Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[missydcpc]

Oh and be sure to get some Organic, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar!

 

[Lilbrownie]

No, I'm almost 2 hrs. away from there. I am 1 mile from The Harford County Line, that's why we do so much in Maryland. I grew up in Harford County, and only moved  to Pa. last year. I am considering going the Pygmy route, because to be honest, I want them as pets, and am not interested in the dairy aspect. Even though I have heard the Nigerians are friendlier. I'm going to make some calls today.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

If you have dairy goats you don't have to milk them! If you just let the does raise their own kids you are fine. My absolute favorites are Lamanachas. They are docile and love love love attention. Big dogs, have had almost every breed of goat growing up and they are my favorite by a LONG shot. Pygmys are neat but they can get real bossy, don't know much about Nigerians though but when my dd is a little older I plan on getting her lamancahas! Just my 2 cents!

nope not mine but GORGEOUS isnt he/she???? anyone how do you tell a swans gender...?????

They have to either be blood tested or checked very very young! Don't want to mess with full sized male!! My ex boss has both whites and blacks and the blacks are my favs!! Love the babies they are too cute!!

 

[fisherlady]

What brand of chick starter feed do you use? Medicated/unmediated? Stocking up on my supplies before my little flock of 8 chicks arrive on 4/9!

We went with unmedicated here since we don't have much interaction with other birds or even much in the way of other foot traffic at our place. TSC has Purina/ Layena and DuMor chick starter, we didn't have troubles with either, but others on here have been feeding chicks a lot longer than us! MannaPro has a chick starter too, but I think their's is medicated.

I just went onto a huge rant on the Ameraucana thread, here it is:

This is a very sensitive subject. I have several breeds of chickens. I understand everything you are saying about the culls etc. Imagine if someone took all the culls from your breed and marketed them as a quality birds, and then a whole lot of people lied, were misled, etc. about the "quality". Not cool. What would make it even more interesting, is what if they breed those culls together, and marketed those birds as quality birds too.

I have experimented with my breeds, listed in my signature. Almost everything about an Ameraucana is dominate over other breed characteristics. So a lot of chickens can be bred to "look" like Ameraucana, but they will not breed true 50% of the time.

The reason I believe the club has this statement is because the integrity of the the breed is in jeopardy. Quality can become poor, from the SOP stand point. Most people don't care where there chickens "come" from. Whether it is location, or genetically. Especially if you are talking about people who order from a hatchery in the first place. Most of them have listed that they are not show quality birds.

I would not expect any else. I was duped. Most of us had EE as our first AMs. I don't know it gives me a headache after a while. I know that the ABC isn't trying to be "special". Just trying to stop people from thinking that any chicken that lays a blue or green egg is an Ameraucana. (Royce I know you got yours to lay white to remove the brown egg genes, I am just being broad about the statement).

Its like this, very simple, if you have chicken A, it lays a brown egg and is a Wyandotte. Then you have chicken B and its an Orpington, it lays a brown egg. What if people started calling both chickens Brownie Eggers??? That would not be fair would it.................................Each chicken has its own distinguishing characteristics. So if a chicken doesn't fit the SOP, and because most Ameraucana traits are dominate (phenotype), just because it looks like one doesn't mean it is one. With this breed the genotype, color, and ability to reproduce it, is part of the breed description.

Don't apologize for sticking to your guns and stating your case!
(but then again, I can honestly say I've never been accused of being Politically Correct when it comes to me stating my opinions either!

)


Edited to fix my Purina/Layena flub... I should know better than to try to remember names when I just got off of a 24 hr shift! <<insert head slap here>>

 

[heatherscooby77]

HeatherScooby,
I also start with Hatchery eggs from a Friend who still insists she has true Ameraucanas. After joining the BYC I learned what I had. I got a trio of Black from J Blehm lines. They are awesome. got rid of the others kept a few brown egg chickens for those that wont eat the blue...LOL. Next step is Join the APA and start to show in order to help me understand what my group needs to improve on. So any advice you have for me would be great, As I love these chickens.
Also What thread was that? Would love to read more on them.
WLrabbitry

Joining the APA is great! Join the ABC too, Ameraucana Breeders Association. http://www.ameraucana.org/

The thread is, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...for-posting-pictures-and-discussing-our-birds

Post pics! I love seeing other peoples birds, no one on this thread seems to have them, they are my favorite. I am doing a lacing project for the blues. I have black, blue, and splash. I am very excited for breeding season. I have been hatching other people eggs since fall, all my birds are running together right now. I don't want to make chicks that I don't know the parentage this year. Wanna track faults and such.

 

[Baym]

Berks county. New to this. Looking to hatch some Buff Orpington's from my sister-in-laws next month. Interested in local fertile eggs from nearby to incubate along with them.

Welcome aboard.

I admit it, I really thought you said you were trying to hatch some Buff Orpingtons from your sister-in-law. Now I must clean the coffee off my monitor.

 

[eweaber]

Does anybody put anything down in there run to help with the mud? Mulch, pine shavings, etc?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Baym everyone is in the FB page now.... anyone want to be added... send me your name on FB and I can add ya! Its more private

 

[chickencowranch]

Does anyone know if there is goat showing in 4-H? My DD came home from school today saying she wants to be in 4-H but then she figured out that her friends were in it for horticulture (which she has no interest in). So, as I was planning on getting a couple of goats soon, I thought it could become her, and possibly my 10 yr. old sons project. I'm just not sure of where to start.

Yes, there are. I believe you live in York. There are 3 4-H goat clubs. One is in Southern York co. The other 2 meet at the 4-H center. You can call the Penn State Extension office for more info.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Baym everyone is in the FB page now.... anyone want to be added... send me your name on FB and I can add ya! Its more private

gotcha!!