Life Lessons, Changing Times, and The Future
I'll be off line for a couple days as we have a few family things to deal with downstate. Thought I'd sort of post a personal "testimony" type article to bridge the past weekend to the future. Some of you know that I've been breeding our own utility lines for now 4 years. We're happy enough with the progress that I will now say, I will never again order a box of chicks from a hatchery nor box up any chicks at a feed store. That day has passed. At this point in my life, I can choose to care much more about quality.
I've spent the last two years reading and re-reading and re-reading again two very lengthy threads here. The Heritage Large Fowl thread and the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread. I've read them through, again and again. I've posted less than three or four times on them. It hasn't been about posting, it's been about learning. Learning? Oh yes. So very, very much to learn. One is never too old or too experienced to learn. The more I learn, the more I realize I've yet to learn. It's exciting!!!!
This week, I joined the APA. Paid my dues and everything. LOL
If I'm taking on a new adventure of breeding heritage fowl, then by golly, I put myself into college and I've been soaking it in. Every last bit of it. What the heck would a farmer, even be it a farmer who'd been responsible for chickens since the late 1950's have to learn about heritage fowl? Hah!!!! I'm a freshman all over again.
You can fear that sort of thing, be intimidated and not invest the time. Ok, but as my old friend used say, "Darlin', you be stuck"
Or, you can be lazy and just say you don't have time to invest in going to those looooooong heritage threads and read through them. Hah!!! Ok. Then that's the way it'll be.
This old farmer is entering a fresh aspect of chickens. In many ways? It actually is kinda going back to where it all began decades ago. I'm frankly pretty much done with the modern, mass produced chicken, as they are usually presented today.
We have the Frank Reese Good Shepherd Barred Rocks, I'm just beginning with the Reds and if I can complete the deal with some White Rocks? That's it. I'll be happy as a clam. Eggs? We'll get enough. If some of the egg business gets dialed back? So be it. If I'm going to continue doing this into my 70's and by God's grace, into my 80's? I'm gonna happy and challenged doing it.
Class dismissed.
