Sorry it took so long to respond, but I have been out till late the past 2 days working on coops and fences and such, almost doneIsn't it heartbreaking to lose animals? And you lost the WHOLE flock - I'd be devastated. I lost only 2 pullets last year and DH and I still get tears about it. It happens and you know it happens but it still is so unexpected. I've never lost an adult yet but I know someday it will happen as we all have to return to our Maker someday. I love all the breeds you've chosen.
Cochins, Wyandottes, Brahmas, and Jersey Giants - are the ones I've never had but the Jerseys and Croad Langshans have always fascinated me - especially the black feathers which I love along with buff color breeds too.
FEMA or govt in general - can't depend on govt to meet our needs with all that bureaucracy to go through - Ron Howard's movie "Bitter Harvest" case in point about govt's slowness to ban PBB in the livestock feed of milking cows.
I got interested in APA Ameraucanas after I saw how sweet my friend's bird was. She also has 3 EEs and she loves those 4 girls in her 15-hen laying flock. Eventually I will have an EE for the sage/mint egg but I really wanted a blue egg so paid the $$ to a breeder to ship me a guaranteed blue egg layer. My friend's local breeder source mixes all her APA Ameraucanas and EEs in one breeding pen as she uses them just for eggs and not to sell chicks because she's turned her breeding attention to Coronation Sussex. The spent EE hens and roos are used for meat afterwards. The breeder had help with her separated breeds while her daughters were in high school but now they are off to college and the breeder can't handle the projects anymore - so, she concentrates on just one breed now and supplies hatching eggs for school projects. She had nearly 100 birds and is probably down to about 20 now. It's a lot of work to care for livestock and poultry - people don't realize the commitment it entails.
Yeah, some people can sound judgmental or rude on the threads but I think it's because of their writing style - I don't think they want to come out sounding rude but sometimes the words just don't fit right on the page plus some people's sensitivity can easily be triggered. Or some people just like to sound important. I used to be a research writer and my flaw on the threads is getting too "wordy." When I say I've eliminated a particular breed in my flock it's because it didn't work for me and I explain why - it's not that I totally don't like the breed - it just didn't work for my particular flock. I would love Brahmas, Giants, and Langshans but I know it would never work in my little backyard of limited 5 allowed and always need to be mindful of my 2 bantams. Guess we all make the world go round LOL.
Yes, thank you for your understanding nature. I love reading the multiplicity of breed threads on BYC as it really helps us see if we're going in a general good direction with our choices. Nothing is just one way or just a single correct way to do things. I like the cons expressed as well as the pros in people's experiences. We ultimately gotta do what we can afford and what works best for us and our animals - like should we keep chicks in the basement to save them from the elements or similar opinions. I say whatever saves the precious animal's life is what you gotta do. It's never for long term anyway but just an emergency measure - yet some people can't figure out why you'd keep chickens in the house (no different than keeping dogs or cats IMHO). But everybody's different. At first I was overwhelmed by the tons of information on the internet and people's opinions but over time I've weeded out what I can use and store other info for possible later applications and some I've totally discarded because it just doesn't fit my situation.
PM me anytime you have a thought to share if it just happens to be something other than Silkie related - I'm interested in all breeds. I'm not a particular fan of game breeds but still study them just for the info - Smiles
the Brahmas are the only ones I have had before the rest is the first time, I'm excited to see the Welsummers eggs, and the EE's eggs to see how many different shades I get. 1 of my EE's have slate grey legs, I need to look that up, haven't had time yet.
The Giants are supposed to be lovers, from what I'm told and read..... but mine sure aren't, working with them but man the can be a pain!!
I hated to cull what was left of my flock
Croad Langshans I have never heard of those will have to look those up too.
I want some Ameraucanas so bad I cant stand it!!!! but I cant afford them, to pay 10.00 for a day old chick that you have no way knowing if it will live or not??? just don't make sense to me and No way DH would let me pay 20.00 -50.00 for a pullet.. he would stroke out!!!!
I was lucky and found a local that has BCM's for 5.00 eh for chicks, so I'm getting 10 they are st.run so I took extra, I want 6 hens and 1 roo so maybe????
I can see how a breeding program could be a whole lot of work. I'm fixing to find out... the BCM's I want to start breeding, it is hard to find them around here, I looked for a year!! I have 7 goats, 3 Does 1 buck, 1 whether, and 2, 6 day old bucklings. 1 doe is due any day now. 3 quarter horses and 6 dogs. I think I already told you??? but anyway point is I know its not easy taking care of livestock, winter is the worst, and this winter about did me in!!!
Some people just like being mean... they have no life or they are not happy with their life so they try to ruin other peoples lives.
Know the type and the ones I ran into is that type, The ones that you are talking about that just don't know how to put their words in type would be me some times... but I know this and always try to tell them when responding to a question, that I am sorry in advance if it comes out wrong, I don't spell well and therefore I pick the wrong words sometimes.
I always bring chicks in the house in winter, I'll even bring hens in if the are sick or wounded. I have a goat in the house now cause its still cold out and mom rejected him. Alot of people don't understand but i don't care... lol
I don't really like the game birds either but to each their own.
