Surviving Minnesota!

[jerryse]

Here are the new bantams . Not young as he had long spurs I trimmed and she had long nails . No spring chickens as the saying goes . He has the winter dubbed comb .

 

[holm25]

Holm were leaving at 6:00 AM. Minnie's is about 4 1/2 I don't think 5 hours down. Best guess- 10:30 with potty stops. We will be in a white Toyota Avalon. Wave if you see us!

We r going to get there about the same time!!

 

[ejb3810]

Ralphie, some would say that genetic diversity is not as important as many would believe. Concentration of genes is how one can advance toward a stated goal. The most important consideration is that one must be ruthless in eliminating any birds which are not physically right, and birds that are completely healthy and vigorous is what one should be selecting for.
Just my opinion for what little it may be worth.
I know a lady that is very well respected in the Dutch Bantam breed. She developed her line through extreme inbreeding with severe culling for vigor, health and type. She has a beautiful flock of birds without regression or vigor problems.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralphie, some would say that genetic diversity is not as important as many would believe. Concentration of genes is how one can advance toward a stated goal. The most important consideration is that one must be ruthless in eliminating any birds which are not physically right, and birds that are completely healthy and vigorous is what one should be selecting for.
Just my opinion for what little it may be worth.
I know a lady that is very well respected in the Dutch Bantam breed. She developed her line through extreme inbreeding with severe culling for vigor, health and type. She has a beautiful flock of birds without regression or vigor problems.

Thanks, I was aware of this, ( the culling, not the diversity) and I am trying to do that, I sell off the "non-conforming" birds as Barnyard mixes, I have not had any weak ones survive. I take that back, I have the one legged gimped one in the one pen and one with a "bad eye" looks like it has cataracts. Neither, will be breeders. The bad eye one is about 1/4 a step from the gas chamber. I decided it was genetic and not disease. Had it been disease or a chance of it, It would be gone by now.

However, I really need to work on ruthlessness.

I am glad to hear you say that about genetic diversity. I worry about it. Maybe more than I should. Look at the Creamettes, their family tree is a blade of grass for 10 generations or so!


I am thinking I need some Foo-Foo breeds for next year. I get a lot of email from people wanting Bantams, Silkies and those "chickens with feathers on the legs"...Yep that is what they actually say!

 

[NathanZee]

Here are the new bantams . Not young as he had long spurs I trimmed and she had long nails . No spring chickens as the saying goes . He has the winter dubbed comb .

They are beautiful! Mille Fleurs get whiter with age right? Cause my rooster who has a mostly black tail is growing in new white tail feathers.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I got it . Makes me think of the soggy bottom boys in the movie Oh Brother . Also makes me think of BC but then she might not like being called the Boggy bottom girl . LOL .

Jerry once you become a local up here you'll realize that Bogtown is the nickname for my home town. Maybe you already know which town it is. Blooie calls me Boggie. Bog bottom I have not been called. However it probably makes sense as I think the English call the toilet the bog sometimes. Maybe...? Lol. Anyways... I need sleep. Early morning tomorrow for me.

 

[duluthralphie]

What?? No, Posting to read with my coffee?

I didn't get to bed until 3am this morning, but I feel well rested for going to bed so long.

I wonder if it is possible my falling asleep watching TV could have helped me feel rested? I think I feel asleep around 9. I do not even remember which show we were watching. I think it was "shameless".

My in between sleep period times, when I went to bed were filled with self-doubt, thanks to EJB. When he mentioned the ruthless culling of the inbred, it struck a chord. I have read that many times. I know the books say when inbreeding you have to be relentless otherwise you subject yourself to genetic disease and weakened immunity that can raise havoc with the flock.

It was not just EJB, that sent that message to me yesterday. It was my Uncle too. My uncle is my role model since my Dad passed. My Uncle is 40 years older than EJB so he is pushing 140 now. He grew up on a farm her during the depression. Actually the land he grew up on was part of this farm and sold to my Uncle's Dad by my Grandpa.
The history lesson of my Uncle is boring, but important to the story, it gives credence to what he said.

We had a Veterinarian, as a neighbor growing up. He had about 400 acres. He raised turkeys on it. I think my Uncle said he had about 10,000 turkeys. My Uncle worked for this guy for years as a kid and young adult. So he has lots of Turkey knowledge plus old time farm knowledge. BTW he is my Uncle because he married my Mom's sister. But to "Bock" this up a bit (Bock is a town we use to say was all inbreds when I was a younger.) My Uncle is also my second cousin. He is my Dad's first cousin. My biological Grandma is my Uncles mother's sister. MY Uncle was always my Dad's best friend. My uncle built a house on land my Dad gave him right across the road fro my house. He is the second biggest influence in my life. He taught me to run back hoe, dozers and a myriad of heavy equipment. It is the basic knowledge I obtained in from him that allowed me to excel in aviation, after all a aircraft, whether one engine, multiple engines, rotors or wings is just a piece of equipment.

Him and my Dad together taught me to be gentle on machines, ask them to do what you want do not force them too. They were both superb mechanics. I was handing them both tools and helping them work on machines for as long as I can remember. ( remember when I told you I had to cultivate at 6) This is why.

I hope this helps you realize how important he is and how much I value what he says.

He came to visit me yesterday. He know lives in a retirement community in St Cloud. He wanted to see all my birds. I showed him the ones in the house first. Then I listened to turkey stories I have heard a thousand time from him. I would never insult him by saying " You have told me that before" I patiently listen like it is the first time.

Then we went up to the building I have the Minnesota Australorps in. There is one bird that has separated itself from the bunch and is sitting hunched over under the heat lamp. I pick it up and look at it, my Uncle asked what's wrong with it?

I told him " I have no idea, He was not like this two hours ago." I notice he has one eye that appears closed with an inner lid or cataract almost. The bird is listless.

I put him under the lamp again and close the cover on the brooder.

My Uncle gets this look of concern and says " Aren't you going to put him down?"

I, of course, being a bleeding heart, said "no, he might get better".

After that I spent the afternoon hearing reasons why I should put the chick down and what Art (the Vet) would do, and how no weak birds were allowed to live... I know he is right but..

We went to one of the better restaurants in downtown Orrock for lunch late afternoon and his parting words were "I know it is hard to kill a little chick, but you might need to now and then".


Then EJB hits me last night with the "ruthless" and It has been weighing heavy.... So thanks for ruining my night EJB!!

 

[ejb3810]

Sometimes the truth hurts Ralphie, but if this sweet elderly lady in Montana can be a severe culler of the weak and etc. so too can a he man such as yourself.

As relates to the foo foo birds. Someone is going to raise and sell them, so why not you. I have no interest in most of them, but there are bantam breeds I do have a fondness for. People like something that is unusual in a lot of cases, and a lot of them are willing to pay what seems to be illogical amounts to acquire them?

 

[duluthralphie]

Sometimes the truth hurts Ralphie, but if this sweet elderly lady in Montana can be a severe culler of the weak and etc. so too can a he man such as yourself.

As relates to the foo foo birds. Someone is going to raise and sell them, so why not you. I have no interest in most of them, but there are bantam breeds I do have a fondness for. People like something that is unusual in a lot of cases, and a lot of them are willing to pay what seems to be illogical amounts to acquire them?

Right on both counts.

I Like you am not a fan of Foo-foo breeds, or bantam's but I might have to be to keep my addictions going.

 

[jerryse]

Going fishing today . First time out this year . Beautiful weather .