A HUGE thank you to everyone for the support. Being fairly new at this, I wasn't certain, how I should handle things. I want to be firm, but fair. I'm just a poor man, trying to get started, and never imagined someone trying to take advantage of me. But, I guess that there are all kinds. Apparently, aside from my Cuckoo Marans, I have some very high quality birds here. My Ameracauna's, are really producing some wonderful chicks. With 9 hens and a very fertile and active rooster, I hope to have plenty, to replace those she took out from under me. She has eight of my turkeys, in her incubators, right now, and as far as I'm concerned, she can keep the rest of the chickens, as long as I get my turkeys.
With the help of God, good folks here, other farmers who have helped get me into some really great birds, and those people closer to me, I'm going to get through this rough time in my life. And, when the rough time is over, I will hold my head high, as having been the one of generosity, when I couldn't afford generosity, but gave it anyway.
Several of y'all, I'm not naming names, so as not to cause embarrassment, but you know who you are, have been incredibly generous and supportive, when you don't even really know me. I find that incredibly heartwarming. As I become able, I shall pass it forward. My PM box is so full of nice thoughts and gestures, from several folks.
You all have been great teachers, too. I've learned so much, in just 11 months, that I sometimes amaze myself. Last week, my buddy, Travis, and I, were working on building a new water tray for this incubator, and a Cherokee fellow stopped by, because he saw my sign selling hens. He looked over my flock, and recognized breeds, like Golden Lakenvelders, Blue Andalusians and Marraduna Basques, that most folks wouldn't. In talking with him, he told us that he's been raising chickens for 15 years, and is currently in college, earning a degree, in farm and ranch management. We talked chickens, and we talked ranching, and we talked about maybe doing some trading. He wants Delawares, and wants to get rid of guineas. I need guineas, and my Delawares are up for sale. When it was all said and done, he thanked me, for what he learned. I was taken aback, somewhat, and said, "What do you mean?" After all, I've been doing this less than a year, he's been at it 15 years. He said that he learned several things from me. I told him he needed to join here, because this was where I learned everything I know about chickens, darned near.
Anyway, this long story, is just my way, of giving thanks to you, the folks who are my educators. I've always had great appreciation, for those who teach, and y'all are great teachers!
Thanks, from the bottom of my heart!
e I figure I'll get a lot more, since they just now started sprouting.
