Eastern Tennessee Thread

[TNBarnQueen]

OK....I am without words on this....
I went out today...went to back of hen house where outside cover is. Look down and there are grey feathers in a big pile. I panic....REALLY panic and got to my pen where my Lavender Orps are....everyone is there.

I hurried to production pen cause they free ranged yesterday. Head count...everyone is there.

Hurry yet again to the bantam pen...Everyone there. No one else for quite a distance from me has chickens. I know it is a raccoon that has done this but for the life of me I don't know where the "victim" came from and why it choose to come to MY chicken area to pig out.
DH said over the weekend he found the same thing down in the field. Just to be safe....trap is being set tomorrow. I have not had a raccoon in a long time and am not going to let this one slide...regardless of where it's meal came from.

 

[tennesseeckn]

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You think a predator brought a bird to your house to eat? I guess that's better than the alternative, but you're right, that's weird. OH! Wait! Could the victim have been a wild bird?

 

[tennesseeckn]

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Ooooh. Did you get to go? Can you give us a rundown?

I did and CAN!!!

The club will meet on the 1st Friday of each month at 7pm. Next meeting is 1-6-12. Dues for the club will be $25 individual or $40 family (tentative) and members will be able to sell at any show with no fee. There will be a spring show & a fall show. We're also going to try to host the Nationals in December 2013.


Right now the tentative date for the spring TN Valley Poultry Club show will be 4-14-12. That will be confirmed next week and I'll let ya'll know. But we're pretty sure that's the date. Like 90% sure.

It will be at the TN Valley Fairgrounds. Bantam, Standard and Junior show. No telling how many breeds will have a meet placed at the show, but silkies, seramas, OEGB and d'Uclles/Booted Bantams are pretty certain at this time. A tester wil be there for those that are not NPIP and NPIP papers will be checked.

Judges are still being confirmed.

There will be a flyer about the show distributed in Sparta later this month. Entry forms will go out mid-Feb. Hoping to have a website by then but I doubt on-line entries will be available. There will be a facebook page for the club within the next couple of weeks.

If you know a person/business that can donate a product for the auction or that wants advertiser space in the show catalog, let me know and we'll get some info at to them as soon as we get it prepped.

I am excited!!!!

That sounds great. Was this the first meeting?

I happen to know a HUGE computer nerd that could help with creating an online submission form.

 

[wegotchickens]

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It was the 2nd meeting. The first was in October but I didn't know about it until too late. There wasn't one in nov due to nationals & crossroads.

I'll definitely keep you in mind for that, but first we need to get a website set up.

I was hoping to get an Access program set up for mailing lists & entries, but DH reminded me we don't have Access at the house any more.

So I guess I will use an Excel spreadsheet and then have him plug it into Access....

What we really need right now are sponsors! Mailing the entry forms won't be cheap!

 

[bairo]

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Yes..I got my lines from ST. Morrow, braydon, and Tate. It will be at least June though before I even strat figuring out which combos will be a strong line. I may have some before that but they will be for a laying flock because will be rejects of conformation. I'm not that big into showing, but want to breed strictly to standard. I have three lines but are couples instead of trios. Still gives me a good start and I think I have the good Roo picked already but I need to wait till about Feb. to see about the youngest one. The three hens all look pretty good so far except one is a bit on the light side, but that is easily fixed with the Roo that is almost over dark. That is why I was going to order several plain ole hatchery pullets so I can pick traits for a back up to the breeders. Since they make such good layers and generally very good back yard hens anyway, most of my conformation rejects will be sold for layers and some added to my own laying flock. I meant to tell you too that our lack of eggs was def. due to worms. Worms taken care of and we are getting 6-8 eggs a day from 9 hens that are of laying age. My babies are back

PS.. I can not remember if the Dorkings are ones that the egg production falls off sharply as soon as the 2nd year or not. May want to see if She has that info on one of her pages at Sand Hill. I know that is something they track. Whatever that page is you bring up about ordering has it I think.....

 

[bairo]

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I did not realize Sand Hill had the other colors. I know they are very particular about quality and I would love to have some of their birds. The downside is of course you are def. going to pay for all their hard work. They have a minimum of 25 chicks, they are 50-100% higher on each chick, and they absolutely will not sex what they send. Even for a Del if you get lucky and get 50% pullets, that puts you at 7.00 per pullet chick (counting the roos as nothing) now that stings a bit, LOL

That's step three on the path to D'uccle and Lion Head snuggling, spending crazy amounts of money on birds to improve your stock.

Step one is expanding your flock to three breeds. Step two is sacrificing storage space for rooster bachelor pads. Won't be long, now...

*()&*^^@^&(E(Q@(*
I hate it when woman are right.
BAHH Humbug.

Ad I'll have you know..that 500.00 rider will be just fine out in the snow.

 

[bairo]

Quote:
It was the 2nd meeting. The first was in October but I didn't know about it until too late. There wasn't one in nov due to nationals & crossroads.

I'll definitely keep you in mind for that, but first we need to get a website set up.

I was hoping to get an Access program set up for mailing lists & entries, but DH reminded me we don't have Access at the house any more.

So I guess I will use an Excel spreadsheet and then have him plug it into Access....

What we really need right now are sponsors! Mailing the entry forms won't be cheap!

I can donate a Rooster

LOL.. sorry, couldnt resist.
I really want to attend the next meeting though. Can you remind me and/or email anymore info? I think my business email is open listed on my profile

 

[tennesseeckn]

Quote:
That's step three on the path to D'uccle and Lion Head snuggling, spending crazy amounts of money on birds to improve your stock.

Step one is expanding your flock to three breeds. Step two is sacrificing storage space for rooster bachelor pads. Won't be long, now...

*()&*^^@^&(E(Q@(*
I hate it when woman are right.
BAHH Humbug.

Ad I'll have you know..that 500.00 rider will be just fine out in the snow.

I think I read somewhere that the best way to care for machinery is to expose it to the elements. Helps it acclimate to the weather and all...

 

[tennesseeckn]

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Ummmm... So, can I buy some of that wormer from you? I thought the drop in egg production was due to molt, but they're all done and still no eggs. I also have a girl that is really pale. You said it was Valbazen, right? Doesn't that help with external parasites, too, or am I just making that up?

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Quote:
You think a predator brought a bird to your house to eat? I guess that's better than the alternative, but you're right, that's weird. OH! Wait! Could the victim have been a wild bird?

We do have water fowl...blue herons, green herons, daydiver ducks, wood ducks...stuff like that...but the feathers where almost the exact color and size for the orps. The blue heron is the only thing coming close to the color but they where too small for heron feathers...and a blue heron is a lot for even a large boar coon to take down. Beats me...just as long as it is not my babies,,,, it is welcome to dine here...but hopefully it will be relocated very soon. Our neighbor has seen a large come out of that area and go over his fence..so..hope he fits in my trap. I want to get another dog since we lost ours but DH just doesn't want to think about it right now. Would love to have another Anatolian or Pyrenees.