BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Arielle]

Quote:
How many of us really understand the value of what we have . . . .it only come with age and experience!!! IT is time to forgive yourself.

 

[gjensen]

Yes, this resonates a lot to me, but I got started late (in my 40s). I admire those who got an early start & got some good mentoring at an early age. I started with hatchery stock & was going nowhere fast goofing around with them!

I got the Malines in 2013, after a year of researching what breed would really fulfill our small family's needs. They've provided great meat & some eggs along with a stimulating challenge to keep them going.

It is just a hobby. It is an enjoyable hobby though.

It does not matter when I started because I did not accomplish anything. I learned a lot, and that was part of why I did it.

I think we should just find what we think is worth messing with, and give it a go. If you have what you are working with now, in 20 years, you will have something worth something. Something to pass down and along to others.

It does not matter what it is if we can stick to it.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: LOL When you are in your rocking chair you will have time. . . . so hold on to it, you will get to it.

I am looking for herbs to keep the moths out of the wool. Cant use the moth balls, Just cant.

 

[bnjrob]

I am looking for herbs to keep the moths out of the wool. Cant use the moth balls, Just cant.

Don't recall coming across any specific herbs to repel wool moths. I've used cedar balls and pieces of cedar chopped off a board and that has done well. Could try tying up bay leaves, basil and oregano into cheesecloth and putting it in with the wool. I use those herbs to keep the buggies out of the feed bins - might help with wool. Could always try a strong peppermint essential oil packet too, like they sell for repelling mice.

 

[hellbender]

Just as an aside...I'd rather have rats than mice because the terriers would have more interest in them...

*SHOCK and HORRORS* I just thought about the fact that I have two barns that are devoid of poultry or any sort of live stock for that matter. That is bound to promote mice infestation, since the dogs aren't in there.

I guess I can open the doors so the dogs can get in during this fine weather but I doubt the big dogs would have any interest in mice, since they are so small. Might have to rig up some of those 'peanut butter buckets'. Haven't used them in years but they DO work.

I'm not even going to wait for the first sighting........

We don't do any kind of rat or mice poison.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: lol I googled last week and the word was that cedar is not effective. . . . .really thru me as that is what I have always used . . . .I will definitely use the bay, basil and oregano to keep the bugs out of the pantry. I must put everything in glass to thwart the pantry moths. HEre feed only lasts a week and not time to hatch anything. BUt as I am interested in a larger silo delivery I figure I need to get ahead of the pantry moths that might fly to the big feed bin.

 

[bramblefir]

Lavender will help as well. Also, just taking the wool out a few times a year, tossing it around, and letting it rest in the sunshine for an hour or two will help. The moths don't like light and movement and typically settle on things that are in the dark and rarely handled.

We bought some alpacas last year at $200/head for their fleece, which reminds me that I need to get said fleece sold.

 

[Beekissed]

This is an old story played out over and again. Time will pass, interest will wane, and they will go back to obscurity as they were. Worth nothing more than any other chicken. If they continue to exist here at all, though I imagine they will. They were here before this import.

I agree that the perceived health benefits are exaggerated. It is part of the story though. Part of the perceived value.

They are an interesting breed, if some would preserve and improve them as they are. The problem is when the enthusiasm gets this high, it falls just as low.

Maybe some here will do well by them, and have a vigorous healthy flock 10 years from now. Time will tell.

I agree...and often the quality of the stock falls because those getting into the new fad on the block don't have the dedication it takes to keep or improve the breed's qualities. You get folks wanting to cross it with this or that to make an interesting looking bird, or designer bird, to sell.

I find them a beautiful bird and worthy of preserving but I'm glad the breed that interests me no longer draws the fan crowds and the fad followers, if it ever did...it would be hard to watch it being marketed and shared about like a party favor.

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

My inspiration came from this

"We have been developing a large dual purpose domestic chicken breed from Japanese and Indonesian heritage breeds for about fourteen years. The heritage breeds ( Ayam cemani, Koeyoshi, Japanese Silky, Black Sumatra) which have contributed their genes to our new breed, each have Gallus bankiva (the Indonesian Red JF) in their maternal ancestry and specific genes found in Ceylon and Grey Jf in their paternal ancestry. These genes were accrued in ancient times but using the chicken genome mapping data, we selected desirable genes and traits for inclusion in a new breed. We are selecting for extra carnosine in the meat and eggs of this breed which we call the Cabbage Hill Charcoal Chicken. The colour type is called Raku."
posted on another site in 2006.

NEW FORUM LOCATED AT

Really nice photo. One eye on you....
I think this is a lovely bird and worth pursuing if you love it!

I be thinking you could buy or grow a lot of broccoli for the cost of one of those birds. Seems to me to be one of those money making projects wherein you invest a chunk of money to raise this rare breed, thinking you'll sell your eggs and offspring for a chunk of money because you paid a chunk of money. Sort of like alpaca farming....everyone wanted in on it because they were so expensive at first, but as soon as everyone bought into it, the prices went down and now I see ads for folks giving them away.

Usually the only folks making money on those deals were the ones selling impossibly high dollar animals to begin with, who convinced other folks they could make money too.

And, who in the world could afford to eat these chickens???

Nah...the Emperor is naked.

So I feel you on this. The Cemanis were $3000 for a trio last year from GF. Now they are $350 a chick...

I am seeing this with my coveted Silver laced orpington. The market has finally broken from the $250 a chick and I admit to having purchased 3 at $100 a piece.

Call me crazy but no crazier than my hubby spending $150 on a game of golf!

I love chickens. I have a budget for my hobby each month and keep developing my fun. I should be able to pay for it all and turn a profit for more infrastructure by July with these layers. I have a buyer lined up and ducks ina row...or is that chickens.

Breeding has made my world richer. I am pursuing it with my type A fervor. First successful latch of my chocolates and I have some great mutts I am hoping will produce a better laying OE. Life is good

BUT my cat died traumatically yesterday. Bitter sweet times here on the farm and the circle of life continues...

 

[dfr1973]

Call me crazy but no crazier than my hubby spending $150 on a game of golf!

I love chickens. I have a budget for my hobby each month and keep developing my fun. I should be able to pay for it all and turn a profit for more infrastructure by July with these layers. I have a buyer lined up and ducks ina row...or is that chickens.

Breeding has made my world richer. I am pursuing it with my type A fervor. First successful latch of my chocolates and I have some great mutts I am hoping will produce a better laying OE. Life is good

BUT my cat died traumatically yesterday. Bitter sweet times here on the farm and the circle of life continues...

I feel for your loss. I lost three out of four last year ... two were to old age (13 and 15) but the 11yo was due to her stubborn cussedness. She died doing something she loved: destroying something of ours while in the process of misbehaving. I found her body the morning we drove up to pick up a gift car from BiL. Triumph and tragedy rolled up into one. We call it "living life uncensored" and the wheel keeps turning. It has been a cold winter without my pile of kitties on me ... but this made it easier to become acquainted with the youngest one, who previously stuck to hubby like glue (and I assumed the older ones guarded me jealously).

$150 for one game of golf ... I can't help but wonder how many chick tractors I could put on a golf course.