Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

I just watched this video and I was surprised to see that they are able to check the fertility of the eggs before placing in the incubator and vaccinate the eggs before hatch. Somebody here told me they did that during the Communism in the large hatcheries but I didn't believe the person as I didn't know such technology exists..

I have been buying ISA brown eggs from France and hatching them and I have to say I am disappointed with the number of infertile eggs they export - more than 15%. They obviously don't have this machinery.

These machines are made for the large (enormous) factory farms.
The eggs you buy are probably from a hobby farmer who cannot buy these extremely expensive machinery.

Nowadays they even have developed a system to seperate male from female eggs after 11 days of incubation if I remember right.

 

[BDutch]

hey from western Germany (quite close to the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands) and several times a year southern sweden (holiday home)

Hi Marjolaine, welcome to BYC and peeps in EU.

 

[BDutch]

How did it go @abpatchy ?
Any luck?

Well I suppose you are lucky anyway. In the Netherlands all shows are forbidden bc of this ever lasting avian flu.

But nevertheless. How where you’re ratings ?

 

[BDutch]

Look what arrived on my doormat today!
The staff shipped a present (2 calendars) for my foto contribution in the 2023 calendar. .

 

[chickengr]

How did it go @abpatchy ?
Any luck?

Well I suppose you are lucky anyway. In the Netherlands all shows are forbidden bc of this ever lasting avian flu.

But nevertheless. How where you’re ratings ?

x2

 

[abpatchy]

Thank you for asking! It went really well. I had one hen that didn't she only got 90 points. The main issue was 2 of her tail feathers were slightly twisted. The others all had 94, 95 and 96 points. I even got a ribbon for the 96 points rooster. I was asked if I would sell him. No! haha Lots of comments that my birds are really beautiful.... and I beat myself up thinking they are not right before the show.
At the local show (same weekend) they did well too. 93 to 95 points. These were not my best animals because they went to the specialty show. All in all I am very happy with the results. The results are a lot more even than last year. And that is a good sign.

I am sorry about your issues with the bird flu. They have started to cancel shows here as well. I am going to my last show this weekend. Some areas have to keep their birds locked up. It is only a matter of time.

 

[abpatchy]

wow BDutch!!! Congratulations!!! That is so special!! And a very beautiful picture!

 

[chickengr]

Thank you for asking! It went really well. I had one hen that didn't she only got 90 points. The main issue was 2 of her tail feathers were slightly twisted. The others all had 94, 95 and 96 points. I even got a ribbon for the 96 points rooster. I was asked if I would sell him. No! haha Lots of comments that my birds are really beautiful.... and I beat myself up thinking they are not right before the show.
At the local show (same weekend) they did well too. 93 to 95 points. These were not my best animals because they went to the specialty show. All in all I am very happy with the results. The results are a lot more even than last year. And that is a good sign.

I am sorry about your issues with the bird flu. They have started to cancel shows here as well. I am going to my last show this weekend. Some areas have to keep their birds locked up. It is only a matter of time.

congrats!

 

[abpatchy]

Last night I took my birds to the State Show. There were less birds than in 2019 when I was visiting last. But it was still exciting. There are almost 4000 birds being shown.
Now I have to wait until Saturday morning to get the results.... unless by luck, I get some sort of information. There are two halls full of cages. The large one and a smaller one where my birds are in. The lighting wasn't as good as in the large hall though.

 

[BDutch]

How wonderful that such a big show can be held jn you're state Abpatchy.

It seriously crossed my mind that I don’t want to live in the Nethetlands anymore.
All factory farmers with poultry , pigs, cows and goats do spoil our environment (NOx and other pollution) and they spoil normal animal life too. Keeping livestock indoors,

Importing too much feed (soy) and exporting too much meat and eggs from chickens that have a indoor and crowded life. I hate it that no chickens are allowed outside without a roof for over a year. Even hobby and organic chickens may not go out in the fields. So maybe if I retire we'll come to Germany or another country not too far away.