Asha's Avian Addictions

[Asha_Gail]

Mocha on the left and Ginger on the right!

 

[Asha_Gail]

The ducks hanging out down at the pond with the Canada geese at dusk

 

[Asha_Gail]

When someone comes to you and says, "Hey, I found this guy on Facebook. He's selling some ducks and chickens, you interested?" The correct response is not what I responded with, which is, "Pics?"

The gentleman has a mix of ducks, all Mallard breeds. Recently, as much as I love them (with all my heart), I'm trying to stick with just muscovys. So, with the self control of someone normal, I ignore the ducks.

I'm definitely a waterfowl kinda person, however I can be the bigger person and admit it. The chickens have grown on me. Mine don't really have any distinguishable personalities. Still, they're starting to follow me around and its cute. Hence, I'm a little attached. That said, the gentleman has a variety of birds. Adults, juveniles, and chicks. I was ready to turn it down, I'm not ready to pay for more hens when I can hatch them. Then I saw the phoenix pair. Personally I find the long tailed breeds beautiful. However they're not very practical for me. Yet... my dear significant other loves them. So suddenly I was interested.

The pair were not in my budget unfortunately, so I decided to turn them down. That was the end of it.

Until I got the text, "Okay so I have a deal, and don't say no just yet."

So I let them say their peace. The gentleman had been told about my interest in the phoenix pair, as well as my interest in his hatching eggs. The Speckled Sussex in particular as thats a wishlist breed for me. Anyways, the gentleman was kind enough to offer to sell me some hatching eggs from the pair. It was a steal in my mind. Plus some speckled sussex? I was ready to commit.

However there were orpingtons to consider, another wishlist breed of mine.

Now its important to note that the individual who was my broker was actually my mother, who is always on the lookout for birds that could find their next home with me. (Peafowl have been at risk.)

My mother informed me of my Easter Gift (news to me, especially given I am grown) being eggs and demanded that I pick out some more. Alas, I hath suffered the cruel fate of being gifted hatching eggs. Whatever shall I do.

Incubate them. That's what I'll be doing.

Breeds:
- Silver Phoenix
- Speckled Sussex
- Chocolate Orpingtons
- Lavender Orpingtons

(If you're familiar with these breeds let me know about them! I've only ever had bym!)

Plus I'll mix in some of my own eggs to make it a full incubator. Which means I'll be incubating 56 eggs that'll hatch around the same time as my ducklings and when I get my goslings. All while juggling lambing season. What could go wrong! (Look at me, tempting fate like its my favorite pastime.)

I'm admittedly excited, it's been so long since I had hatching eggs from a breeder and this'll be my first chicken eggs from a breeder. Plus it'll be interesting to see how they integrate genetically into my flock.

I wouldn't say I have a particular breeding program for my flock other than I breed barnyard mixes and survival of the fittest is my biggest teacher. Which may mean I have a slight landrace program? I'm not familiar with breeding/genetics though I love reading about them!

My loose goal is to breed some mixed birds with pretty patterns, colors, and eggs. So far I have some really nice birds, one has little hearts but thats a story for another day!

 

[gullinkambe]

56 eggs at once, in the middle of all the other animals? That'll be an experience!
Gorgeous breeds too! I've had buff orpingtons and light sussex and they were both calm and nice. I'm guessing the Phoenixes are kinda skittish and flighty, but they sure are striking birds!