Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Fred's Hens]

I like. I like the idea too of an OT discussing his favorite breeds and WHY they are favorites. Might give some insight that the specific breed threads don't convey. Maybe.

That would be my hope. On some breeds, I could see collaboration with two OTer's, one maybe not such an OTer perhaps, but someone know to have insights into the breed that few others have.

There would few people more informed to speak about the Rhode Island Red than NYREDS, for example. Who would not want KathyinMO to talk about Delaware and New Hampshire? Geeeesh, I would pay tuition to have these folks share. Walt Leonard on just about any breed or husbandry of those breeds he'd want to talk about. Ditto for thedragonlady on Orpintons, or Al on Cornish and all the other breeds he's raised, bred and shown, Wynette on Rocks, etc.

Folks, maybe I'm biased, but this level of contributor would be a grand slam. However, there'd have to be some kind of ground rules. Such folks are strongly opinionated and don't put up with lot of ..... well....... distractions, shall we say. To maximize the benefit, we'd have to keep the chatter down, until the end of the presentations?
Again, just thinking out loud. Still drafting a proposal.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Wondering can you mail fresh eggs and the person who receives can still eat them? It would take 3-4 days for the eggs to get there?

Oh sure. People mail hatching eggs, which are more sensitive.

That said, quite an expense, no?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Walt

 

[Mskayladog]

Yes but mailing to my nephew worth the cost but just once lol

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Putting my toe into this thread for the first time as I want to say "Thanks" to Fred for the quiz. I've been lurking for a while and I studied on those pictures so hard that my eyes about gave out. I've had my girls for 7 months and was happy that I noticed some things that were important - like the color of the legs - but I didn't know what it meant. I do now!

Anyway, wanted to give a proper "Thank You" and let you know that there are probably a lot of lurkers like myself that are learning, too!

 

[champer]

Quote:
Maven, you're post made me think about how there are so many variables in our flocks and the way we run them. I have a mixed flock that I keep for eggs and my amusement, some purebred and some mutts. My roo was routinely ignoring or chasing off my 2 light brahma hens. There was nothing wrong with the hens, they were reliable layers and very easy going, if a bit greedy at the trough. The issue was with the roo, he was a mutt and had some silky blood in him and was rather small as roos go and I don't think he was very successful with those brahmas because of their size and that was what caused him to reject them.
This probably isn't your situation, but observation of flock interaction is always useful and fun!

 

[galanie]

That would be my hope.  On some breeds, I could see collaboration with two OTer's, one maybe not such an OTer perhaps, but someone know to have insights into the breed that few others have.

There would few people more informed to speak about the Rhode Island Red than NYREDS, for example.  Who would not want KathyinMO to talk about Delaware and New Hampshire?    Geeeesh, I would pay tuition to have these folks share.  Walt Leonard on just about any breed or husbandry of those breeds he'd want to talk about.  Ditto for thedragonlady on Orpintons, or Al on Cornish and all the other breeds he's raised, bred and shown, Wynette on Rocks, etc.  

Folks, maybe I'm biased, but this level of contributor would be a grand slam.  However, there'd have to be some kind of ground rules.  Such folks are strongly opinionated and don't put up with lot of .....  well.......  distractions, shall we say.    To maximize the benefit, we'd have to keep the chatter down, until the end of the presentations?  
Again, just thinking out loud.   Still drafting a proposal.  

I'd pay tuition too! I'm not planning on raising any of those breeds but you never know. And anyway I'd just love to learn!

 

[fowlman01]

Maven, you're post made me think about how there are so many variables in our flocks and the way we run them. I have a mixed flock that I keep for eggs and my amusement, some purebred and some mutts. My roo was routinely ignoring or chasing off my 2 light brahma hens. There was nothing wrong with the hens, they were reliable layers and very easy going, if a bit greedy at the trough. The issue was with the roo, he was a mutt and had some silky blood in him and was rather small as roos go and I don't think he was very successful with those brahmas because of their size and that was what caused him to reject them.
This probably isn't your situation, but observation of flock interaction is always useful and fun!

Watching the social order of chickens is one of my favorite pastimes. It helped keep me reasonably sane while working 20 years at the university.

There is a nice show in Hollister Jan 12-13 (Baldo Park)...just down the road from you. It is an opportunity to see some pretty nice birds.

Walt

 

[KnobbyOaks]

Hmmm. 12,000 posts. OT's are a chatty bunch or maybe it's the toddlers at their knees.

Yes, Fred. I'd definitely be interested in regularly scheduled class conducted by the OT's on different breeds. I'm still trying to differentiate all the different breeds and their standards.

And thanks for the quiz yesterday, very educational.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

I will echo what others are saying ~ I am learning more from following this thread than I have learned doing research, and following other forums, and having a motly backyard flock. THANK YOU!!!

I do hope one breed you discuss is the Delawares. That was the breed I chose and bought some hatching eggs local enough I didn't have to ship them. Fate happened, and because of a house fire I decided to sell the chicks when they were about 4 weels old, promising myself I would get more when there was not so much distraction going on. I never have replaced them.

I did keep the EE's from the hatch. A rooster and a hen turned out to be a great learning experience. I think they were part delaware (the seller was rebuilding pens from a series of storms). The roo was big and magnificant to my newbie eye, and such a good guy. He and the hen ruled the yard. He was not mean, but did not allow any nonsence from any other bird. I would set and just watch them, how they moved, talked to each other, how the roo would "work", watching the hen and running to break up a fuss somewhere, and right back to her side. Even how the roo and his "posse" interacted. Two younger roos from some hatched eggs. Always near him, always subservant to him. And a little cochin bantam roo, that was 'glued' to his side, and would step up and watch the hen if he was off breaking up a fuss.

The ducks and geese have been my main focus, and some mixed bantams have been fun, but some day I do want to get some Delawares again. And I want to know how to tell if I am getting the best I can afford at that time.