Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[satay]

Mine (at least the Millies)  have been running out of the pen between my feet in the morning for green pick the little rotters. Not good when I am doing 6 pens before I head to work. They come back most times when I tell them - little flapper feet and all.

You are so right about how lovely they are. I got 3 eggs in 4 days and I am sure it is still only one pullet laying. I thought they didn't lay very well.

I find with biddie she will lay for a bit then stop then start up again with not long breaks in between.

 

[Chook Newby]

I got new girls and I couldn't see where they were. They were perched on top of one of the feeders in the open run and it was raining. (the coop run is roofed...) I had to carry them and put them inside, which meant coming out of the open run and around into the coop run because there is only a chook-sized door from the coop run to the open run. The only thing more fun that carrying chickens about in the dark is doing it in the rain LOL

Bhahahahaha love it! The things we do for our 'babies'

 

[sjturner79]

There are only 9 types of combs that are officially recognized by the APA.
http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations2.html

Silkies have a ' modified ' rose comb that falls under the heading of ' walnut '

While the association only recognizes certain combs as standard, there are genetically and physically quite different ones out there. The twist comb is a real phenomen but is just called defective by the APA. They do describe the silkie comb as walnut or modified rose, it is sort of modified rose genetically but it is not a walnut comb as described elsewhere in the standards. The also describe the langshan as a single comb, but a langshan comb would be called defective on any other breed.

We also do not have the V comb birds or triple comb birds as standards in Australia yet.

Do you know what they call the langshan comb?

I have only seen it called single (which it is not really) or langshan

 

[Fancychooklady]

While the association only recognizes certain combs as standard, there are genetically and physically quite different ones out there. The twist comb is a real phenomen but is just called defective by the APA. They do describe the silkie comb as walnut or modified rose, it is sort of modified rose genetically but it is not a walnut comb as described elsewhere in the standards. The also describe the langshan as a single comb, but a langshan comb would be called defective on any other breed.

We also do not have the V comb birds or triple comb birds as standards in Australia yet.

I have only seen it called single (which it is not really) or langshan

Many backyard breeders can atest to the possible variations that crossing their birds might throw, but most will not breed 'true ' and therefore will never be recognized.
The APA as with any society here in Aus follows the US very closely.
Perfect example is a guy here in Tassie that breeds Wyandotte , he comes up with all these fancy names for colours that only exist in his backyard.

 

[sjturner79]

Many backyard breeders can atest to the possible variations that crossing their birds might throw, but most will not breed 'true ' and therefore will never be recognized.
The APA as with any society here in Aus follows the US very closely.
Perfect example is a guy here in Tassie that breeds Wyandotte , he comes up with all these fancy names for colours that only exist in his backyard.

True , but with 4 pairs of genetics controlling combs it means that there are serveral more types of comb that can breed true, it just would need at least 8 different people to be all breeding for it, and once they get it breeding true for more than 6 generations, if they can agree on the standard for the rest of the features of the bird they can apply to have it recognized. The APA mostly follows follows the US because they have enough groups to produce the breeds, most breeds here have been imported from the us, though some have come from the UK with only 2 or 3 originating here in Australia.

 

[sjturner79]

True , but with 4 pairs of genetics controlling combs it means that there are serveral more types of comb that can breed true, it just would need at least 8 different people to be all breeding for it, and once they get it breeding true for more than 6 generations, if they can agree on the standard for the rest of the features of the bird they can apply to have it recognized. The APA mostly follows follows the US because they have enough groups to produce the breeds, most breeds here have been imported from the us, though some have come from the UK with only 2 or 3 originating here in Australia.

I've been doing quite a bit of research on this as once I can my backyard flock to start producing close to one of the types I want, I intend to spend the money to setup a proper breeding program and try and get some people interested in trying to stabilize and standardize the breed features I want. With the current breeds in Australia I need to pull features from at least 4 and maybe 8 breeds to get the bird I want.

 

[Anniebee]

I'll send you some rain as soon as we get some.

