I just came back in after getting winded chasing a duckling. I got this bright idea since the ducks I hatched and the ones the duck hatched were about the same age I could take them out to her and she would adopt them. WRONG!!!!! First she flew at me with all the terror of a broody chicken mama. I've never seen a duck act aggressive before. Then she chased the two babies I took out to get them away from her ducklings. One of them laid in the grass so he was easy picking. The other one gave me a total run for my money. In and and around through pens. And when he did stop I couldn't and went sliding in the mud.
It is anything but just dirt out there. There is water everywhere. Even where it appears to be dry under grass it's sitting a good inch deep. I thought about just letting all the chickens out of their pens but I really wouldn't accomplish a thing because they'd still be standing in water.
One of the wells out there, a large very old dug well, has an area built up on the top area where the pump and pressure tank sit. I had rented a backhoe and dug out an opening to I could reroute the pipe from it and eventually tie in electricity to it again. Well now that hole and the area where the pump and tank sits which is built up to be dry is full of water. An unsuspecting person or chicken could walk there and sink 6 feet deep in the water. And it was still sprinkling out there. It's so very discouraging. Your gardens are beautiful but I think I've given up. At this rate even it it stops raining I won't be able to garden. This clay will dry out and set up like cement with all this water pressure on it.
Grain Gypsy, starting with hatchery birds isn't a bad thing in some respects. It's a way to learn by example and comparing the difference between the two. Also teaches the kids what to look for. The only bad side is what I have seen a few too many times. When those kids are so very proud and have worked hard to care for a raise a bird, then to be disqualified because the judge can tell it's not up to standard, or to just get a white ribbon because it has no chance of winning over other birds; it's very hard for kids to understand why their beloved bird isn't top notch. 4H isn't just a bunch of kids with chicks they got at Orchlen's. There are some real contenders there especially if you are in a more populated area.
I've sold cheap and even donated some quality birds to kids who were financially unable to get good birds for 4H, because I can see those that really do work with their birds and take them seriously. What I don't do is make bargains for people who show up 1-3 weeks before the fair looking for a quality bird on the cheap. The only exception I've made to that, are ones I know show each year and work hard, and lose their birds to hot temperatures or something out of their control.
I normally do some NPIP testing for the 4 Hers and it's really sad to see what some of these kids are going to try to show.
One of my sons was very much into 4H and not the others. We lived in town then. He worked very hard and was very serious about his projects. I really regret I didn't do more research and go out of my way to help him further. At that time though, my computer experience was limited to at work stuff,
Ebay and email. I hadn't learned to use the internet for a research tool, nor was there the wealth of information there is now. I was never at home when the library was open either. Still I could have made a few phone calls and learned a lot more to help him out. All I have now is a slight possibility of helping my grandchildren.
