MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

It's a very difficult problem to tackle. Here on BYC a start could be made by the Educators in theory but they become part of the industry by default. An Educator that writes don't buy hatchery stock, don't feed commercial feed, don't deal with untested and untried breeders won't last long.

Perhaps one could be supported by reputable breeders and teach on the genetics and feed. You would court chicken owners who have experienced short lifetimes for their beloved pets. I wonder what a business plan would need to look like?

 

[BY Bob]

I just checked my dates and April 13 will mark one year that Sandy's lived here with us.

You need to celebrate for sure. I'm certain she does every morning.

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

 

[Shadrach]

I feel it every day when I see a picture of any of my leghorns and especially my dear Daisy, the greatest hen ever. That's why I have tried to get to other breeds as much as I can despite my love of the leghorn. Maybe I should bring a breeding pair home when I go to Italy for the wedding next year?

It would probably cost you less and be less trouble if you moved to Tuscany.

 

[LozzyR]

One of Knocks. The only one I'm sure is female.
View attachment 2043914

How can you tell?

 

[Shadrach]

How can you tell?

She looks like the others that have turned out female; comb size, neck feathering and male and female behaviour in a group is often different. Still not sure about the other two.

 

[LozzyR]

The vet told me something today, which I'd always had a sense of but never fully understood.

Chickens with Sandy's genes are elderly at the age of 3. He estimates her age at 3.5.

Shad talks about them dying too soon, but I didn't feel alert to the "early" geriatric part of it.

So it doesn't matter how careful and cautious my husbandry is, she's in her twilight.

If she makes it to 5, she'll be an outlier.

Anyway, today she got a jab of something to rejuvenate her joints (it stimulates stem cell growth) and she'll have another next week, and the whole bunch are on lincospectin for a few days because Janet's been sneezing n wheezing lately.

Lucy’s made it to 4 and I’m thankful for every day I have her. I don’t know how much longer she will live but she’s a tough old bird and appears to be in good health.

 

[LozzyR]

LOL - I could use a jab of "something to rejuvenate her joints (it stimulates stem cell growth) " . I hope she does well on treatment. Makes me worried for my girls as they are BSL

Me too!

 

[LozzyR]

Reading posts like this, and there are many of them on these forums makes me sad and angry.
How is it possible for chickens that should live to ten and twelve years old as a natural lifespan be dying at three and four.
This is a topic we often discuss at the chicken club and a topic I and a few others write to each other about.
The backyard chicken keeping movement is often unwittingly supporting the shortening of the chickens lifespan. Those who make money from the craze don't care.
I've been asked by some chicken keepers I know why I joined BYC; they would like to see the site closed down.
Getting chickens with good genetics in Australia and the USA is a major problem, particularly for heritage breeds. The cost and complications involved in importing a sufficient number of these breeds to enhance their genes is truly staggering so very few get imported and these are bred and bred to provide the thousands of heritage breeds wanted.
I can in theory travel to say Italy and go and inspect a flock of proper Leghorns; speak to the breeder, pick a breeding pair and return home with the minimum of paperwork and for not a huge amount of money. Many European enthusiasts do exactly this. If for example I wanted to keep Campines as Ribh does I could travel to Belgium and pick a pair or buy eggs and never go anywhere near a hatchery.
What I find even more angry making is on this and other forums, one gets told that hatchery stock are fine and you can buy with confidence. It's a lie. Anyone who knows anything about how the breeders and hatcheries operate must know that the chickens they stock are in general going to be genetically sub standard.
There are few areas where disinformation is perpetrated by the industry, the above is just one.

I just hope my purebreds have good genetics. Given that Australia is a big country with a relatively small population, we don’t have a lot of choice. The more I talk with you fine people though, the more knowledge I get and the more I know to look out for and/or avoid.

 

[MaryJanet]

It would probably cost you less and be less trouble if you moved to Tuscany.

I was wondering about establishing a show class for longevity and good health.

Best hen with chicks, over 7 years.

Best hen with chicks, over 10 years.

And age classes for single hens, single roosters, and breeding trios.