Ribh's D'Coopage

[rjohns39]

Thank you! It's going to be a hectic week.

Well, I hope for the best for you.... Monday is a holiday for us, so I'm going to enjoy one more day off before returning to work.

 

[Shadrach]

And did you acquiesce on both counts?

I didn't.
I met her halfway. I gave her some walnut and told her to get her own chair.

 

[Shadrach]

It's a bit of a catch~22. I too understand what Shad is saying. @ the same time I don't want to see a really rare breed die out, as it very nearly did @ one point. Only a resurgence in Britain saved it. And there are not so many options sometimes. My goldens come from a breeder & their quality is evident. The silvers came from a hatchery ~ not such good quality though they seem to be hardier overall. Either is better than a dubious backyard breeder. As always the big problem is people's attitudes towards chickens. So long as people primarily see them as a disposable commodity there will be people doing the wrong thing.

Hatcheries have done more harm to chickens than the egg industry. It was bad enough when they just supplied one or two breeds to the intensive egg barns. Now, thanks to the backyard chicken keeping craze they're fecking up the less common breeds. I would shut them all down without a second thought.

 

[Shadrach]

Ha'penny is number 4.View attachment 2322091
I found the nest before she went to lay.
There were 2 white eggs & a brown. Somebody besides Ha'penny has designs on sitting!
Summer hasn't even arrived yet. No, Shad. I am not flattered.
This is a right royal pain.
That is one fierce momma look.
View attachment 2322092​

Well, you wanted to keep chickens.
I agree, it's a pain but it's what they do.

 

[Ribh]

Hatcheries have done more harm to chickens than the egg industry. It was bad enough when they just supplied one or two breeds to the intensive egg barns. Now, thanks to the backyard chicken keeping craze they're fecking up the less common breeds. I would shut them all down without a second thought.

Ok. I'm not sure we're on the same page here. There are only 2 hatcheries in Brisbane & they can't possibly supply the area. Backyard breeders are the worst. Not only are they selling questionable breeding but diseased, unimmunized, sub standard birds. I'd shut them down in a heartbeat. There are quite a few breeders & they all specialise in 1 or 2 breeds. Only one does the breed I'm really interested in. Only one hatchery does the other breed I'm keen on & they get their stock from a breeder. I think we work differently to the states, Shipping eggs isn't common [pick up is] & you can't post chicks. They would have to come via courier.

 

[Ribh]

Well, you wanted to keep chickens.
I agree, it's a pain but it's what they do.

I expect some broodiness over summer but they have started insanely early this year & they are lining up to go broody on me. Yes, it's what they do but @ this rate I'm going to have a whole tribe trying to sit on infertile eggs!

 

[Shadrach]

Ok. I'm not sure we're on the same page here. There are only 2 hatcheries in Brisbane & they can't possibly supply the area. Backyard breeders are the worst. Not only are they selling questionable breeding but diseased, unimmunized, sub standard birds. I'd shut them down in a heartbeat. There are quite a few breeders & they all specialise in 1 or 2 breeds. Only one does the breed I'm really interested in. Only one hatchery does the other breed I'm keen on & they get their stock from a breeder. I think we work differently to the states, Shipping eggs isn't common [pick up is] & you can't post chicks. They would have to come via courier.

On the same page but in different countries.
I was primarily thinking of the USA.

 

[Shadrach]

I expect some broodiness over summer but they have started insanely early this year & they are lining up to go broody on me. Yes, it's what they do but @ this rate I'm going to have a whole tribe trying to sit on infertile eggs!

There is an easy solution to that...

 

[Ribh]

On the same page but in different countries.
I was primarily thinking of the USA.

Well, I only know what I read on BYC & it seems a mad system with a huge turnover due to shortened life expectancy. We seem to do things rather differently. Our produce stores never carry large amounts of chicks for example, & they are almost always larger birds, off heat, in my experience. There is a 3 month waiting period just now on POLs due to covid. Those hatcheries I know that sell ISAs for example warn you their life expectancy is 1~2 years. For some people, that's ok. A lot of people seem to be choosing heritage breeds these days, which may be a good or bad thing long term, but it means people are going to Breeders.

 

[Ribh]

There is an easy solution to that...
View attachment 2322995

I'm not allowed one ~ & you know I'm not. He is very beautiful though.