Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[desertmarcy]

I was one who originally would never have considered attending or participating in a poultry show. A friend convinced me to go along with her, just to look, and I was so amazed at the birds. That changed my mind. Now, I can't wait until my own birds are exhibition quality.
Work responsibilities don't allow me to travel much, but I go to every show that I can, now. I've learned so much, just by being a spectator - especially when a judge or exhibitor has time to answer questions.

My family and most of my friends consider this to be very strange, however. Even my friends who raise chickens as a business and many of my backyard chicken friends think showing them is silly.

I originally was not going to show, but I have started to and have learned much. I have only shown at the local Tucson shows, though. To go farther away means more expense--would have to pay for motel--and my partner is not into this, and I find going by myself not as much fun. The other issue is, if it requires overnight or longer, someone else has to take care of the birds while I am gone and I don't have someone to do this. Could ask 'partner who is not into this' but don't really want to burden him with it. He helps when I really need it, like today, changed out a bunch of water bowls and carried some feed buckets because I hurt my back yesterday (***again***

) and everything is harder to do right now. And a question I have for some of you who take multiple birds to a show, how do you transport them? Mine are all large fowl, no bantams, and the cockerels or cocks especially are big. I do not have a big travel trailer type thing to transport birds. I have a truck with a pop-up camper on the back, and can fit 8 milk crates behind the seats, those are a nice size to carry a hen or pullet, and can fit some bigger containers inside the camper, but not a whole lot. I don't like the idea of carrying them in an open bed pickup at all.

Oh, I did show at one show that was not in Tucson, it was the Safford, AZ show this past Jan. 3. Decided to camp at the Fairgrounds right by the building since that was allowed. Heater wouldn't work in the camper and the thermometer said 23 degrees inside the camper next morning! Froze up the faucet, good thing I carried some gallons of water, I could make my tea and oatmeal, but boy was it cold! I was the only one camping...wonder why

 

[gjensen]

One of my reasons for waiting to show, was to work with them first. I did not want to get my hands on nice birds, and then show them. I feel that after raising a few generations, I have invested enough effort, thought, and money into what I have. What I have may be this strain or that, but what I have on my yard is now my birds.
It will be the same with the Catalanas. I will wait two or three generations, and I will probably show them even if they are junk. I will know where I started and whether or not I made progress.
With these rare breeds, I would not wait until they are "show worthy", before you show them. It is better for the breed if people saw them. You might strike someone else's interest. Maybe you will run across someone that has had some experience with them.

 

[thedragonlady]

If an idiot is going to judge my birds I give them about 3 different looking/styles of the same breed and hope I win the raffle. We show 40-50 birds at a time. Even if they are not a great judge, you hope for one that is consistent and then you can bring just one bird. Some of the Rosecomb bantam guys out here used to do that. Just enter one bird and drive it there in the back of a Lincoln like Bob Brown used to do.

w.

I was used to watching J.B. Mc Bee snatching identical Black Rosecombs out of peach boxes about 40 times a day, and swapping them. Wilbur used to buy from him, and said the whole yard was filled with identical birds. JB was a sweet guy. I hope he's still enjoying golf.He was a self appointed guardian of mine.

You work too hard Walt. It was rare that I showed more than 2 Silkies .When I came in with ONE, the boys worried, and the show secretaries cast daggers !

 

[thedragonlady]

One of my reasons for waiting to show, was to work with them first. I did not want to get my hands on nice birds, and then show them. I feel that after raising a few generations, I have invested enough effort, thought, and money into what I have. What I have may be this strain or that, but what I have on my yard is now my birds.
It will be the same with the Catalanas. I will wait two or three generations, and I will probably show them even if they are junk. I will know where I started and whether or not I made progress.
With these rare breeds, I would not wait until they are "show worthy", before you show them. It is better for the breed if people saw them. You might strike someone else's interest. Maybe you will run across someone that has had some experience with them.

Did you get hit last night? No phone, internet, fried printer, irrigation system, alarm system and many GFI circuits later, all works but the alarm system.One bolt blew open the door to my pantry, and shot pieces of the irrigation box all over the kitchen.The printer blew off the computer, but the computer is OK.This despite whole house surge protectors, and individual ones.Fun evening.Not fun writing cheques today.

 

[TheNuttyChick]

Did you get hit last night? No phone, internet, fried printer, irrigation system, alarm system and many GFI circuits later, all works but the alarm system.One bolt blew open the door to my pantry, and shot pieces of the irrigation box all over the kitchen.The printer blew off the computer, but the computer is OK.This despite whole house surge protectors, and individual ones.Fun evening.Not fun writing cheques today.

