec 15, 2014
- 10
- 0
- 24
I'm hoping to attend aswell I'm a brand newbie so I'm kinda lost. I have a rooster I'm hoping to find a home for he's a silver araucana I live in the city so I can't keep him. Can anyone sale birds at the show?
The main page has contact info, hopefully they can tell you whether or not that's possible.
http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Pacific_Poultry_Breeders.html
I've never been before either so I'm uncertain as to if there are a center number of birds you need to have in order to be allowed a booth, or table to sell at.
http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Pacific_Poultry_Breeders.html
I've never been before either so I'm uncertain as to if there are a center number of birds you need to have in order to be allowed a booth, or table to sell at.
- Thread starter
- #14
Welcome to you both! I've found BYC to be an amazing resource.
dldolan any luck with getting the 30th off? Maybe everyone from byc should wear little pins so we all recognize each other.
- Thread starter
- #16
Great idea! I am hoping that I can swing it at this point! But it is now farther away, which I am bummed about. Sigh. I'll have to check the Marans group and see if there is an egg show, as then I'll have an "excuse"! My Splash gal just started laying the bottom egg at 9 months! Took her long enough, but looks gorgeous!
That is a beautiful egg! Makes me want to get a couple of marans.
One Chick Two
Songster
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,067
- 246
- 206
We went to this last year when the show was at the fairgrounds. Possibly considering attending again this year.
The showing areas and even the "barn" sale area was huge and overwhelming. Roosters crowing, people in close quarters... strollers everywhere (at least they kept bumping into us. lol) Think Costco filled with birds... Huge. Lots of walking. Get there as early as possible. We got to the sale area 1 hour late, and all the birds we really wanted were purchased already. All the BC Marans we purchased had major flaws, and badly needed worming, but at the time we didn't know enough about the breed to avoid the big pitfalls, so we purchased some pretty duds at top dollar.
Fortunately, eventually things worked out, and we were able to trade a hen, and purchase a few better birds from that breeder, so we aren't stuck anymore with birds that can't be bred.
Wear walking shoes, have plenty of water or drinks, and a cellphone (most sellers will need to be called). Bring a few dog carriers in the car, or boxes or totes with large holes cut into them. If you plan on purchasing bantams under 2 lbs, you can use clean dog carrier purses to cart them around.
If you plan on buying really complicated birds for breeding like BCM, have a list of important questions ready, and do enough research that you know how the bird should ideally look like. Bring a pen and paper, and retain the breeder's # number or email address as you may need to ask questions, etc.
Look closely at both of the bird's eyes for irregularities, look for a overall healthful look, and ill demeanor like hunching or fluffed feathers. See if there is any "snot" woven in the shoulder or saddle feathers, or if you smell any off smells around the head. Expect to quarantine any newcomers for at least a month.
For any birds you purchase, ask questions like:
When were they born?
Are they purebred? (Sure nothing else mixed in?)
If the breeder gets mad... tough... Tell them I told you there are too many unintentional mixed breeds out there not to ask. Four of our 6 birds were split for Wheaten when they should have been ER Birchen based. They all looked like pure BCM.
Are you breeding toward SOP?
Have you ever had a respiratory infection in your flock? (I'd pass if the awnser is yes- respiratory issues can mean that a bird may be a carrier but asymptomatic, so, it may not show any symptoms.)
Mereks disease?
Are you breeding toward resistance to anything?
When was the last time you wormed your chickens? (Watch their droppings carefully as this will tell you a lot about what's happening with them.)
Check the legs for raised scales. Scaly leg mite is contagious and hard to cure, but curable with diligence.
Look under wings and vent for lice.
Look for missing toes or foreshortened toes on feathered shanked breeds, split or slipped wing, comb sprigs on single combs, double spurs, and other DQ or genetic issues that should not be bred forward.
For POL pullet's and hens, check the pelvic bone spacing to see if she is close to lay, or laying. There should be at least about a 2" width, and her comb should be red and plump, not pale or dry looking. For adult hens check the same things, but really feel the bone spacing, and asked when the last time she laid an egg and see if they have an egg sample from her. If I purchase any more BCM, I would have to see a recent sample of their egg color before purchasing a pullet or hen, and it needs to be at least a #4 on the Marans scale. I would never purchase another Marans without knowing the history and egg color unless I was prepared for the worst.
