North Carolina

[Jloeffler]

Got my first dark brown egg from the girls we raised from chicks this spring. Only I found it broken on the coop floor. So, I'm hoping it was broken because A. It was laid from a perch (is that possible) or B. It got laid on the floor and someone stepped on it getting down from one of the higher perches. Most of the insides were still there and one end was badly squished, so I'm hoping B. I'd rather not figure out how ti deal with an egg eater.

Arianna, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at the fair. I've considered entering some birds in the Chowan County fair, but can't bring myself to do it until I've checked out the facilities first. After what you saw, I'm glad I decided to wait, just in case! And, as a side note, first place?!? Really?!? How bad were the rest?

Lunar Ice, very cute babies! Kitty definitely looks a bit upset!

SCM, pretty girls and congratulations on your eggs!! I hope I get to join you in celebration soon!

 

[Lunar Ice]

See....my husband was trying to talk me into putting one of our Splash roosters in the fair..and all I could think of was how many other people might not take care of their birds the way we do? I'd be so upset if I brought home a sick bird because some jerk didn't take proper care of theirs. What's worse, I'd hate for it to spread to the rest of my flock!
Is there any way you can write or voice a complaint?

As for the turkeys looking rough....I can tell you that they are generally looking pretty horrible this time of year if they were breeding all season. My friend has some gorgeous turkeys that all look like they got in a fight with the lawnmower (and lost) because they went so crazy during mating season (he even had to separate his hens because the toms just tore their legs and backs apart) that they rubbed themselves up against the fences trying to get at the females (And as a result, have thin breast feathers and horrid looking tails). Granted, a deformed bird has no business in the fair...and if conditions are poor, there is no telling if they are sick (or are GETTING sick). I imagine that a Fair and being on Exhibit in front of hundreds of people, penned up in a small cage and in an environment with lots of kids, grabby fingers, and foreign noises is enough to stress out birds who are not used to such a thing (or don't get a lot of human contact at all). It's another reason I am so hesitant about ever 'showing' my birds other than on camera.

 

[wyan_zen]

We visited the auction place in Clayton during a Raleigh poultry meet up and is not impressed with sanitary conditions. This is a day prior to the day of auction and there were a few birds already on site waiting to be auctioned off 24 hours later. We did not see food or water available to the birds.

We decided to pass on poultry showing and any related events. If we bring our birds to any show, they will be quarantined for 30 days or more upon returning. This is not worth the effort due to space and care for the show bird(s). Multiple this requirement to every bird brought to a different show.

As for human bio-security, we have to change out the clothes we wore to the show and be sure we are clean before visiting our own birds. Too much work, imho.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hen Thymes, if you get on today would you please post some beautiful pics of your Orpingtons for this thread, pretty please and thanks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7434689#p7434689 specially the English fellow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I wanted to go to the Mt. state fair this year but after hearing these stories I am glad we didn't. sure wouldn't want to bring home any thing nasty to our flock..

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
Please don't think that ALL shows are like a fair. Sanctioned poultry shows are most commonly a one day event that you attend and take your birds home that same afternoon. There are some excellent quality poultry and very knowledgeable poultry people in attendance that will know if something is wrong with a bird or it looks ill.

I agree in regards to the condition of most poultry this time of year. It is molting season for most of us and they are definitely not going to looking their best. Right now around here is looks like a feather bomb went off in my barn.

Also with the drastic change in weather we have had this week it is going to affect some birds. Some may become stressed over the temp change and express it in pale combs and faces or look lethargic as they try to adjust.

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
FYI - you will never find anything pleasant about an auction whether it be poultry or other livestock, they are not nice places. Been this way for years and will probably continue the same.

As for Poultry shows, totally different environment with some well cared for birds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
FYI - you will never find anything pleasant about an auction whether it be poultry or other livestock, they are not nice places. Been this way for years and will probably continue the same.

As for Poultry shows, totally different environment with some well cared for birds.

Both poultry shows I went to in Morganton I was very pleased to see beautiful healthy birds. Now some of the people selling birds outside left me with a sick feeling.

 

[Lunar Ice]

I admit, I have only ever seen poultry shows at Fairs and am basing my opinion off that as a whole. It wasn't meant to be an offensive jab toward anyone who shows and I'm sure there ARE shows where people with healthy birds DO get together and higher standards are in place to ensure quality and health. I more or less meant Fairs though, as my experience has also always been kind of so-so (never BAD....just....never GOOD).

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
If you ever have a free Saturday during show season you ought to come to one. Last weekend in Oct. there is one in Morganton (though many will be at Crossroads in Indy) and another the Saturday after Thanksgiving in Winston. It's a great experience and you meet some really good people with common interest.