My trip to Holderreads!!! **Pic heavy, and very long winded (sorry)***

[DMSrabbit]

Thanks for all the positive replies!! it was seriously the greatest!! these people are truly wonderful human beings!!

 

[toadbriar]

What a fantastic post! I'm so sorry there's been so much tragedy in your circle recently. But I am so glad you had this experience! It is so awesome to hear that such influential and knowledgeable folks are personable and kind, too. What feedback did he give about your original pair? You are going to have such fun with these ducks! I keep missing Holderread stock by a year: each breed I get interested in, he has sold off the year before

It's really kind of you to share this post, what a wonderful experience!

 

[sandcat]

What an awesome experience, its so nice to be treated so well and to know that the ducks have been so well cared for, great story and love your ducks they are beautiful!!

 

[jason_mazzy]

Thank you for sharing your story.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Wow - That is awesome!! Beautiful Ducks!

I want some Duckies now -

 

[Chicken0Boy]

You are so lucky! This is an awesome experience to have. Especially since you go to meet a man with so much infromation to offer.

 

[FenDruadin]

Thank you so much for sharing. I am a big fan of Holderread. I had the privilege of speaking with him "briefly" (ha ha--also turned into much more time than I had told him I would take up, because he was SO fascinating and generous with his time) for the Grit article on ducks, and I agree about everything you've said. What an amazing man, amazing family. Thanks for sharing your experience. It's heart-warming to hear so much about some truly great people. Thanks.

 

[DMSrabbit]

Quote:
He gave me lots of feedback about my original pair, including SO MUCH information i never ever knew what to look for.. The ducks i have are "utility" (my terms) so to speak.. They are in fact Black East Indies, as he informed me that several people pass off untrue black east indies (mixed with black cayugas mostly) as True BEI's, but they are much larger in form and stature. Both of my ducks are a bit "large" for show quality BEI's. Their bills are too long, and my drakes iridescence is very vibrant for this time of year, but he has lots of little white feathers under his eyes and chin.. I could pluck them, but im better off just leaving them in. Some people even color them with sharpies!! lol

BTW: Did you guys know that Black East Indies actually have WHITE plumage!!! They have a certain repress-or gene that blocks their normal white plumage allowing all black to show through, but several of them still have small white feathering spots either under the chin or under the eye. If your birds quarrel, and they pluck each others feathers out, some will grow back WHITE!!! Some hatch-lings will mature with white chests or white spotted chests in their adolescent plumage!! My new show drake has 2 white feathers

My current BEI hen has unfortunately been mixed in the past somewhere. She doesn't have any current problematic areas on the top of her coat or stature, but there is a small area you search for under her wing that has some speckling on it, that is apparently indicative of mixed genes. Her bill is also flat in coloration, and is a little dull..
**EDIT** Here are some picks of the speckling which is indicative of crossing genes, notice the white almost lacing on the small under feathers.. They should be all black

My new pair however, are BEAUTIFUL in form, coloration, bill color, and size! I cant wait to start improving this line of birds!! I have some REALLY good ideas for breeding in the future, and Dave let me know some "secrets" to produce some show stoppers in a few generations!!

Also about his stock, YES, he is ALWAYS sold out.. I wish i would have gotten some of those curly Sebastapol geese before he sold them all.. Oh well, gotta order ahead!!


Thanks for reading everyone!! LONG LIVE HOLDERREADS!!!

 

[magistradomina]

That's so cool!

 

[EweSheep]

I am sure he is NPIP, did you get a "shake=down" from Holderreads for possible bio-security?

I am glad you took the time to spend some quality time with the Holderreads. One day you will look back and say, wow, that man is a legend!