Colorado ChickenFest 2013

[samsr]

I am going to see if I can get these rather large picture files to upload. Here are a few pics from the festivities.

 

[suncatcher]

I am going to see if I can get these rather large picture files to upload. Here are a few pics from the festivities.

Thanks for sharing the pictures! Looks like a great bunch of peeps!

I really like the games, and players!!!

 

[wsmith]

I am going to see if I can get these rather large picture files to upload. Here are a few pics from the festivities.

Awesome! My oldest daughter Heather took photos too, but she went out on a date afterwads and I don't know where she put the camera.....Thanks for the pics! Can I repost some of these to the FB page?

 

[samsr]

Sure. Post away.

 

[wsmith]

I spent nearly 2 hours editing the photos my daughter and her friend took at ChickenFest. It was much faster to post them on the Colorado Chickens FB page, so I did that last night. I will see about getting some posted here as well this evening.

Thanks to all those who attended and made ChickenFest a success! As it was the first time for this, there was a learning curve. Some things worked, others not as good, but overall I think most had a good time. Thanks to my kids and Faith Lawson, who did alot of work directing, and keeping the punch coolers going, and giving tours, ghelping with the games, climbing on the roof retrieving rubber chickens, etc. Thanks to Sam for bringing the prize chicks. Thanks to those who brought roosters for the processing demo. Hope it was tastefull and respectful enough. Thanks to those who donated for the porta potty. If all works out we will be buying one soon and we won't have to rent one.

If anyone wants the info for the plucker drum parts, I will see about finding his contact info and pass it on.



The wind kicked up, so that created some issues with the shade flys. Sorry about that. We will do what we can to fix that. If we do it again at my place, we will need more shade flys. I can't supply them all.....

So lets get some feedback. What was good, what was bad, what can we improve on etc. ?

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

One thought, since you have the wind, why not take advantage of it and have a kite flying area/contest next year? I saw one kid break out a kite where the cars were parked and he was having a blast!

 

[wsmith]

One thought, since you have the wind, why not take advantage of it and have a kite flying area/contest next year? I saw one kid break out a kite where the cars were parked and he was having a blast!

That would be fun!

 

[Pozees]

Wendell I think it would be wonderful to have it again! We can definitely brainstorm some ideas, and I agree more pop up awnings that aren't your expense/concern are warranted. I'll start watching Craigslist etc. for used ones that can be anchored. I used to have an EZUp when I went to dog shows, sure wish I had it now. Meantime, maybe we can work together to collect an assortment of washable, foldable tables as well, whenever they pop up free or inexpensive. I thought you went above and beyond! Delegating some things you think you have pretty much down and can just tell someone else how to do so you can focus on things you want to work on might work. Maybe develop a list of things that people can sign up to bring/provide in lieu of, or in addition to, a dish to pass? Like paper plates and cups, utensils, ice, coolers of beverages, etc. Most things can be dropped off to you ahead of time so you have them for setup.

 

[wsmith]

I can't believe we forgot to pick up napkins! LOL

I am also planning on putting in a few more trees, that would give a little shade, though not much for a couple of years.

You're right. Now that we have one under our belt, and know a little more about what to expect, I think we can go from there. I think that if everyone who planned on selling or just exhibiting their poultry would bring a pop-up, a table of some sort, and chairs , then come early, we would be good too. As we were cleaning up, I remembered that I had 5 old interior doors leaning against the side fence that could have been used as tables. All we had to do is put them on some wood crates I have in the garage.....

Do we want this to rotate or stick with my place? And no, don't look for the road to be graded any time soon......

I don't mind it being at Windy Ridge Dominiques. the only thing is that I need to be less busy, (somebody else will be delegated the hot dog burning duty) so I can maintain a little better control on access to my chicken area. I got concerned (translated that means I was a little stressed out) a few times with the free access. Beth had to get after a few kids because they were running in to see the chicks, then leaving the brooder door open..... Also, my chickens don't get picked up on a regular basis like very small backyard flocks are sometimes, so they got a little stressed. Yesterday's egg lay totals were much better than Saturday's.

We could have designated times for varioous demos, like Sexing chicks: (Feather, inverted chick method, color, etc). , Chicken processing, etc. We could have displays on fermented feed, growing forage, etc. Next year I would even be OK with a corporate sponsor or two if we could get them.

Thoughts?

 

[wsmith]

I agree more pop up awnings that aren't your expense/concern are warranted. I'll start watching Craigslist etc. for used ones that can be anchored. I used to have an EZUp when I went to dog shows, sure wish I had it now. Meantime, maybe we can work together to collect an assortment of washable, foldable tables as well, whenever they pop up free or inexpensive.

The small pop-up I picked up at a "bank taking back the house" sale for $5.