Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Scifisarah]

Those of you that have kids that show your chickens, at what age did they start? I wonder how much of the care, grooming, choosing the bird they are responsible for - all of it or do you help? My daughter is 5 1/2 right now so just thinking for the future.

 

[RIRJen]

Those of you that have kids that show your chickens, at what age did they start? I wonder how much of the care, grooming, choosing the bird they are responsible for - all of it or do you help? My daughter is 5 1/2 right now so just thinking for the future.

She does not show my birds, she shows our birds. We show under both of our names at the open shows here in Michigan.
She chose which birds to take to fair (with Theron's help on which hen lol) and took care of them during the fair. She is respondsible for helping me clean the coops, feed and water, and when preparing for a show she helps by bringing in birds to bath and blow drying them (which takes forever) and clipping nails. I help her with these things, but I do not just do it for her. How would she learn if I did it for her. She helps pick out which ones to keep and which ones to cull.
She raises a different breed of rabbit then I do because at ARBA and 4H shows I do not want someone saying she is showing my rabbits. She is very involved in their care and has been since she was old enough to help...even when she was making more of a mess then helping lol. She won Best of Breed and Best Opposite of breed All Other Fancy at the fair with her English Spots as well. The reason she did so well, because she is involved with her animals and knows her animals. She also studies showmanship and works her goats. When we start out, we don't buy pets...we buy quality animals from a breeder(s) who we've researched. We've come a long way with our silkies, we're improving our goats and Hannah started out with Spots from a couple friends of mine who are some of the best in the country...and she's winning with home grown babies that she picked out.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Yay Hannah! Job well done!

 

[Amastacia]

Yay Hannah! Job well done!

x2

 

[Scifisarah]

I meant your, as in your family's birds. If my daughter does end up wanting to show when she gets older, I do think it would be good for her to pick a separate breed, if I am also showing for the reason you mentioned with the rabbits. It certainly looks like Hannah works hard at it, and I am all about promoting responsibility with my kiddos!

 

[RIRJen]

I meant your, as in your family's birds. If my daughter does end up wanting to show when she gets older, I do think it would be good for her to pick a separate breed, if I am also showing for the reason you mentioned with the rabbits. It certainly looks like Hannah works hard at it, and I am all about promoting responsibility with my kiddos!

It's always good to let them pick what they want and are interested in. We have a few people in the rabbit showing world who show through their kids...and you can tell. The kids have no clue what rabbit is what or anything about them, but the parents step right up and tell you everything about them. I like them to be really involved so it's clear that the animals she's showing are hers...it's just not worth the headache of people claiming otherwise. When we were at the fair someone had inquired about our birds and they were directed to me by a friend...and I directed them to Hannah. She's about to turn 10 so I stayed and helped with details but at fair she needs to be the one answering questions if possible.

I know owning animals and showing kept me out of a lot of trouble as a kid! lol

 

[SillyChicken]

Congratulations to Hannah!!

 

[uchytil]

No idea if this is what you're looking for or not, but there have been glass cider jugs on CL for awhile up here. http://nmi.craigslist.org/grd/3889408895.html

Just called/left msg. Thanks.

 

[uchytil]

No idea if this is what you're looking for or not, but there have been glass cider jugs on CL for awhile up here. http://nmi.craigslist.org/grd/3889408895.html

Just called/left msg. Thanks.

 

[gladahmae]

Well I got my hopes up too much I think. When I checked the tracking for my chicks for this morning it said they were "Guaranteed by 3pm" today. And I KNOW there are 40min left.....but I was REALLY hoping to get to pick them up before lunch today. I hope they aren't getting cooked on some truck somewhere.

It's soooooo hot out. I've had the sprinkler going on the garden since 10am. Should probably go shut it off. And poor DH today! He and his boss agreed to start early today (6am) so they could get done at 2-2:30 today. Not only is that not happening, he's going to have to work later than he does when he starts at his NORMAL time.

It's a good day for a sundress, a glass of iced tea, and a good book.