We had a burial ceremony for our grandchildrens 17 year old cat last night. The kids laminated pictures of tigger and lit candles for him. We decided to put him close to his sister under the recently planted flowering cherry. It was very touching but I found myself thinking , now I need to keep this tree alive, the ground was like grey dust. That's one tree in the garden that will be getting some ' extra ' attention.

So sorry to hear about your 17 year old cat, Tigger. BUT ... he had a remarkable life with you, much loved and doted upon .... and it was his time.

17 years of good life is wonderful for a cat. And I know that tree he is buried beneath, will get forever best attention. So beautiful, the special burial for him - for your grand-childrens' sake.

We have a backyard pet cemetery --- with no less than 15 cats and dogs from over the years - all so much loved, buried there. Special garden spots everywhere, which the girls seem intent on investigating deep down - while dust bathing. They can however, do no harm.

I think by now, you have had a few drops of rain over Tasmania .... mostly cloudy from the BOM - but some rain forecast, and indicated as of today. ( hope they are correct ).

Cheers ......

 

[Anniebee]

Does anyone have trouble typing on this site? I am not fast by any means but I'm typing way faster than what the site is coping with.


I'm sure I'll find something to worry about. LOL

LuckysMum ..... I occasionally have trouble typing quickly, and my shockwave flash thingy, often gives up on me, but have found a way around that.

If it is the SW Flash problem, it will slow down your typing to about 2 words a minute !! .... I sometimes abandon my comment, ( can't copy and paste to Word Doc. from here ) .... reload the page and hope for the best. Or I submit what I have already typed, reload the Flash - and then go back to edit my comment - that works well enough.

Some days it is bad, others it behaves itself. It's got something to do with google Chrome I believe ( a double up of Flash apps. ) .... and if the 'softwave has crashed - reload" shows up, continue typing - and press submit---- THEN afterwards, reload the flash. That works. Never reload in the middle of typing, or you will lose all you have already typed. It's just a software glitch, and not too bad if one knows how to skirt around the problem.. But it certainly is :

Cheers ......

 

[mooandmcgee]

Fancychooklady very sorry to hear about your cat. It's always heartbreaking loosing a beloved family member like that. Wishing you all the best.

 

[Anniebee]

True , but with 4 pairs of genetics controlling combs it means that there are serveral more types of comb that can breed true, it just would need at least 8 different people to be all breeding for it, and once they get it breeding true for more than 6 generations, if they can agree on the standard for the rest of the features of the bird they can apply to have it recognized. The APA mostly follows follows the US because they have enough groups to produce the breeds, most breeds here have been imported from the us, though some have come from the UK with only 2 or 3 originating here in Australia.
and :
I've been doing quite a bit of research on this as once I can my backyard flock to start producing close to one of the types I want, I intend to spend the money to setup a proper breeding program and try and get some people interested in trying to stabilize and standardize the breed features I want. With the current breeds in Australia I need to pull features from at least 4 and maybe 8 breeds to get the bird I want.

Good for you sjturner79 .... wishing you all the best and good wishes in your endeavours.

It is time we stopped looking to the U.S. for everything that moves, waddles, flys, lays eggs, gallops or bleats - as some kind of 'guaranteed yardstick' for breeding.

We have enough here, in so many varieties of animals and birds, to begin to ( as you are wanting to do ) establish our own breeds - peculiar to our own needs, and the judging thereof. Just got to convince judges and big time associations that we have what it takes to breed beautiful, hardy, good laying or meat stock in chickens, plus beauty of a breed.

Grrrr .... I do not subscribe to following the U.S. for this kind of thing ( or anything much else for that matter ). Just look at the Ameraucana vs. Araucana uproar. Both birds have their origins from South America, but the U.S. has 'announced' that the only bird viable for good judging and breeding is their own Ameraucana bird. Nothing else matters, be it from the U.K, Europe, or here.

Wishing you all success in your breeding programmes.

Cheers ........