- Jun 21, 2014
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I don't know how often I'll be stopping in here, but I figured I might have at least a small amount of insight on some things that I can pass along from time to time, when I remember to stop by...
What is my background?
I have been raising poultry since 1986, taking the years of 2004-2011 off; now I have 3 hens in my tiny back yard.
(I have been living in a city for the last 10 years, after spending the previous 18 in "the country")
At the largest I had a flock of 54 hens, 14 rooster, 2 turkeys, 7 geese, and 1 drake.
I raised pure bred Large Standard Breed Rhode Island Red birds for 6 years before my 2 genetic strains died out; RIR pure bred had only 7 genetic strains/groups left in the USA (possibly the world) back in the 90's when I was breeding them. They commonly produce a variety of "mutant" offspring and the ones that fit the standard typically die from sickness with in 2 years of hatching.
I used to have an entire drawer of awards won at local poultry shows in California, and when I wrote them all down in a record keeping sheet I had over a hundred. That's 3rd's-Best in Breed and 1 best in show for a Gander, but I think that judge was being generous as there were no other Ganders in that show. They're all gone now, as an aging person some times lets parts of the past go.
I also studied Avian Sciences, as a hobby, from age 6-16 and was on a team of 3 middle-high school aged people that won 1st in state and 1st in National "Avian Bowl" competitions in 1995 under the guidance of a workbook written by Dr. Francene Bradley (of UC Davis); she also ran the "Avian Bowl" competition.
My best friend and favorite family had a farm of over 150 birds (chickens, swans, geese, ducks, turkeys) that I helped tend and periodically medicate (when needed, rarely) for about 5 years, as well, though I credit them to their amazing flock management... that many birds and pens would have put me to sleep had I to do it myself.. a lot of work!
Since then I have forgotten most of that meaty detail... but some times I have a burst of relevant memories to share.
The Oldest bird I had was a rooster named "Roasty Toasty", from my very first group of birds, who lived from 1986-1998, far surpassing what was considered "possible" according to poultry standards when I was learning about Avian diseases. One of his sisters of the same group died the year before that, 2 others the year before her. I had a very good track record at keeping my family of birds alive and laying, though the longest a bird ever laid was 6 years and she was a bantam who didn't lay too often by the end. Typical birds seem to stop laying after 3 years, usually not too ofter during that third year, if at all.
I used to wash my show birds every week, at one point, just with dry cleaning methods and vegetable oils on the skin. I decided that was excessive and moved to wash them in this way only in the month before shows, and with water the week prior.
Currently I have 3 hens who live from a gravity fed water-catch system (not advised if your area has a lot of wild bird disease), "organic" lay crumble feed, and occasional cooking scraps.
Anyway... I hope this has been informative... Peace.
What is my background?
I have been raising poultry since 1986, taking the years of 2004-2011 off; now I have 3 hens in my tiny back yard.
(I have been living in a city for the last 10 years, after spending the previous 18 in "the country")
At the largest I had a flock of 54 hens, 14 rooster, 2 turkeys, 7 geese, and 1 drake.
I raised pure bred Large Standard Breed Rhode Island Red birds for 6 years before my 2 genetic strains died out; RIR pure bred had only 7 genetic strains/groups left in the USA (possibly the world) back in the 90's when I was breeding them. They commonly produce a variety of "mutant" offspring and the ones that fit the standard typically die from sickness with in 2 years of hatching.
I used to have an entire drawer of awards won at local poultry shows in California, and when I wrote them all down in a record keeping sheet I had over a hundred. That's 3rd's-Best in Breed and 1 best in show for a Gander, but I think that judge was being generous as there were no other Ganders in that show. They're all gone now, as an aging person some times lets parts of the past go.
I also studied Avian Sciences, as a hobby, from age 6-16 and was on a team of 3 middle-high school aged people that won 1st in state and 1st in National "Avian Bowl" competitions in 1995 under the guidance of a workbook written by Dr. Francene Bradley (of UC Davis); she also ran the "Avian Bowl" competition.
My best friend and favorite family had a farm of over 150 birds (chickens, swans, geese, ducks, turkeys) that I helped tend and periodically medicate (when needed, rarely) for about 5 years, as well, though I credit them to their amazing flock management... that many birds and pens would have put me to sleep had I to do it myself.. a lot of work!
Since then I have forgotten most of that meaty detail... but some times I have a burst of relevant memories to share.
The Oldest bird I had was a rooster named "Roasty Toasty", from my very first group of birds, who lived from 1986-1998, far surpassing what was considered "possible" according to poultry standards when I was learning about Avian diseases. One of his sisters of the same group died the year before that, 2 others the year before her. I had a very good track record at keeping my family of birds alive and laying, though the longest a bird ever laid was 6 years and she was a bantam who didn't lay too often by the end. Typical birds seem to stop laying after 3 years, usually not too ofter during that third year, if at all.
I used to wash my show birds every week, at one point, just with dry cleaning methods and vegetable oils on the skin. I decided that was excessive and moved to wash them in this way only in the month before shows, and with water the week prior.
Currently I have 3 hens who live from a gravity fed water-catch system (not advised if your area has a lot of wild bird disease), "organic" lay crumble feed, and occasional cooking scraps.
Anyway... I hope this has been informative... Peace.
and Welcome To BYC!
