Thanks Ron,
is the stuff a bit 'rubbery' and kind of sticky? I'll run yuor suggestion by the Rcom folk, but I think it would interfere with the rolling mechanism. It does have a nasty feeling of the start of another drought. Half our state seems to be on fire at the moment. Not near us at the moment, but they're scary times. Extreme weather events seem to be more and more common everywhere. Even more scary! While I'm here I should mention that I only feed as much soaked lucerne as they'll eat in a sitting. Could get issues if it went sour, but I doubt they'd eat it then.
Cheers,mate : Geoff
Just want to report in on my situation with my Rooster that flogged me--he has not even looked my way now that I have stopped wearing the camo shoes! Thanks for the advice!
OK, so what thread in which forum do we post this information? I have to believe that clothing or footwear that aggravates a BA rooster would have the same effect on other breeds as well. Has to visually trigger some DANGER!!!!! instinct in their tiny brains.
Called a T post up here. I presume the T is for temporary. We have a lot of clay and rock. I either carefully whack them with a hammer very squarely on the top (then move to a new spot when I hit a rock half way down) or I use one that is broken and only about 6" long now. Make the hole with that and the hand sledge, then put the T post in. TSC had a sale on the white ones last month.
Hi Cuba,
you really are a 'kid'! I thought you must be someone older using a pet name. Your knowledge and appreciation of BA's is first rate. You'll make a fine judge I reckon.
I grew up in So. Cal Geoff. You could live almost anywhere in the world shy of the polar regions and it would look very like SOME part of California
So is the the place to brag on my bigger BA?
She first laid on 1/3, took 1/4 off and has laid every day since - 13 straight. Usually in the 62 g range. I figured she was due for a break but nope she laid an 82 gram egg today! I have to believe she'll take tomorrow off after that one.
Hi Melabella,
I like your young girl. She looks in great condition. A little 'spoilt' perhaps? Is "petted" a better American term? Her face reflects her Utility BA heritage, but she seems to have better conformation than many lean, so-called Utility 'BA's'. She very much reminds me of a girl I've got from, hopefully one of only 5 lines of purebred Utility BA's left here. Nice curve, at least til the tail, then it gets hard to tell. Lovely full breast, carried high and beatifully rounded. Comb looks pretty good too. Beak and legs/toes seem 'purebred' too. Best I can offer from 1 pic. These birds should lay well for you and, if the other is similar, you have a fine-looking pair of girls. Enjoy!
Cheers Geoff from Aus
Hi Melabella,
I like your young girl. She looks in great condition. A little 'spoilt' perhaps? Is "petted" a better American term? Her face reflects her Utility BA heritage, but she seems to have better conformation than many lean, so-called Utility 'BA's'. She very much reminds me of a girl I've got from, hopefully one of only 5 lines of purebred Utility BA's left here. Nice curve, at least til the tail, then it gets hard to tell. Lovely full breast, carried high and beatifully rounded. Comb looks pretty good too. Beak and legs/toes seem 'purebred' too. Best I can offer from 1 pic. These birds should lay well for you and, if the other is similar, you have a fine-looking pair of girls. Enjoy!
Cheers Geoff from Aus
Wow Geoff,, Thank you SO MUCH for the imput. I am a newbie who is a horse trainer by proffession. As is my nature with animals, I am trying to learn as much as I can as I go along. I am going to try and score some better pics. I am also trying to learn what good confirmation is with the breeds I have. I can see what poor examples of standard my other 3 "purebred" breeds are but the two Australorps I have are quite regal looking, and seem to be beautiful quality birds. Her breed partner is even better looking in my opinion, but she wouldn't stand long enough for me to snap a photo. Funny thing is... these are hatchery birds from a reputable hatchery here in the states. I bought this small flock purely for enjoyment, and of course eggs, and they are certainly my pets. I feed them only organic feed and grains, and other than occasional yogurt with some raisens in it,, I don't feed them any human food, well, maybe some scrap greens we would be throwing out. I have 2 RIR's, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Columbian Wyandotte. The rest are quite average.. actually one of the rocks seems nice..
Thank you for taking the time to respond to a complete neophyte like myself. I might try to get another pic of them together!
Thanks again, Ron.
Glad one of us had our 'thinking cap' on! Lucerne is alfalfa. The language barrier, eh! I'd guess that, like here, it'd be mainly used as horse food there. Its called lucerne chaff here. Its basically finely chopped alfalfa.
Cheers Geoff
Hi Bruce,
like California, Victoria, where I live, covers a wide range of climates, from mild coastal, alpine to desert.That's why my American friends are reminded of California, I guess. I live in the middle, in a hot, dry part, but not desert.
Cheers Geoff
Thanks again, Ron.
Glad one of us had our 'thinking cap' on! Lucerne is alfalfa. The language barrier, eh! I'd guess that, like here, it'd be mainly used as horse food there. Its called lucerne chaff here. Its basically finely chopped alfalfa.
Cheers Geoff
I've been using alfalfa for years..the winter is long here..they gobble it right up...keeps feathers nice and shiney over winter..happy birds..I have as horse as well..take his big alfalfa cubes break them up as much as I can..soak them..finally through food processor....make them in scrambled eggs for them for the chickens..not too much mixed in..like a garnish..
Zorra's 82g from yesterday next to her "puny" 62g from today.
OK, so 62g is solidly in the (USA) Large category. It just looks small compared to the monster..
14 days straight, 15 eggs in 16 days. Making up for being a late bloomer I guess.