Peeps in Europe!

[abpatchy]

Some sad news from Levende have , a respectable hobbyfarm site in the Netherlands (google translate). About the bird flu.:
In the past season it was mainly H5N8 viruses that caused outbreaks in poultry farms and numerous dead wild birds. Every now and then there was an N5N1 virus in between, but the current virus also deviates from that, according to the report of the expert working group. The working group has changed the risk of contamination of a poultry farm from high to very high. There is an increase in the number of infections in wild birds in a large number of places in the Netherlands.

The working group reports that wild birds have tested positive for highly pathogenic H5 viruses in seven different provinces. The bird flu virus has also been identified in some less typical species such as redshank and various gull species. This also includes species that do not travel great distances (such as the Mute Swan) and that have probably become infected within the Netherlands. In recent days, dead Wigeons and Barnacle Geese have also been found. In addition, the virus can also be present in apparently healthy birds. The migration of (water) birds is still ongoing and the maximum number of wintering birds has not yet been reached.

Yes pretty sad the whole situation... we got lots counties under lockdown. Lots of shows cancelled. I am almost certain, that I will not be going to Hannover... even if it does happen. To risky for me and the birds.

 

[BDutch]

Yes pretty sad the whole situation... we got lots counties under lockdown. Lots of shows cancelled. I am almost certain, that I will not be going to Hannover... even if it does happen. To risky for me and the birds.

Too bad Hannover is not happening . Wise decision though.

In the meantime I’m glad there aren’t any chicken farms nearby or wild poultry coming in to my neighbourhood. So it stills feels save to let my chickens free range an hour each day. Living on a dead end street, I don’t expect any warning of officials either.

I believe free ranging is important for their health and sanity. For exercise , for the fresh greens and bugs 🕷 they find.

 

[abpatchy]

I'm not that lucky.... as I am keeping my birds in a breeding club, I have to lock them up (not yet so far!!! ) They do check known poultry keepers... and as a breeding club we are definitly known. I could set up like a greenhouse.... and I might invest in some small ones just to give them a little run if it comes down to lockdown. I was lucky in spring.... I am hoping for the best now.

 

[Skyle]

So... I have an update about the show, it was this weekend.

Second pullet

This girl got a 96 (the maximum score is 97), she was champion in the Brahma breed and she also was champion along the standard sized chickens of all breeds.

Third pullet



This girl got a 95, she was the champion in her colour category.

First pullet

This one got a 90, it's like the minimum score. Mainly because of comb and wattles, but also because she was smaller and looked "incomplete" in her feathering, they say that's better if I don't breed her at all. I think I'll keep her but I'll put her in a non breeding group when I'll gather the eggs


Unfortunately the cockerel injuried himself (luckly not so badly), so I decided to not bring him. He's allright now, I'm pretty sure he will heal in few more days.

I'm so happy to being able to partecipate, I met a lot of people, talked about poultry all the time, joked and laughed a lot. I learned many things about all the other breeds and some tips to get even better results with this breed and colour. They said that the biggest problem with my birds are the combs, so I need to work a lot on that.
Along with the two rosettes I got a bag of feed and a feeder (right the model I wanted to buy for a long time)

 

[chickengr]

So... I have an update about the show, it was this weekend.


This girl got a 96 (the maximum score is 97), she was champion in the Brahma breed and she also was champion along the standard sized chickens of all breeds.



This girl got a 95, she was the champion in her colour category.



This one got a 90, it's like the minimum score. Mainly because of comb and wattles, but also because she was smaller and looked "incomplete" in her feathering, they say that's better if I don't breed her at all. I think I'll keep her but I'll put her in a non breeding group when I'll gather the eggs


Unfortunately the cockerel injuried himself (luckly not so badly), so I decided to not bring him. He's allright now, I'm pretty sure he will heal in few more days.

I'm so happy to being able to partecipate, I met a lot of people, talked about poultry all the time, joked and laughed a lot. I learned many things about all the other breeds and some tips to get even better results with this breed and colour. They said that the biggest problem with my birds are the combs, so I need to work a lot on that.
Along with the two rosettes I got a bag of feed and a feeder (right the model I wanted to buy for a long time)

congratulations!

if I remember well your cockerel has a bad comb. I am not a brahma expert but I think comb has to be straight, firm and small. if so you must not breed him. ask someone who knows better.

 

[abpatchy]

So... I have an update about the show, it was this weekend.


This girl got a 96 (the maximum score is 97), she was champion in the Brahma breed and she also was champion along the standard sized chickens of all breeds.



This girl got a 95, she was the champion in her colour category.



This one got a 90, it's like the minimum score. Mainly because of comb and wattles, but also because she was smaller and looked "incomplete" in her feathering, they say that's better if I don't breed her at all. I think I'll keep her but I'll put her in a non breeding group when I'll gather the eggs


Unfortunately the cockerel injuried himself (luckly not so badly), so I decided to not bring him. He's allright now, I'm pretty sure he will heal in few more days.

I'm so happy to being able to partecipate, I met a lot of people, talked about poultry all the time, joked and laughed a lot. I learned many things about all the other breeds and some tips to get even better results with this breed and colour. They said that the biggest problem with my birds are the combs, so I need to work a lot on that.
Along with the two rosettes I got a bag of feed and a feeder (right the model I wanted to buy for a long time)

That is fantastic!!! Congratulations!! That is a great first show!
I always pick up new tips and knowledge. Shows are just so much fun! I will be visiting some shows in the next two weekends. As long as they are not cancelled. It's nice seeing other breeds and meeting other breeders.

 

[Skyle]

congratulations!

if I remember well your cockerel has a bad comb. I am not a brahma expert but I think comb has to be straight, firm and small. if so you must not breed him. ask someone who knows better.

Thank you! Unfortunately all the cockerels came out with that comb or worse, the parents' are very bad, too. Maybe I'll find a nice pullet or cockerel at some other show.

 

[Skyle]

That is fantastic!!! Congratulations!! That is a great first show!
I always pick up new tips and knowledge. Shows are just so much fun! I will be visiting some shows in the next two weekends. As long as they are not cancelled. It's nice seeing other breeds and meeting other breeders.

Thank you!

 

[Maiahr]

Congratulations @Skyle !

Aren’t you afraid the mama who has older chicks will reject/ kill this newly hatched chick?

All went smooth and the chick is fully integrated with the rest and the new mother. In fact, one of the older boys became his older brother and is teaching him to eat, drink and they both hang around together all the time.

 

[abpatchy]

Thank you! Unfortunately all the cockerels came out with that comb or worse, the parents' are very bad, too. Maybe I'll find a nice pullet or cockerel at some other show.

My experience: Find a breeder, contact him or her, drive there and pick up a rooster. I purchased a rooster and some hens 1,3 at a show in my first year. Everybody told me I should have more than one rooster to start out... fresh blood etc. All but one hen came from the same breeder. I was told not to mix too many lines. He was the best at the show of my breed. He cost a lot of money! 80 Euros! The birds at a show always cost more than when you go thru the breeder directly. That's one reason! The second reason... that rooster was nuts. Scared of everything and everyone. Eventually he calmed down with me some but not fully. He freaked out the hens. They were suddenly scared of me too. So you never know what you are getting... that bird behaves totally different sitting in that cage. Third reason... I knew nothing of this breeder or his genetics... only that he had this one good rooster with good ratings. It's better to pick up a rooster that did not have ratings at all from a breeder with good birds throughout the years. Becaue that's what makes it... the genes not just the luck of this one good bird. That rooster did not produce well. I ended up culling him and getting rid of all his chicks. I wasted a lot of money learning my lesson.