OLD TIME CUSTOMS -- Anybody else interested in what the Amish do?

[Funky Chooks]

Hi All,

As I get older, I appreciate the simple wisdom of old timers when I hear it, especially of course when it comes to anything gardening or chicken related. That brings me to my idea for a new thread here on BYC. I'd love to know what/how the Amish tend poultry. Unfortunately, when I google Amish+chicken you get advertisements for anything and everything, but that is not at all what I wanted here. I would instead love to know what their preferred breeds are, how they raise poultry, what their methods are for almost anything... Favorite old wives tales when it comes to poultry, etc.

I don't want to limit it to only Amish people. Anyone with Old Timey advice, inexpensive effective methods, etc. I'd love to hear it!

Anyone from up in the Northeast that can report on this? Thanks!

 

[Chick Charm]

After a tour of the Amish community the tour guide asked. How many of you own a tv? All of those on the tour raised their hands. 100%. Some on the tour began to count how many tv's they had in their houses. The tour guide then asked. How many of you feel that your families would be better off without a tv? Again, 100% raised their hands. The tour guide let it sink in for a few seconds and then asked. How many of you are going to get rid of you tv when you get home. Not one single hands was raised. Then the tour guide dressed as if he were Amish said. That is the difference between you and the Amish.

Not sure how that relates to chickens but I couldn't resist retelling that story.

I am positive that Amish chickens do not watch tv or youtube.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Do you live anywhere near Amish communities? Perhaps visiting their farms would be the best option. I live near Amish communities and I was thinking that I never see chickens around but I'm always looking at their horses so maybe I just am not seeing them...

 

[Chick Charm]

There is no Amish here in S Mississippi to speak of. I have family in N Indiana so I have seen some Amish for sure. I do have knowledge that the Amish used water glass to store their eggs. My father told me that they used water glass. He grew up in Indiana on a homestead where growing and raising your own was the norm. My how things have changed.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Yes it is amazing how things have changed, when general public think it's abnormal to grow your own food in a garden and it eat or the fact that milk/eggs come from animals. It's shocking how far removed society has become and are now more like rats pushing a feeder bar for a pellet of food.

 

[droidlizard]

I live in an Amish community. Amish don't talk much to the English folks about their business. They'll be happy to do business with you though. I buy their baked goods and hay for my horse. I used to have an Amish man shoe my horse. They are really nice people but being a tradesman myself I understand that my knowledge and skills are the source of my bread and butter. Just my two cents.

 

[Funky Chooks]

Well, okay. It seems this whole thread has taken a turn I did not expect. I wasn't expecting to gain some secret knowledge that would perhaps put someones livelihood in jeopardy. Instead, I was merely curious of their old, tried and true ways. I was also just genuinely curious as to what type was their preferred hen. Call it a sort of admiration that I have, if you like.

Oh well. Moderators: Can I please have this thread deleted? Thanks.

 

[droidlizard]

Well, okay.  It seems this whole thread has taken a turn I did not expect.  I wasn't expecting to gain some secret knowledge that would perhaps put someones livelihood in jeopardy.  Instead, I was merely curious of their old, tried and true ways.  I was also just genuinely curious as to what type was their preferred hen.  Call it a sort of admiration that I have, if you like.

Oh well.  Moderators: Can I please have this thread deleted?  Thanks.

I didn't mean to step on your thread. Amish don't have secret ways with regards to livestock or poultry as far as I know. They are like non Amish in a lot of ways. I'm sure they are just as opinionated as anyone else about these matters. When I go shopping at Meijer here, there are Amish women climbing out of minivans at one end of the parking lot and on the other end next to the garden center a load of them are climbing out of a wagon where they tether their horses at a covered awning Meijer let them build with their own materials. Some of them tether their rig at Meijer and go eat at Steak and shake next door. Amish around here almost exclusively dominate an area of 150 square miles. The ones on the fringes I see melding into English society and giving way to their custom. There are many sects here and Menonites too. A few years back my friend took me deer hunting about sixty miles south of my current location and they drive down the road in horse and buggy smoking cigarettes and throwing beer cans on the side of the road. For the most part they are busy when you see them or if they are not busy it might be to awkward to start asking questions. Id actually be concerned if you asked ten Amish around here what their favorite bird was you would get as many different answers. Also I didn't mean that as any sort of attack on your intentions. I hope you'll forgive any offence. Just have the mods delete the last few posts. I don't want to be a thread killer.

 

[Funky Chooks]

It's quite alright. No problem. But regardless, no one seems to understand what my original intent with this thread was, so now I've honestly lost interest and I'm a little bit embarrassed for asking. Do I need to pm a mod about having this thread killed? Can someone please tell me? Thanks.

 

[Peaches Lee]

No need to be embarrassed, there probably isn't a lot of traffic on the thread because usually weekends on BYC are quiet, I assume lots of people visit the site while they are at work in front of a computer. You don't need to have the mods kill the thread, it will just disappear into the many archives of BYC. And you never know, come Tuesday you may get a lot more input.