Sumatra Thread!

[Infnityhrt]

Oh! I think our plans are open as far as shows go. For sure on the pnpa show and puyallup open possibly. Are you going to any?

We are hoping to go to the WFF in Monroe if weather will clear alittle that we can get over the passes safely, entries are sent.. birds hopefully will be ok Kennewick and the PNPA in April are on our list and then the one in Hamilton Mt the first weekend of May, that one is my favorite Its a small show, but I just love Montana and its just south of Missoula, its pretty much at the base of the bitterroot mountains that are all snow capped then your in the valley of all the spring green with ranches of horses and farm houses... it is just absolutely gorgeous!! Everytime I go I want to move their, but then the older I get the more I don't like snow lol and they get alot more there

 

[Infnityhrt]

Wow, the 40s sound good to me. We've been stuck in this below zero rut for weeks now other tan a couple days in the 30s. Last winter I think I dealt with ice in the barn twice-this year it's been a daily event. I'd like to be hatching but I'm hardly getting any eggs. I don't think I'll be doing much spring showing if the weather doesn't change soon.

This response was for you Sorry it's been so rough, I hope you warm up soon. We have had alot of sub zero with wind chills this year but not much snow until February, below our averages. Then like 8" this weekend and now warming up and probably flooding. Going to be hard to condition birds for spring shows. Good luck with the weather hopefully spring is around the corner and you'll be hatching soon!
Just saw on the news last night that NY and the Eastern United States will be colder than normal thru May.. sorry, I hope its a prediction that they are wrong about. Hang in there and I'll try and send some warmer weather your way as soon as we get it here

 

[NWSumatras]

We are hoping to go to the WFF in Monroe if weather will clear alittle that we can get over the passes safely, entries are sent.. birds hopefully will be ok   Kennewick and the PNPA in April are on our list and then the one in Hamilton Mt the first weekend of May, that one is my favorite  Its a small show, but I just love Montana and its just south of Missoula, its pretty much at the base of the bitterroot mountains that are all snow capped then your in the valley of all the spring green with ranches of horses and farm houses... it is just absolutely gorgeous!!  Everytime I go I want to move their, but then the older I get the more I don't like snow lol and they get alot more there

I know what you mean, mt is absolutely gorgeous! I never want to leave but you are right those winters are something we like to avoid as we get older. Honestly I never thought about showing there, which would give a great excuse to visit it again

 

[Infnityhrt]

Yes I did see this and it sounded like this is what you are doing shortly before a show.
What are you doing with the birds the rest of the year to keep them in showing condition
or do you keep them in show condition year-round?

I am asking this of any who would share what they do with their show birds. I don't show,
as I said before, so I don't know what all is involved in this. I kept my show horses in show
condition year-round and just did touch ups a little before any shows we went to......is that
how it is with birds or do you condition them only before a show? Just trying to learn more.

Now that I have my normal keyboard!..... It's kind of like horses, I mean we monitor and watch and feed and dust with diatomacious earth all year round, I like to let mine free range most of the spring and summer, fall, when the weather gets bad they get penned up more, they have a coop and runs they go in year round and right now I have 3 trios in a heated shed to get a start on some eggs and hatching, bad thing about that is that they are usually my best birds so.. they are breeding and feathers get more ragged, males tails get stepped on since they are caged, but only way to get chicks before late April or May around here. I had a male I was hoping to take to the show if he stayed in good condition, but no, just noticed the hens are tearing his tail up, so right now, more important to get eggs than to take him, will probably take the outside male, which isn't the best one I have.. but in the best condition, fall shows are easier, they are usually in great condition.. if i can keep them from molting.. birds are much harder than horses.. sigh.. and horses you can have for 15 years or more of showing, not so with the same bird.
I like to feed some black oil sunflower seeds and some flax seeds here and there, heard the oils are good for the feathers. and the Sumatras love them.
I usually don't have to do their toe nails since they are free ranged, but we monitor them and if needed will clip.
Usually a couple months before on the ones that look like I will take, we go over feathers and if any broken will pull and increase the protein in the diet to help with the feather growth.
I used to show horses so pretty much the same with monitoring and getting ready, polishing them up before they go in to be judged, don't have to clip the legs and bridle paths or pull mains, but its pretty much all the same just different I know you know what I'm talking about.

 

[Infnityhrt]

oh and their are times when I have thought about creating a tail wrap sort of like the horse ones, but making the bag type instead of the braid type ones, just not sure how to secure it in, then thougth of a whole harness thing and then thought, that would just mess up the other feathers LOL.. but my mind is trying to come up with something for those tails!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Raven is inside, she can't a hole on her neck wing area. About 3-4 inches long. $500 later, she has stitches and need meds 3 times a day. Our other house chicken, gets upset when I take Raven out to check her wound. (They are in dif cages) I would post a picture, but BYC isn't cooperating.

This all happened Sunday.

 

[Infnityhrt]

Raven is inside, she can't a hole on her neck wing area. About 3-4 inches long. $500 later, she has stitches and need meds 3 times a day. Our other house chicken, gets upset when I take Raven out to check her wound. (They are in dif cages) I would post a picture, but BYC isn't cooperating.

This all happened Sunday.

Hope she gets better soon, We had a guinea that a dog grabbed and ripped her throat and chest open, she had stitches and antibiotics and did great! Best wishes for a speedy recovery

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Hope she gets better soon, We had a guinea that a dog grabbed and ripped her throat and chest open, she had stitches and antibiotics and did great!  Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Thank you!

Got a pic .

 

[NWSumatras]

I agree with infnityhrt, I used to show horses too and in a way poultry can be more frustrating, because once they ruin a feather or two its almost impossible to fix unlike hair if its too close to a show. Chickens don't seem to care either. I found that if you can separate males individually and put females between them, they spend most if their time strutting their stuff. They wont really dig or get in trouble that much either. I normally do not put them on any special feed as poultry feed is scientifically made just for them. If you breed for feather quality then feeding high protein feeds are not necessary. Black oil sunflower seeds are great though as a treat and training aid. So basically you work all year round to hatch and then keep feathers in perfect condition just to do it all over again the next year. Just a little something that I do for show birds

 

[NWSumatras]

Raven is inside, she can't a hole on her neck wing area. About 3-4 inches long. $500 later, she has stitches and need meds 3 times a day. Our other house chicken, gets upset when I take Raven out to check her wound. (They are in dif cages) I would post a picture, but BYC isn't cooperating.

This all happened Sunday.

I hope she has a fast recovery!