So I've just finished reading all 1,079 posts and digesting them. I appreciate the information immensely and I look at my birds in a whole new way now. Thank you for all your time and effort expended to share your knowledge with others. It really does make a difference.
I've learned so much in this one year I've been raising birds. I loved the Swedish Flower birds, yup, typical newbie it's all about color, so I got really excited to work on the Aloha project because I didn't want to start out a newbie with Greenfire Farms prices. Okay, you guys bear with me. Try not to get so frustrated your eyes pop out of your heads. It's not a crime to be new and ignorant and we all have to start somewhere. I wasn't raised anywhere near a farm. I was a city kid but I always had a country place to go to visit and my grandfather made certain we got a taste of farm animals and farm life. As a child, I loved it. I avoided the "help" through the electric fence -- too clever for that one.
Fast forward all these years to my husband and I raising 8 kids and moving to a small acreage. My mom was raised on a farm and we were going to teach the kids about gardening and raising chickens together. We had big plans. She became ill the same month we moved here and by the next year she died of pancreatic cancer. So the person who was going to teach me was gone. I dropped the whole thing for 2 years. Then, I pulled on my big girl pants and decided that I would do it anyway. So I did.
Our one year anniversary of owning chickens was yesterday. We began a year ago with 170 hatchery chickens and added another 60 or so chicks, a couple adult birds and hatched another 100+ chicks and ducklings I practiced culling for the best birds. The terminology I've learned here has improved what my eye and limited experience has taught me. There is a definite connection between the way a bird looks, carries itself and feels in the hand, to how healthy and productive it is. We processed/butchered, whichever you prefer, almost all of the excess males for the freezer and rehomed the excess hens. We have honed our skills at hatching, brooding, managing, and protecting our birds. I've learned what doesn't work in breeding by experiencing it. I've also had some successes. I prefer the successes and set out to learn from those who are best acquainted with success. Right now I have approximately 60 - 70 birds. Only about 20 of those will be here at the end of Spring.
It has been a financial investment but I don't see one dime of it as wasted. I couldn't have possibly made this huge leap forward in experience with breeder quality birds. I just couldn't afford to do it nor did I want to do it because I was afraid I would kill them all. My children have learned every step of the way with me. I have one child who is passionately involved and he's 11 this year. My mom would be proud of the commitment and determination.
She may have rolled her eyes at the Alohas, but that's just my thing, it's fun. In 10 years you'll be saying -- that stubborn broad never gave up and she did better with those dumb birds than I ever thought she could. All birds were project birds at one time since we're not raising Jungle Fowl. I do get your point about breeding to standard but being a newbie is a necessary evil and I'm still new, so the Alohas stay.
We are getting some of Frank's, Tony's and Walt's birds this year. Do we deserve to be trusted with them? Yes. My kids and I are ready for this next step. So try to overlook my obsession with color and appreciate the fact that newbies don't stay new and they do discover people like you who are so passionate about breeding to standard and pass their knowledge on to others who desperately need it. I heard you on the line breeding -- got it.
My kids have talked me into letting them show birds this year. So, do you think we'll show up with any decent birds? We have some German New Hamps. Maybe we will. One thing is for certain, we will continue to learn.
While I have come to the realization that standard bred birds are something to strive for and commit to, I have also begun to try to understand how everyone who is serious about working on birds long term manages the paperwork end of it. How do you manage the business side of things? It's not the most fun part of it all but tracking expenses, setting budgets, goals, etc., is all a part of being able to maintain a productive long term relationship with your Heritage poultry, I would think. I can't seem to find any information on how people do it specific to raising poultry. Or is everyone just turning a blind eye. I've only had one suggestion: Quicken. But doesn't anyone run their "hobby" as a business? Doesn't anyone ever intend to break even or squeak a little profit, at least at some point? Oh, I get it. This is the next newbie phase! Expecting to make a little money!
So, can I hang around, or what?
