My leukemia's back.

[bruceha2000]

Glad to see you checking in Friday. Get well soon! You've had too much "not well", it is your turn for "well".

 

[Blooie]

Hugs and prayers, Friday!!!!

 

[getaclue]

Lazy, next time you're headed my way, message me, and I'll give you my phone #. Maybe we could do lunch at Cracker Barrel. I still have family in Zephyrhills.

Al, I have 1 type of chicken. I have Black Australorps. It took me 9 months to track down the quality I wanted, and finally get my first breeding trio. At one time, I was showing them, and doing very well. When the AI scare, and now with so much Mareks going around, I don't show. I still breed as if I'm going to show, and keep them SOP, but I just don't want to risk contamination to my flock.

I know they're NPIP tested, but that doesn't test for Mareks, and right now the risk seem to be sort of high for it. I know most breeders would not bring contaminated birds, but over the past few years, I've noticed more greed setting in, so those exceptional few would have no qualms about knowingly bringing in contaminated birds.

I still go to some of the shows, and look. I've noticed they're allowing the kids to bring in more "non show" quality, and non show breeds too. Most of the 4-H kids do an outstanding job, but more recently some of the newcomers are bringing in some scruffy looking birds, and the judges are allowing it. Maybe it's because they have to sell the ones they show, and the kids don't want to sell them. I don't know. Last year, the judges disallowed some that appeared to have serious respiratory problems, but they were allowed to coop-in first, so many birds were exposed to whatever it was that they had. I'm not going do put in all the effort I do, to have it wiped out like that. In a few years, if they tighten things up a bit, I may show again. My birds are up to snuff. That's not an issue.

 

[Alaskan]

. I have Black Australorps.

That is a nice breed! Also great that they are a solid black chicken... then you can focus on form, production, etc.

I sometimes sigh at my choice of breeds... fancy colors mean so many more factors to cull for and try to perfect!

 

[ronott1]

Lazy, next time you're headed my way, message me, and I'll give you my phone #. Maybe we could do lunch at Cracker Barrel. I still have family in Zephyrhills.

Al, I have 1 type of chicken. I have Black Australorps. It took me 9 months to track down the quality I wanted, and finally get my first breeding trio. At one time, I was showing them, and doing very well. When the AI scare, and now with so much Mareks going around, I don't show. I still breed as if I'm going to show, and keep them SOP, but I just don't want to risk contamination to my flock.

I know they're NPIP tested, but that doesn't test for Mareks, and right now the risk seem to be sort of high for it. I know most breeders would not bring contaminated birds, but over the past few years, I've noticed more greed setting in, so those exceptional few would have no qualms about knowingly bringing in contaminated birds.

I still go to some of the shows, and look. I've noticed they're allowing the kids to bring in more "non show" quality, and non show breeds too. Most of the 4-H kids do an outstanding job, but more recently some of the newcomers are bringing in some scruffy looking birds, and the judges are allowing it. Maybe it's because they have to sell the ones they show, and the kids don't want to sell them. I don't know. Last year, the judges disallowed some that appeared to have serious respiratory problems, but they were allowed to coop-in first, so many birds were exposed to whatever it was that they had. I'm not going do put in all the effort I do, to have it wiped out like that. In a few years, if they tighten things up a bit, I may show again. My birds are up to snuff. That's not an issue.

BAs are great!

One day maybe I can get some hatching eggs....

 

[lazy gardener]

GAC, I'm not likely to go to Florida any time soon. Not willing to put up with the TSA garbage. I will wait for my snow bird family to return to Maine, rather than go down there. But, if I do find myself traveling down, I'll give you a yell.

Al, What breeds are you raising? Still doing Doms? I have one hatchery dom who is giving me a very nice sized egg, compared to the Doms I had previously. I've pretty much settled on using Doms and PBR as a means to an end for raising some lovely sex linked birds (goal is small combs, colorful egg basket). I do love the barred feather pattern. I also added 2 BA, just for funsies.

 

[Alaskan]

BAs are great!

One day maybe I can get some hatching eggs....

have you ever seen a banta

Al, What breeds are you raising? Still doing Doms?

I keep trying to downsize and just can't manage to talk myself into it.

In Standards I still have breeding groups of Leghorns, Doms, and Spitz. In bantams I have wheaten Ameraucana, and d'anver (but only 1 girl, and they are purebred, but mixed color... I really need to kill the 2 males...not sure why I haven't talked myself into it....oh.... yeah, thats right.... soooo pretty! I really like their color pattern, a golden orange with white spangles)

 

[getaclue]

Ron, when you get ready, let me know.

 

[lazy gardener]

I need to downsize also. Currently have 27 birds and they are laying up a storm. More eggs than I can sell. I need to get rid of some birds to get egg numbers down. But, I hate to remove anyone from the flock. Then... I will have to hatch some eggs, just to keep some youngsters moving up in the ranks. Really, I would be wise to decrease flock size to about 12 birds. Really, really, that is what I should do... Yep. Hubby would surely agree.

 

[getaclue]

After the next hatch or two, I'm going to cull a few roosters.