Peeps in Europe!

[Phill98]

Welcome to the thread! I nearly visited your country back in 1999/2000. Been kicking myself ever since for not going. It looks SO beautiful there!

I would have been a 2 year-old at that time!

 

[chickengr]

What breeds do you guys not have that you would like to see in your countries?

collonca! if you move to germany please bring them with you! I love my araucanas and they are doing well in greece.

 

[chickengr]

And, to each their own sounds cool but I rather prefer 'what's best for the chicken'.

I agree. I believe colloncas would be happy here (in greece) as my araucanas are. I tried to breed british orpingtons and gave it up as they die in summer where I live. but any heat tolerant breed would be fine.

we didn't have corn and potatoes in europe before they were imported from south america. I cannot imagine my life without both!

I do support local breeds. I have just got a trio of an ancient breed: greek hooded.

 

[Shadrach]

Went to Irish Society of Poultry Fanciers' show this morning. It was great! Our timing was out though, we got there and they were still offloading and sorting out birds, so we didn't get to see everyone, before the judges moved in. We waited nearly 3 hours before having to leave, so didn't get to see who won. But I did manage to get a few quick pics.

Some lovely looking chickens there.
I used to go to poultry shows when I lived in the UK. I wasn't too happy about seeing chickens in cages but as I learned more about how the fowl were kept and what happened to them after the shows I stopped going.
The people who show poultry (at least the well informed ones do) know that at poultry shows the risk of a show bird contracting a disease is extremely high so these fowl don't live with a flock. They are kept separate from other fowl and may only ever see another fowl at one of these shows. Many breeders show a fowl once and then kill it. It saves the problem of caring for a fowl that needs to be kept isolated from other fowl.
In the end I felt I couldn't support this type of fowl exhibition.

 

[MaryJanet]

Some lovely looking chickens there.
I used to go to poultry shows when I lived in the UK. I wasn't too happy about seeing chickens in cages but as I learned more about how the fowl were kept and what happened to them after the shows I stopped going.
The people who show poultry (at least the well informed ones do) know that at poultry shows the risk of a show bird contracting a disease is extremely high so these fowl don't live with a flock. They are kept separate from other fowl and may only ever see another fowl at one of these shows. Many breeders show a fowl once and then kill it. It saves the problem of caring for a fowl that needs to be kept isolated from other fowl.
In the end I felt I couldn't support this type of fowl exhibition.

I'm quite shocked by that. Poor birds. Why not give them to a backyarder?

 

[PouleChick]

Just sleeep during the day- you will get over it by night time!

I did have a nanny nap which helped!

 

[PouleChick]

I have just got a trio of an ancient breed: greek hooded.

Hi and welcome to our Europe thread! I'd love to see a pic of those!

They are kept separate from other fowl and may only ever see another fowl at one of these shows. Many breeders show a fowl once and then kill it. It saves the problem of caring for a fowl that needs to be kept isolated from other fowl.

Really that is horrific.

 

[Shadrach]

Hi and welcome to our Europe thread! I'd love to see a pic of those!


Really that is horrific.

Things may have changed. However, say you keep 5 or 6 show fowl and each needs to be kept separate from the flock, even if it only to ensure that the show fowl doesn't get 'damaged' in any way, the expense can be considerable.

 

[Shadrach]

It does make sense if you think about it.
A breeder may have spent years 'perfecting' a particular breed. They will need a 'stock' of fowl to breed from. If a fowl they show contracts a disease at one of these shows and passes it on to the breeding stock, the whole flock can become infected.
Given the number of fowl at such exhibitions, the number of people who attend who also probably have fowl and the proximity of the fowl to each other and those who come to view them the likelihood of contamination is very high.
Just looking at the pictures sumi has shown illustrates the problem.

 

[Phill98]

I agree. I believe colloncas would be happy here (in greece) as my araucanas are. I tried to breed british orpingtons and gave it up as they die in summer where I live. but any heat tolerant breed would be fine.

we didn't have corn and potatoes in europe before they were imported from south america. I cannot imagine my life without both!

I do support local breeds. I have just got a trio of an ancient breed: greek hooded.

How are araucanas doing there? Do you have large fowl or bantam rumpless?