We were delighted to find out that we had won a pair of Dominique chickens at the Crossroads Poultry show in Indianapolis. To say it was unexpected is an understatement. Friday my husband Rick and I drove to Indy. We weren't expecting to buy anything, just look. We already had 22 chickens at home (including a Maran/Polish mix rooster). Illinois APA/ABA Youth had a table right as we came in the front door and the were selling raffle tickets for 1 pair each of Java's, Dominiques, Leghorn as well as a few other things. We bought tickets and divided them up between the Java's and the Dominiques. We have been interested in the Java's because not only are they an excellent dual purpose bird, but they are still on the critical list. While no longer on the endangered list, we like the idea of helping preserve the 2nd oldest breed in the country.
While we were not planning on buying any birds, we managed to still come home with 2 Java hens and 2 Americauna hens. We talked about that being our limit on the way home. The next morning (saturday) my husband says that we really should have gotten a Java rooster as we really do want to help conserve them and should breed them. So back we go to Indy. He works graveyards, so we needed to get there early and get home so he could take a nap before work. We stopped and looked at the raffle birds. Well, our rooster turned into 1 Java rooster and 2 more java hens, 1 more Americauna hen and 2 Maran hens, one silver laced and one wheaton.
On the way home we admonished ourselves for having no self control and in passing I said, "Now watch us win the raffle!". We got home and got the birds settled in. My husband went off to bed and I hopped onto the computer. I had just posted on facebook about our new birds when the phone rang. Courtney the Illinois APA/ABA Youth Leader was on there telling me we had won the Dominiques.
Sunday we again headed back to Indy! Courtney was such a lovely person. She had noticed our new birds doing something cute and promptly taken a picture which she later emailed to me. This is the picture:
We now have 34 chickens!
While we were not planning on buying any birds, we managed to still come home with 2 Java hens and 2 Americauna hens. We talked about that being our limit on the way home. The next morning (saturday) my husband says that we really should have gotten a Java rooster as we really do want to help conserve them and should breed them. So back we go to Indy. He works graveyards, so we needed to get there early and get home so he could take a nap before work. We stopped and looked at the raffle birds. Well, our rooster turned into 1 Java rooster and 2 more java hens, 1 more Americauna hen and 2 Maran hens, one silver laced and one wheaton.
On the way home we admonished ourselves for having no self control and in passing I said, "Now watch us win the raffle!". We got home and got the birds settled in. My husband went off to bed and I hopped onto the computer. I had just posted on facebook about our new birds when the phone rang. Courtney the Illinois APA/ABA Youth Leader was on there telling me we had won the Dominiques.
Sunday we again headed back to Indy! Courtney was such a lovely person. She had noticed our new birds doing something cute and promptly taken a picture which she later emailed to me. This is the picture:
We now have 34 chickens!
) Thanks for the congrats. We feel very blessed!