I think good birds can be found, just be very choosy and careful, and don't fall in love too quickly.
The showing areas and even the "barn" sale area was huge and overwhelming. Roosters crowing, people in close quarters... strollers everywhere (at least they kept bumping into us. lol) Think Costco filled with birds... Huge. Lots of walking. Get there as early as possible. We got to the sale area 1 hour late, and all the birds we really wanted were purchased already. All the BC Marans we purchased had major flaws, and badly needed worming, but at the time we didn't know enough about the breed to avoid the big pitfalls, so we purchased some pretty duds at top dollar.
Wear walking shoes, have plenty of water or drinks, and a cellphone (most sellers will need to be called). Bring a few dog carriers in the car, or boxes or totes with large holes cut into them. If you plan on purchasing bantams under 2 lbs, you can use clean dog carrier purses to cart them around.
If you plan on buying really complicated birds for breeding like BCM, have a list of important questions ready, and do enough research that you know how the bird should ideally look like. Bring a pen and paper, and retain the breeder's # number or email address as you may need to ask questions, etc.
Look closely at both of the bird's eyes for irregularities, look for a overall healthful look, and ill demeanor like hunching or fluffed feathers. See if there is any "snot" woven in the shoulder or saddle feathers, or if you smell any off smells around the head. Expect to quarantine any newcomers for at least a month.
For any birds you purchase, ask questions like:
When were they born?
Are they purebred? (Sure nothing else mixed in?)
If the breeder gets mad... tough... Tell them I told you there are too many unintentional mixed breeds out there not to ask. Four of our 6 birds were split for Wheaten when they should have been ER Birchen based. They all looked like pure BCM.
Are you breeding toward SOP?
Have you ever had a respiratory infection in your flock? (I'd pass if the awnser is yes- respiratory issues can mean that a bird may be a carrier but asymptomatic, so, it may not show any symptoms.)
Mereks disease?
Are you breeding toward resistance to anything?
When was the last time you wormed your chickens? (Watch their droppings carefully as this will tell you a lot about what's happening with them.)
Check the legs for raised scales. Scaly leg mite is contagious and hard to cure, but curable with diligence.
Look under wings and vent for lice.
Look for missing toes or foreshortened toes on feathered shanked breeds, split or slipped wing, comb sprigs on single combs, double spurs, and other DQ or genetic issues that should not be bred forward.
For POL pullet's and hens, check the pelvic bone spacing to see if she is close to lay, or laying. There should be at least about a 2" width, and her comb should be red and plump, not pale or dry looking. For adult hens check the same things, but really feel the bone spacing, and asked when the last time she laid an egg and see if they have an egg sample from her. If I purchase any more BCM, I would have to see a recent sample of their egg color before purchasing a pullet or hen, and it needs to be at least a #4 on the Marans scale. I would never purchase another Marans without knowing the history and egg color unless I was prepared for the worst.
I think good birds can be found, just be very choosy and careful, and don't fall in love too quickly.
Thank you One Chick Two! Very useful information. Glad to hear from someone firsthand on what to prepare for. I will most certainly arrive early. I wonder, are they opened earlier than the actual open time or do they make everyone wait outside until they allow them in to browse and make purchases. I know from experiences with street fairs (cough cough, Lodi) that lots of people like to arrive early, sometimes as early of 5 am when the dealers are setting up and grab the best deals. I wonder if that's a concern at the chicken fair as well.
- Dec 23, 2014
- 7
- 0
- 6
Can't wait to go to the show!!! I'll be looking to get a good quality blue cockerel oegb and also a pair or trio of birchen oeg bantams.
let me know if you are selling any. Thank you. Hope I posted this message correctly this is my first post. Sorry if not. God bless
let me know if you are selling any. Thank you. Hope I posted this message correctly this is my first post. Sorry if not. God bless
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