The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Fred's Hens]

People are people, everywhere they go.

 

[Beekissed]

You nailed it. They do what they're bred to do. Plain and simple.

Now, I'll give you all just a little peek into my soul. I can bend over just pick thesse "girls" (yeah I know they're pullets, not girls, but just hush a minute.) any time I wish. They handle in and out of a show coop with an absolute joy. They coo and purr in your arms. They love getting their bath for the show. They are simply the best dog gone birds to have around. My life with birds would be much poorer without them. They're simply different from anything I've ever raised. Very easy keepers. Love 'em.

They sound like real sweeties! Don't let that get out or the pet crowd will be trying to get their hands on such birds, just so they can love on them, pet them, dress them up, give them treats.....

They are certainly very beautiful and are a joy to look upon, so the sweet personality is a plus. I've had very few mean RIRs in my life, but the few RIR hatchery stock I've been exposed to in the last few years were just horrible birds. Not only did they look weirder than they've ever looked(a strange orange color and extreme squirrel tails), they didn't lay well, were incredibly stupid~even for chickens, and they were just plain ol' mean. Don't know what's happening out there to that breed in the hatcheries but none of it seems good.

Sure am glad you guys on this thread are breeding to preserve this good, old breed....my family grew up on them and they have fed us for generations.

 

[Fred's Hens]

99% of the folks at a poultry show are just folks. All walks of life and good people. Heck of a lot of fun being at a show, I just wish it wasn't the whirlwind it sometimes is. You wish you had more time to meet and greet people and talk Red birds or whatever breed/variety strikes your fancy. No place like it.

It's always that 1% that kinda do stuff that makes you scratch your head. Too bad, but people are people.

 

[Beekissed]

In light of that, Fred, if you have to leave birds unattended, do you lock your cages? I was wondering about that if I take a couple to the show in March...would hate to lose one of my good birds if someone decides to slip them into another cage and replace the band with one of their own. Sure would be hard to prove ownership at that point.

 

[desertmarcy]

In light of that, Fred, if you have to leave birds unattended, do you lock your cages? I was wondering about that if I take a couple to the show in March...would hate to lose one of my good birds if someone decides to slip them into another cage and replace the band with one of their own. Sure would be hard to prove ownership at that point.

My birds are all wing banded and I write the wing band # down on the coop tag as well as the leg band #. I remember reading somewhere that someone was able to recover a stolen bird because of the wing band. They can be removed too but not as easily. If someone is determined to steal your bird, it could happen, but I think (hope) it is rare.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Bee, each year I have a few dozen birds that I cull and I actually enjoy selling the birds to backyarders. Doesn't bother me one bit. Matt probably sells 3 times or 4 times that number. If they want the birds for that? I dont care and don't believe Matt cares either.

Cannot keep, nor do I wish to keep all the chicks I hatch and raise. My criteria is pretty basic. Can I produce the "typey" bird (in my two breeds) that I am looking for? If the birds don't meet my expectations, down the road they go. There's no big profit in selling them, just a bit of feed money back, that's all. Some who buy are breeders, others homesteaders, some junior exhibitors, and some chicken huggers I suppose.

 

[Fred's Hens]

My birds are all wing banded and I write the wing band # down on the coop tag as well as the leg band #. I remember reading somewhere that someone was able to recover a stolen bird because of the wing band. They can be removed too but not as easily. If someone is determined to steal your bird, it could happen, but I think (hope) it is rare.

As you know well, at almost every show, there are a few stolen birds. Again, the percentage is very small. Also, you cannot "lock" the show coop. If you want to be a thief, you just lift up the bottomless cage and take the bird. Hate to mention this sad aspect of human nature, but does exist.

 

[desertmarcy]

As you know well, at almost every show, there are a few stolen birds. Again, the percentage is very small. Also, you cannot "lock" the show coop. If you want to be a thief, you just lift up the bottomless cage and take the bird. Hate to mention this sad aspect of human nature, but does exist.

I actually don't know that well. Perhaps this happens at the larger shows but at least the last 3 years, since I've been showing (not that long, I know) here in Tucson and in Safford, AZ, no birds have been stolen. Our Tucson show has over 1000 birds shown, so not huge like Ohio National but not tiny, either.

 

[Fred's Hens]

One or two birds out of 4000 entries is not a lot of theft, but if that fraction of one percent happens to you, it is disheartening. Folks get birds stolen right off their home properties too. We likely shouldn't dwell on this dark side of human nature, and I'm not sure how the thread wandered over to this topic, but there's no dodging it. Yes, it does happen. It happened again last weekend, sadly.

Again, one or two birds out of 4000. Poultry people are people and most are really great folks.

 

[cmom]

One or two birds out of 4000 entries is not a lot of theft, but if that fraction of one percent happens to you, it is disheartening. Folks get birds stolen right off their home properties too. We likely shouldn't dwell on this dark side of human nature, and I'm not sure how the thread wandered over to this topic, but there's no dodging it. Yes, it does happen. It happened again last weekend, sadly.

Again, one or two birds out of 4000. Poultry people are people and most are really great folks.

Sorry, you can blame me.

I posted on another thread and someone read my post and posted about it. The young girl showing in the juniors was devastated that her bird was taken at a show, and even though people can steal birds by lifting up the cage and take the birds. Since there are several cages connected together it is easier just to take one from an unlocked cage. I have some friends who show and do lock their cages but unlock them when the judges are judging their isle. Most poultry people are really great people but like everything in life there can be some rotten apples in the barrel.