Texas

[hensfortherapy]

Oh My Goodness, thank you so much, this is very good information and just want I needed to get started.  I will start my research and when I find something I am really into I will go from there.  Do you mind if I get back with you once I have figured that out?

I would go to a show first off. It is an eye opening experience. I realized I couldn't do it. Loved looking at all the birds and I will attend future shows. In fact I think my girls would fare well . Ha, I have no idea I just think they are pretty. I just don't want to do all the vaccines and worry they are exposed to something.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I didn't mean to sound negative about shows. Like I said it is more about me not thinking it was something I could do.

 

[Ren2014]

So, in a quote/reply to another post here on BYC, it was suggested that I check out the Texas Forum. I did not even know it was here, so...

We are on a 3.5 acre farm north of Coleman, TX about half way between Coleman and Lawn. My partner, 8 dogs, 24 chickens who are just discovering they are Hens and 6 ducks who just discovered water yesterday. We have grand plans for a large garden if our well holds out and are really enjoying life on the farm after retiring from far to many years of city life and office work.

We are both retired and really ready for the cold to finally end and get our farm going. We call ourselves Moran-Newman Farms and, while surrounded by large farms that run cattle we are orienting our efforts to poultry, eggs and produce.

If this forum is anything like the rest of BYC I am looking forward to many pleasant interactions and the help of everyone here as we face the challenges to come.

I posted this as a new thread in error. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of that other thread. If I knew what I was doing I would be dangerous.

Hello and welcome

Only a few of my chickens have names as they are the only ones we can tell apart. The 2 roosters are Matilda and Jane, and the White Leghorn is KFC.

I love your girly rooster names and KFC is a good one

I configured my HUGE dog kennel so it is (hopefully) chick escape proof. Whoever invented zip ties was genius!

The back side and half the one end is a tatami mat. (A souvenir from a trip to Hawaii. ) The other half and front side is window screen from a patio door. I've it in my tool box for probably 16 years! The other end is covered by a box that I can remove for easy cleaning. A beach towel is on the top to help hold in the heat.
Right now the bottom is covered with newspaper that is covered with rubbery shelf paper. After a few days on that kind of surface and they know where the food is I will put in pine shavings.
The brooder light is hanging, and there is no way it can fall. I also have a wee stick in for perch when they are ready. I'm currently checking the temperature to see how warm it is in there.

Their water is on a brick (it's the nipple kind of waterer) and I can hang it from the side too. I'm going to have a bowl of water too. I have a bowl of grit and a bowl ready for food. I'm going to go to the thrift store and see what I can pick up to use for dishes in there too.

Chick day is tomorrow!

Ditto on the zip ties

Good luck tomorrow. I can't wait to read about your first day.

 

[hungnguyen]

A good night for the Big 12 as Iowa State and Baylor made to Sweet 16. Only 2 teams left but these 2 made loud noise.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I configured my HUGE dog kennel so it is (hopefully) chick escape proof. Whoever invented zip ties was genius!



The back side and half the one end is a tatami mat. (A souvenir from a trip to Hawaii. ) The other half and front side is window screen from a patio door. I've it in my tool box for probably 16 years! The other end is covered by a box that I can remove for easy cleaning. A beach towel is on the top to help hold in the heat.
Right now the bottom is covered with newspaper that is covered with rubbery shelf paper. After a few days on that kind of surface and they know where the food is I will put in pine shavings.
The brooder light is hanging, and there is no way it can fall. I also have a wee stick in for perch when they are ready. I'm currently checking the temperature to see how warm it is in there.

Their water is on a brick (it's the nipple kind of waterer) and I can hang it from the side too. I'm going to have a bowl of water too. I have a bowl of grit and a bowl ready for food. I'm going to go to the thrift store and see what I can pick up to use for dishes in there too.

Chick day is tomorrow!

So eggciting! Can't wait to see your posts and pics.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Oh My Goodness, thank you so much, this is very good information and just want I needed to get started. I will start my research and when I find something I am really into I will go from there. Do you mind if I get back with you once I have figured that out?

I'd be happy to help in what ever way I can. I'm just very new to showing chickens and I've never bred a chick yet, but I was very involved showing and breeding dogs for about 25 years. Got out of dogs when I went to the Middle East. Now I have chickens.

 

[magpiesing]

I have one of my chicks with a bit of dirty butt. I cleaned it up and made sure the vent was clear but still has a little dry poop stuck on the feathers. I didn't want to rub hard and irritate the vent. Is there something like a bit of vasiline or something I can put on it to get it off so it doesn't build up again?

 

[AussieGirl]

Anyone here ever heard of Diamond T Poultry near Seguin? http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/grd/4321598962.html Im getting some orpingtons from them and was wondering what yall thought about there orpingtons?

 

[jajeanpierre]

I would go to a show first off. It is an eye opening experience. I realized I couldn't do it. Loved looking at all the birds and I will attend future shows. In fact I think my girls would fare well . Ha, I have no idea I just think they are pretty. I just don't want to do all the vaccines and worry they are exposed to something.

I don't think there is all that much of a risk. I only vaccinated for Laryngotracheitis before I went to shows. I quarantined the birds, but that quarantine is no different than if I brought new birds into the flock. I will vaccinate for Fowl Pox only because it makes a mess of their face and combs for a month or so.

I think going to a poultry show with your own bird makes it a LOT more fun than just going to the show. The great thing about poultry shows is that you get them ready, put them in the cage and then leave them alone other than taking droppings out of the cage. Soooo different from dog shows when I would constantly fuss with the coat while in the ring.

The breeds are judged to a standard, with points (cuts) taken off for faults. It is not easy to take the written standard and apply it to a living breathing bird.

My advice to anyone before going to a show is to understand your breed standard, know if there are any disqualifying faults in your bird, and find out how to groom your particular breed for the show. Judges really appreciate a clean bird, and it makes a huge difference to their first impression.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I don't think there is all that much of a risk.  I only vaccinated for Laryngotracheitis before I went to shows.  I quarantined the birds, but that quarantine is no different than if I brought new birds into the flock.  I will vaccinate for Fowl Pox only because it makes a mess of their face and combs for a month or so.

I think going to a poultry show with your own bird makes it a LOT more fun than just going to the show.  The great thing about poultry shows is that you get them ready, put them in the cage and then leave them alone other than taking droppings out of the cage.  Soooo different from dog shows when I would constantly fuss with the coat while in the ring.

The breeds are judged to a standard, with points (cuts) taken off for faults.  It is not easy to take the written standard and apply it to a living breathing bird.

My advice to anyone before going to a show is to understand your breed standard, know if there are any disqualifying faults in  your bird, and find out how to groom your particular breed for the show.  Judges really appreciate a clean bird, and it makes a huge difference to their first impression.

Well that's not as many vaccines as I thought you had gotten them. I remembered you talking about it and some inspector?? Too much for me. I once thought I would enjoy showing, but like I said I don't think I could do it. Love that people do. Loved seeing the chickens. I would not have wanted to go to the expense and then find out I wasn't cut out for it. If that makes sense.