Speaking of mentoring,
Leisha helped me out a whole lot this weekend. I needed to decide what birds I was keeping for my spring breeding flock and she helped me weed out what I had. I'v only had chickens for about 1 and 1/2 years and favs only one year, so this was my first set of babies grown up and waiting inspection. I did what I knew to do, feet, fuller beards, etc, but somethings I missed.....like hocks. I won't make that mistake again because obviously ignorance only gets you talked about. I am a busy mom and between keeping up with a three year old, a gymnast daughter, soap making, working nights, etc. I don't have time to read any standard front to back and memorize every point. I learn as I go, it goes with my nature. I found the best birds that were available and that my money could buy. I haven't chinched on the cost of any of my birds.
Leisha helped me decide who to get rid of and in the mean time told me some more of the finer points of things to look for. Being down here in the south and having shown quite a few times, I have yet to have had any other faverolles (in real life) to compare my birds to except last year at Ohio National and this year at Crossroads.
Each time I have come away wtih more knowledge with Leisha being the biggest help. She could have steered me wrong and not pointed out the hocks, or the too light color, and (
)saved herself some competition down the road. HEEHEE. But she didn't. She also didn't wait and point it out on a public forum or talk about my birds behind my back. She did the right thing and told me. OBVIOUSLY NO birds are perfect as evidenced by the whole last few pages of conversation. But the great thing about this board in the past is that someone will let you know there is a problem and give advice as to fix it. This advice generally comes in the form of constructive criticism and us newer members to the fav world who have an interest in improvement of the breed appreciate and "hear" that just as much as the snide comments if not more (except Peter's and he readily admits to being prone to fits and we sit up and listen when he does
).
Everyone on this board that knows me even a little bit knows that I am not one to say something negative or cause trouble.
I have the utmost respect for the PREVIOUSLY existing experienced
breeders of the group. I even have an idol or two.
Peter I'm pretty sure has been referred to as "the fav god" a time or two in my vocabulary. It is just a shame when people join the group (and are welcomed warmly) who have awesome reputations as breeders and don't attempt to help others but call others out on their faults. It just puts a bad taste in my mouth!
Sheesh!!! Peter were channeling through me??!! vodka and cranberry on ice please.... whew!!! Probably shouldn't have said all that!!
