Arkansas folks speak up.........

[littlepeddler]

Marans of America Club is having a Black Copper Marans Special Meet at the Big Bird Classic in Pine Bluff Arkansas in April 2010. Would like to get as many BCM committed as possible.

http://www.bigbirdshows.com

Click on the bird to join our e-mailing list.
Now Accepting Ads for the Big Bird Classic Show Catalog!

SOMETHING NEW!! An Innovative Poultry Show.
Novice Exhibitors and Youth encouraged to enter.

April 17th, 2010 ~ Pine Bluff, Arkansas (Hestand's Stadium )

Judges: Steve Jones, Texas & Jim Crain, Louisiana

Double Judged - APA Sanctioned - JACKPOT CLAIMER

Special Awards to LARGE FOWL, Champion and Reserve Champion NOVICE
and JUNIOR Exhibitors in both shows. SPECIAL MEETS

Limited to first 200 Large Fowl & 200 Bantams.
Online entries/space reservations available beginning in January 2010.

For show catalogs contact: Ann Charles, 11418 Shiloh Church Rd., Mena, AR 71953 or email: [email protected] . Please be sure to include your complete name, address, and email address.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I could make that. Gets me something to look foward to.

 

[urban dreamer]

Anyone who goes to the Poultry Meet Up tomorrow let me know how it goes. I really want to go and I've had it on my calander since they announced the date. But I have to finish some artwork Im getting paid for. Too bad I will be buying EGGS with that money. None of my birds have laid since the 2nd week of November. Two are in a very slow molt and one has been done for a month and 1/2 and not one egg since. I'll just wait till spring I guess. Wouldn't it be something if I got vegetables before I got eggs?

 

[juliechick]

2009 was a tough year.....

But I made it!

 

[Stumper]

Love it!

 

[Tala]

Well I just got back from the poultry meetup at Browns. Lots of people there! Seems like a lot more men were there than I might have expected.

Hubbs is glad that I'm broke, so I didn't come home with any new birds! I probably would have gotten us some ducks - they were SOOOOO pretty!!!

Anyway, I swung by TSC on the way home coz last time I bought food they were out of horse pellet bedding. They were still out. BUT they had a bunch of wood stove pellets for about 60 cents cheaper than the horse bedding......does anybody know if those would work instead???? I also noticed that they had done a lot of re-arranging and adding new feed products. Also a new shipment of Fortiflex buckets in bright spring colors! Like I need any more buckets! (of course I do!)

When I got home my leg band order from Ketchum was in the mailbox! I got these in purple: http://www.ketchummfg.com/Adjustable-Seal-Leg-Bands-Colored-Aluminum-Numbered-and-Lettered-p468.html
Now I ordered them custom printed with my last name. It said that it could take 3-4 weeks for custom printing. Plus I got parcal post/cheapest/slowest shipping option. Well. I ordered them the night of the 12th, so really the 13th . . . and they got here, Priority Mail, on the 16th!

WOWZA!
Guess I could go out and attack the roosting chickens!

 

[rarebreedeggs4u]

Quote:
Go for it...and then let me know how easy they are to use

I *have* to order bands soon. I want to be able to ID birds without having to check a wing band. I'm sure my Penedesencas will appreciate that. They don't mind me being around them, but they don't like to get scooped up much

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
When I went in to TSC last week to get layer pellets, I noticed a sign that said Dumor pellets were reduced from $12.95 to $9.99. They have been $9.99 for several months so I asked the cashier if this meant they were getting ready to raise the price. He denied it. When I went on yesterday, I noticed that Dumor's and Layena layer pellets are up by a buck a bag. Now Dumor is $10.99 and Layena $11.99. Of course, that cashier was not anywhere around.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Since you asked I'll post the details!
Seems like multicolored bands would be easier to ID at a distance. I think I would get a pack of the multicolored plastic spirals if I just wanted the ID in addition to a wing band.
I got these instead of wing bands because I thought they would be easier to attach to full grown birds, and easier to see as you say. I wanted my name printed on them is why I chose this particular brand. The sizing was pretty generous! I was worried about fitting on the RIR roo's fat legs, but I actually put it on him pretty snug in the middle hole. I doubt he'll get much bigger since he's almost a whole year old. They were pretty loose on the skinny Leghorns. I used the smallest hole for all the hens/pullets. Those BSL pullets have kinda big legs though.

After I figured out how to use the pliars it got a lot easier!
A helper would have helped, but I managed. My rooster is so big, but he really isn't that hard for me to manage. I was a bit surprised that he didn't get upset about me making his ladies squalk. I think he's getting more used to me visiting at night coz I've been putting blue meds on one of the Leghorns, plus I turned on their red floodlight over the roost so he could see me pretty good.
The technique:
First form band around my finger and line up hole - that helped a lot. Then grab the correct chicken. Hold both feet with left hand, cradle body/wings with right hand, and flop chicken on side on my lap. Hold body of chicken in crook of right arm, with legs sticking out. Use left hand to hold leg out as needed. While my right arm was bent around the chicken's body, I was still able to use my hand to squeeze the pliers.

I wrote down who was who in a notebook. Some of them I can recognize, but the 3 Leghorns are hard to tell apart. For similar colored chickens I alternated legs. The black sexlink pullet named Penny has a left leg band, while the unnamed one has a right leg band, ditto for the 2 Buff Orp pullets. Convenient that I have 2 sets of "matching" colored pullets and 2 legs to alternate with

The results:
A very annoyed group of biddies with pretty purple bracelets!

Rooster Boy, who put up less of a fight than I expected!

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Aww Tala rooster boy looks so sweet! In a deer in the headlights sorta way.

I've never really understood the concept of banding the chickens. I suppose that's something I'll need to research because everyone but me seems to be doing it!

The meeting was awesome as always. I just love meeting everyone and hearing about their chickens, then again seeing the people that you've met before, we've really got quite a nice group! One of my favorite parts is looking over the chicken's and ducks that people bring. I'm definately looking forward to the warm weather meetups though. That cold, wet rain is pretty miserable. I was tempted so badly by D. She brought silkies...the ultimate office chicken. It has to be a hen though...no crow, and I'll need a few diapers.

My boss would kill me. Thank you again for managing the t'shirt orders Julie! I will wear mine proudly.