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

[Anniebee]

Lovely eggs. Really nice colours. I love the polish. A friend of mine breeds polish they are such pretty birds.

Googy pic so you all can remember what they look like

also some pretty chookies
this is my araucana x rooster given the lacing thats come out on his chest since moult and his overall colour i am now assuming hes a silverlaced wyandotte x

very pretty araucana x pullet

Silver laced wyandotte bantam hen

Sparkles The giant Australorp and Archie the polish rooster

pepper the half hearted broody Australorp

phoenix the gold spangled hamburg pullet

Sparkles the Giant Australorp you can see in this pic where her name came from, the sheen on this bird is ridiculous

my eldest with Sparrow my Fave araucana hen

Archie the super handsome Polish Rooster

have a nice day chicken folk

To Deej211 .... have to ask. Is it possible that your "araucana x pullet" ,,,, was crossed out of a barnevelder x mating ? So much lacing on that lovely bird.

Great photographs - lovely chickens - all of them. ... The eggs are superb - colours fantastic.

Cheers .... Anniebee.

 

[ambersfarm]

Been gone, back again and gone again .. now back again > _ < courtesy of internet issues! All straightened out now!

Family flock?
Chickens - 6 hens (Isa's, Plymouth Rock and mixed genetics) 4 Roosters, (Rhode Is Red, Sussex, and 2 mixed breeds that look exactly like Welsummers). And 10 brand new surprise!! babies
Ducks - 3 muscovies, (1 white, 2 multi coloured), 1 rouen, 2 welsh, 3 Aylesbury
Turkey - 1 large american turkey

We have a new chicken coop for night time, but free range the crew during the day.

 

[Anniebee]

Yeah, it would weigh on my mind also K Spot but then if the people who show chickens are anything like those that show dogs, the chickens are probably better cared for than the owner

Having said that it only takes one I guess. But, surely if the risks were that high, people with ‘show’ birds or birds worth something are not going to risk them?

As I mentioned, it was more out of curiosity than wanting to put a damper on your plans. If I was not so paranoid I would go to a poultry show to check out what they are like … maybe I can You Tube one

Seriously not adding to any 'dampener' here, but my own experience with dog shows, and specifically cat showing - was not at all pleasant. .... Showed my Siamese cats at the Royal Melb Show one year, and right beside one of my girls, was a cat that was seriously ill - shaking, spewing, and almost in a state of collapse.

I reported it to the veterinarians on site at the time .... not just for my girl, but for that particular cat, and all concerned. .... They inspected and attended to the poor cat, then covered the cage - awaiting the return of the owner - WHO - when she did return - ... announced herself as an 'expert' ( because she was a doctor - MD - for humans ) and she went totally off her head about her cat being isolated, with an order to be removed. " Oh, it's only that she gets very upset at show times - I am a doctor, and I know what I am doing" ... ( pardon me ? )

( well - hell - you don't show a cat / dog / anything that is traumatised from showing - what the heck !! ) ...

( My beautiful Siamese girls gained two '3rds' in the show btw ).

................

then there are the dog shows ?? .. Ye Gods. ...

Showed my Golden Retriever, Lachlan - on several occasions. ... the b*tchiness that was shown was unbelievable in the show ring, and one dog ( I knew the owner too ) ... had a scab the size of a saucer on his back which I only discovered by patting him - . .. An atypical massive scab, common - but no care had been taken to reduce that for the dogs' sake - and for his comfort. Must have nearly driven him nuts.

Caused by allergies ( from one to several causes ) .... it is shown by increased scratching at various spots on the dog, .... which ruptures the skin, and causes much discomfort for the dog.
Finding the area initially, applying chlorhex ( rinsed off after a few minutes ) .... and a few hours later, dabbing the area with boiled water - then chlorhex again - eventually gets rid of the problem. ....

Then one has to find out what has caused it in the first place - - - food ?, chemicals in the house ?, something such as 'wandering jew' plant ?, garbage they pick up to eat in the garden ?, medications - if on them ?, and a variety of other causes.

SO ... when showing your poultry - please make sure they are covered in every conceivable way, against any form of nasty that they could pick up. .... There are some very unscrupulous show people out there, who use their animals and birds, strictly for the glory - and NOT for the good of the bird / animal, they are showing.

Cannot apologise for these warnings. ... Anyone showing any animal or bird, must cover ALL contingencies as to their health and immunity - 100%.

These admiittedly are the worst scenarios - and maybe I was just unlucky that I encountered them as I did. ? .... but I think it is well known that there are people out there who show only
for the ribbons and the glory - - and don't give a **** about their beautiful animals or birds.

I am now - thankfully - out of those arenas.

Anniebee....

 

[appps]

Thought of you while watching this episode of Aussie a River Cottage @K Spot. How to get you rooster ready for a show

 

[satay]

Good afternoon fellow chickeneers 

K Spot I hope you enjoy the show and I also hope you are surprised and win a place if not higher.

Not to put a damper on your plans and more out of curiosity, do you worry at all about them ‘picking something nasty up’ and bringing it home?  [Note: I know nothing about showing chickens; I only have past experience with dog shows].

appps knowing that it is safe to do so in present company … happy dancing about chicken poop!  [Not something to be done in public with non-chickeneers ]

Soaked up all the good information everyone posted regarding worming, garlic, chilli, fennel tea etc.  Just a note on that: the Kilverm mentions to dispose of any remaining treated water after 8 hours.

Pennae “nicest man” definitely sounds like an apt description; generous also.  That is very nice of him.

Thanks for the googy pic Deej211; after only seeing Dusty’s conehead eggs, it is nice to see some other shapes and colours.  Nice eggs, by the way and beautiful pics of chickens on green grass.