Oh my!

 

[colburg]

Well I'm going to jump in here on the "I don't plan to show" discussion. I had never planned to show. Then I started looking for sanctioned shows around here and found that there's only 3 per year anywhere within reasonable driving distance. I consider "reasonable" to be somewhere that I can get to and back in one day and still have at least a couple hours to spend there. There are other shows, but they are not sanctioned. There's the Fancy Feathers shows in New Braunfels, Beaumont Fair, and the State Fair show in Dallas. All of which are more than 200 miles away. But I have been to a couple now. Yes, they are fun. Yes, you do learn. Yes, I will be showing someday.

There are others, which are in my state, but driving from one end of this state to the other is farther than driving from Fairfax to Tallahassee. And I don't have the resources to go on holiday much. But I'll be moving soon and there could be shows in adjoining states that will be close enough. But I've yet to research it. Too much else to do now and in the coming months to focus on that.

And of those shows I have attended, there was only ONE bird entered that was the same color and breed as what I have. And that wasn't exactly a tiny show. So the opportunity to learn about my breed at shows is even more limited. But that won't stop me from doing the best I possibly can and with the help of a wonderful mentor, I still think I'll have something worth having.

Initially, the post said to show, but then it focus was more on "go to shows" - there is a difference there. You dont' have to actually take a bird to a show to attend and learn, but I can see that you would learn more if you did.

Guess my point of all this is that there are those of us who indeed cannot make it to many shows. But we still have the SOP and some great folks around to help.

When you say the other end of the state, are you talking about the Amarillo or El Paso areas? Or somewhere else?

200 miles is like a short commute in CA and TX...lol I love those 3-4 hours short trips. The TX State fair is a good show and usually has top breeders showing.

w.

I got excited when I saw Tx state fair thinking it might be close enough, but it's in Dallas. 470 miles...Prolly won't make that one either.

 

[gjensen]

Did you get hit last night? No phone, internet, fried printer, irrigation system, alarm system and many GFI circuits later, all works but the alarm system.One bolt blew open the door to my pantry, and shot pieces of the irrigation box all over the kitchen.The printer blew off the computer, but the computer is OK.This despite whole house surge protectors, and individual ones.Fun evening.Not fun writing cheques today.

No mam, I did not. Not directly. I thought I was going to. I went through and double checked everything before hand. I enjoyed watching it put on a show.

We did not miss the bad stuff by much. Just a little wind, a few bolts, and some needed rain. Well, in this sand, rain is always welcome.

I didn't think anyone took checks anymore, lol.

 

[gjensen]

Did you get hit last night? No phone, internet, fried printer, irrigation system, alarm system and many GFI circuits later, all works but the alarm system.One bolt blew open the door to my pantry, and shot pieces of the irrigation box all over the kitchen.The printer blew off the computer, but the computer is OK.This despite whole house surge protectors, and individual ones.Fun evening.Not fun writing cheques today.

No mam, I did not. Not directly. I thought I was going to. I went through and double checked everything before hand. I enjoyed watching it put on a show.

We did not miss the bad stuff by much. Just a little wind, a few bolts, and some needed rain. Well, in this sand, rain is always welcome.

I didn't think anyone took checks anymore, lol.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Did you get hit last night? No phone, internet, fried printer, irrigation system, alarm system and many GFI circuits later, all works but the alarm system.One bolt blew open the door to my pantry, and shot pieces of the irrigation box all over the kitchen.The printer blew off the computer, but the computer is OK.This despite whole house surge protectors, and individual ones.Fun evening.Not fun writing cheques today.

Wow!

We almost never get storms with much lightning, but once I was in a job trailer and lightening hit our nearby power pole, blew out my computer + printer right in front of me, but not with that kind of force! I can only imagine! I'm such a wimp, when I visited family as a kid in Chicago, and there was a storm, I wouldn't be able to sleep, I'd be so scared! And same with family in Texas, I'm so frightened by those storms! LOL. Give me an earthquake every 20 years or so over that any day!!! Sorry for your damage, I'm assuming everyone is OK though, so that's good!

 

[thedragonlady]

No mam, I did not. Not directly. I thought I was going to. I went through and double checked everything before hand. I enjoyed watching it put on a show.

We did not miss the bad stuff by much. Just a little wind, a few bolts, and some needed rain. Well, in this sand, rain is always welcome.

I didn't think anyone took checks anymore, lol.

Where are you in S.C. ? This was a single $1000.00 lightening bolt despite all my wiring contracts.