Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[karimw]

I just discovered this fascinating breed & I would like to know if there are any in Canada yet?

I'm not sure! I shipped eggs to Alaska once, but that's about as close as I've come.

 

[ottbjumper06]

I guess none of the IB breeders are going to go unscathed by predators this year. For the past couple of days I've been battling raccoon problems. It all started when a roost collapsed and broke the neck of one of my 8 month olds. I put the body in a bucket and went out to the edge of the property to bury it. I then got distracted by other chores and before long I forgot completely about the bird. The next morning I remembered about it, and rushed out to look but something had gotten it during the night. I was pretty worried about it so I only let my birds free range while I was watching and put them away at 5pm. This morning I woke up to this. What I have to assume was a raccoon scaled the chain link run and got up on the roof. I'm very lucky I have any Iowa Blues today... Given the coop does need a new roof but this is just scary what predators are capable of doing.

 

[ottbjumper06]

Not sure what happened with that picture. Here's a little better one. Not sure why it's showing up so small

 

[karimw]

Not sure what happened with that picture. Here's a little better one. Not sure why it's showing up so small

Yikes!

 

[ottbjumper06]

I knew they could be determined things, but I didn't think it would try to rip through my roof! There's another one to match on the other side. Needless to say there is a trap set...

 

[Hurley]

Popping in to say hi. Wow, the thread has been active, 83 posts! Nice.

Just wanted to put out an apology to all that I have been so absent the past two months. My """real""" job has been killing me and I've barely had time to feed and care for the flock, let alone anything else. This past week has been the worst yet, starting to wonder if it's possible to get home before 9 or 10 pm. Anyway, this week marks my last week of carrying an extra day a week at work, so hoping to get the household caught up and then get to work on catching up my chicken duties! Next Friday is devoted to updating and getting things current.

Unfortunately, not able to commit to shows this summer, work saw to that.
Can't make the Iowa State Fair (or the Wisconsin one for that matter), much as it pains me to say.

I am happy, though, to have a nice batch of juveniles growing out and look forward to 2015!



Curt - lovely new group, can't wait to trade eggs or stock with you. When are you hitting Wisconsin?


Agreed on the appearance of those photos, sure look like ideal stock lines and not much like the old time photos of the breed.


Triple YUCK on the predation! Incidentally, was in my office last weekend and saw a hawk come down and land on the roof of my coop's enclosure. He hopped around a bit looking for a way in, then flew down to the ground looking for a way in. I looked around, not a chicken anywhere to be seen. It was like they had vanished. Not sure where they all ended up, but the hawk flew off empty taloned, thank goodness. Have been pretty much free ranging the flock this summer and so far no adults have disappeared (though a handful of juveniles did) that were able to escape the grow out pen and thought they might free range the badlands (aka the back property line abutting wild predator infested woods).


I am working on going through a recent huge brunt of correspondence this week from a little article in Farm Show Magazine that I contributed to. There is a blurb on the front page and a half page article on page 31. Will get it scanned in and posted. I am amazed at the response in this short amount of time.

Curt, I owe you an edit, Friday!

Anyone/thing else I've missed, I apologize, feel free to re-email me. I've got a stack of emails to respond to and I apologize. I got a good smack of life.

Hope all are doing well. I am alive.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Connie;
Good to read from you again!
I am in need of some shoulder surgery, can you give me the good customer discount?
Have told them not til after the State Fair. So does that mean you will not be going to Portage either? Lora, was toying with the idea of going this year.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

FYI;

Al, (Alnice Nichols), the State Fair poultry show Supervisor, has messaged me several times sharing with me that folks have been expressing great interest in wanting to see the Iowa Blues at the Fair this year! She has called me and said there are people wanting to buy birds and she is telling them to get themselves to the show and get info on these birds and breeders!
It's exciting to hear. Even though we won't have a program, we will still have a table and or share the registration table.
Will anyone have a pair of birds in the hall of breeds? I hope so! It's great advertisement..........
Al, is excited to have the birds in the show and I continue to make contacts where I can. Next I will be tackling the media.
Who can get me color brochures and printed materials? Even black and white copies should be on the table when there is not a club rep there.
Eric

 

[Hurley]

When is the display at the fair (which days)?

 

[ottbjumper06]

FYI;

Al, (Alnice Nichols), the State Fair poultry show Supervisor, has messaged me several times sharing with me that folks have been expressing great interest in wanting to see the Iowa Blues at the Fair this year! She has called me and said there are people wanting to buy birds and she is telling them to get themselves to the show and get info on these birds and breeders!
It's exciting to hear. Even though we won't have a program, we will still have a table and or share the registration table.
Will anyone have a pair of birds in the hall of breeds? I hope so! It's great advertisement..........
Al, is excited to have the birds in the show and I continue to make contacts where I can. Next I will be tackling the media.
Who can get me color brochures and printed materials? Even black and white copies should be on the table when there is not a club rep ther

Don't we have a brochure from last year we could use? And how many is there a need for?