ChristieB I am glad you managed some ‘You’ time.  I was a single Mum for 10 years, granted to only one son.  I never really considered getting married again and even thought that trying to live with someone else would be difficult; but, if you meet the right person, it works out.

Chloe looks like a wonderful mum and your orphaned little one is adorable.

So, we have had some rain today but nothing to cause either the gals or me any grief.  The heavy duty shade cloth I have on the run does a pretty good job at keeping a shower at bay and when I have checked on them, all the gals are still scratching around, dust bathing and checking their chicken watches to see if it is 4pm and free range time 

We got some light rain yesterday but it is looking more promising over the next week. It's getting really dry out here again so any rain would be very welcome.

 

[IamSamSam]

We got some light rain yesterday but it is looking more promising over the next week. It's getting really dry out here again so any rain would be very welcome.

Please ! Take mine. Your really welcome to have it ! I hope you see some soon mate like a week of decent rain !

 

[satay]

Please ! Take mine. Your really welcome to have it ! I hope you see some soon mate like a week of decent rain !

I'd be happy to travel round the country gathering up any rain that others don't want. The only time i can recall a week of straight rain out here was during the 2011 floods. That was just a little over kill on rain but just constant normal rain for a week would be great.

 

[K Spot]

Yeah, it would weigh on my mind also K Spot but then if the people who show chickens are anything like those that show dogs, the chickens are probably better cared for than the owner

Having said that it only takes one I guess. But, surely if the risks were that high, people with ‘show’ birds or birds worth something are not going to risk them?

As I mentioned, it was more out of curiosity than wanting to put a damper on your plans. If I was not so paranoid I would go to a poultry show to check out what they are like … maybe I can You Tube one

Well I do show dogs, @Teila so I can attest to mine being better cared for than myself!

Do you have a quarentine area, as long as you don't put her straight back in with the others at least you are only risking that one?

Yes I do have a quarantine area

I wouldn't put her straight back into the flock without her spending some time in ISO at least.

I haven't completely made up my mind as yet.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I'd be happy to travel round the country gathering up any rain that others don't want. The only time i can recall a week of straight rain out here was during the 2011 floods. That was just a little over kill on rain but just constant normal rain for a week would be great.

Hehe, I'd be glad to hang my gumboots up for the rest of winter. This morning it was zero , my windscreen was frozen over. So I fill the watering can and run water accross it , daughter sitting in car saying ' hurry up mum ' thinks she is helping by turning on the wipers. drenched me. No time to change , threw the wet jacket in the back and pray for the heater to warm up.

 

[K Spot]

Seriously not adding to any 'dampener' here, but my own experience with dog shows, and specifically cat showing - was not at all pleasant. .... Showed my Siamese cats at the Royal Melb Show one year, and right beside one of my girls, was a cat that was seriously ill - shaking, spewing, and almost in a state of collapse.

I reported it to the veterinarians on site at the time .... not just for my girl, but for that particular cat, and all concerned. .... They inspected and attended to the poor cat, then covered the cage - awaiting the return of the owner - WHO - when she did return - ... announced herself as an 'expert' ( because she was a doctor - MD - for humans ) and she went totally off her head about her cat being isolated, with an order to be removed. " Oh, it's only that she gets very upset at show times - I am a doctor, and I know what I am doing" ... ( pardon me ? )

( well - hell - you don't show a cat / dog / anything that is traumatised from showing - what the heck !! ) ...

( My beautiful Siamese girls gained two '3rds' in the show btw ).

................

then there are the dog shows ?? .. Ye Gods. ...

Showed my Golden Retriever, Lachlan - on several occasions. ... the b*tchiness that was shown was unbelievable in the show ring, and one dog ( I knew the owner too ) ... had a scab the size of a saucer on his back which I only discovered by patting him - . .. An atypical massive scab, common - but no care had been taken to reduce that for the dogs' sake - and for his comfort. Must have nearly driven him nuts.

Caused by allergies ( from one to several causes ) .... it is shown by increased scratching at various spots on the dog, .... which ruptures the skin, and causes much discomfort for the dog.
Finding the area initially, applying chlorhex ( rinsed off after a few minutes ) .... and a few hours later, dabbing the area with boiled water - then chlorhex again - eventually gets rid of the problem. ....

Then one has to find out what has caused it in the first place - - - food ?, chemicals in the house ?, something such as 'wandering jew' plant ?, garbage they pick up to eat in the garden ?, medications - if on them ?, and a variety of other causes.

SO ... when showing your poultry - please make sure they are covered in every conceivable way, against any form of nasty that they could pick up. .... There are some very unscrupulous show people out there, who use their animals and birds, strictly for the glory - and NOT for the good of the bird / animal, they are showing.

Cannot apologise for these warnings. ... Anyone showing any animal or bird, must cover ALL contingencies as to their health and immunity - 100%.

These admiittedly are the worst scenarios - and maybe I was just unlucky that I encountered them as I did. ? .... but I think it is well known that there are people out there who show only
for the ribbons and the glory - - and don't give a **** about their beautiful animals or birds.

I am now - thankfully - out of those arenas.

Anniebee....

I can attest to the b*tchiness and downright nasty attitudes some exhibitors have at dog shows. I have seen it with my own eyes, but thankfully I've never been a part of it or on the receiving end of someone's tirade.
Just this past weekend I was at our huge Dalmatian National where more than 130 dalmatians were shown; I was there with my pup Yahtzee. I must say it was a lovely and pleasant day with no nastiness that I saw.
Yes, there are are small handful who take things way too far or only care about that ribbon, but for the most part, I do enjoy dog showing very much.