The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[Kiki]

Well summers over and winter is coming soon. Been below freezing overnight a few times already.
Been busy making winter breeding plans. Switching some things up and looking to the future.
Speaking of that I got some new birds to show and they're not even leghorns. Ok so not technically but they do have leghorn blood in them.
Recieved these from a breeder a few days ago. A rooster, a hen, a cockerel and a pullet. They're a project that were.....
Never mind for now....
Less talk, more pics....
View attachment 1569272 View attachment 1569274 View attachment 1569275 View attachment 1569279

You lucky dog you!!!!
I am so glad YOU got these birds!

 

[Kiki]

Winner Winner.
There were two breeders working on them at the same time.
One breeder coined the name "opal legbars" for hers.
The other breeder decided to lose the crests but otherwise they're the same thing.
The breeder these came from didn't worry about a pretty name so I will continue not calling them "opal legbars".

Bonus round.....
Who's the breeder of my birds?

Kat!!!!!!

 

[Kiki]

@ChicKat

 

[The Moonshiner]

You lucky dog you!!!!
I am so glad YOU got these birds!

Wondered when you would show up.
See told you it was beyond great news when they passed their tests.
I'm so glad to have them. I won't ever be able to thank Kat enough. Such a great opportunity for me and she's make it like I was the one doing her a favor by getting them.
Much respect for her as a breeder as well as "good people"
It does sadden me to see her let them go but I'm not so sure it will be the last time she sees them. I pray everything falls into place so one day some will return home to her.
Thank you again chickat
I hope I can make as smart a choices as you have and continue this project in a way that will make you proud.

 

[cmom]

This coming Saturday at a poultry show, I entered a SC White Leghorn hen and a RC Dark Brown Leghorn hen. I haven't shown them before. Curious how they will place.

 

[Kiki]

Wondered when you would show up.
See told you it was beyond great news when they passed their tests.
I'm so glad to have them. I won't ever be able to thank Kat enough. Such a great opportunity for me and she's make it like I was the one doing her a favor by getting them.
Much respect for her as a breeder as well as "good people"
It does sadden me to see her let them go but I'm not so sure it will be the last time she sees them. I pray everything falls into place so one day some will return home to her.
Thank you again chickat
I hope I can make as smart a choices as you have and continue this project in a way that will make you proud.

I almost cried reading this post.

 

[ChicKat]

The Moonshiner said:
Thank you again chickat
I hope I can make as smart a choices as you have and continue this project in a way that will make you proud.

You are so welcome. I'm 'happy dance' that they made the journey safely - and happy that you will use them. Hope that they will perform admirably for you. That they don't become slackers...etc.

Yep, I noticed how Kikisgirls recognized that they should have gone to YOU. Kikisgirls knows a lot of good stuff.

I do like your idea that someday I may get back into this project once I'm relocated to Oregon... my property here is actually on the market now-- but sales could easily take 6-months or so, according to my realtor's evaluation of comparable property. Once in the Pacific North West, maybe I'll find someone to partner chicken rearing with. My new place out there...no roosters. So for the near term -- I'm passing the baton on the project to you & ultra glad that you are willing to take it.

One thing about these -- they are easily autosexable. Yay.

For some reason my computer is giving me fits...so I'll check out for now -- and be lurking around later on. see ya!

 

[The Moonshiner]

I'm 'happy dance' that they made the journey safely

I think I'm still traumatised a bit. I still seem over worried something is going to happen to them.
Anyways here's the rounded off times of their trip.
These are 4 all pretty much adult birds. Express shipping. Shipped wed. Afternoon expected delivery thurs by 3:00 pm.
Left her PO at 4 pm.
Arrived in Houston at about 6 pm. Wed
Arrived in KC at about 11 pm thurs
Arrived my PO about 5 am Fri.

Now here's some insight into my brain.
I'd never shipped or received adult birds before so it was a worry from the start.
Left her PO and landed in Houston 2 hours later. So far so good but that's as far as that went.
Checked status and they just sat and sat. We both tried to figure out what was happening? Maybe just not updating? Idk. By wed morning it was still showing them in Houston. I checked it about every 17 1/2 minutes until my PO opened.
I called and tried to get answers I mean these are live birds. They need to at least be moving. Its been like 15 hours.
PO wasn't getting any more info then myself and played phone tag between herself, myself and both the Houston and KC hubs.
Kat and I played tag through the day also. 3:00 came and went and still no change.
It was crazy. What the heck was the usps doing.
I was worried. This whole deal just seemed meant to be. I was happy, Kat was happy and the PO was gonna kill these birds and screw this whole thing up.
About now's when I was thinking @KikisGirls is in Houston isn't she? I should get a hold of her and have her go put a foot in someone's @$$.
You guys are jacking with living creatures. Extremely beautiful living creatures that I knew what went into making them.
D@mn usps. It was a crazy day. Worrying, hoping, trying to distract myself, thinking maybe this wasn't meant to be and the poor birds.
Finally at about 11 pm I got a text. Yes a text. I got tired of checking so I changed it to text update.
Birds were in KC.
After like 29 hours from the time they arrived in Houston. Ya 29 hours plus 2 hours plus I'm not sure.. How long can a bird survive without water? IDK but was so worried.
I couldn't sleep hardly at all. I fell asleep at about midnight and was up at 5. 5:05 I got an update text that they were at my PO. That's about 25 minutes away so 10 minutes later I was at the PO. Ok maybe longer but that was probably my fastest trip to town and back ever.
When I got there the boxes was quiet and no movement. I voiced my concerns and she said oh no they've been crowing and rattling the boxes.
As I loaded them up only movement was from one box. I decided to get loaded and haul butt home. I surely didn't want to see what I expected to. Well at least the rooster or cockerel made it.
Got home and finally heard some commotion in one box. As I opened it he came flying up in the air and about hit me in the head. Caught him mid air.
I've decided he must have been so thankful that he couldn't help but to jump into my arms.
Got him 8n the pen and prepared for the worst.
One by one I opened the boxes and found everyone was alive and seemed no worse for wear.
Got them all situated and got them some water with electrolytes. Decided to make sure they were hydrated before eating so gave them 2 hours then fed them. They were thirsty and hungry but besides that they seemed fine. Figured I'd better keep an eye on them so spent half that day just staring at them.
They are so beautiful more so then in their pics.
It all worked out in the end but oh boy what an emotional draining day and a half.
Not sure I want to go through that ever again.
So how long can a bird survive in the mail?
These made it for about 40 hours from Kats place to mine.

 

[Kiki]

I think I'm still traumatised a bit. I still seem over worried something is going to happen to them.
Anyways here's the rounded off times of their trip.
These are 4 all pretty much adult birds. Express shipping. Shipped wed. Afternoon expected delivery thurs by 3:00 pm.
Left her PO at 4 pm.
Arrived in Houston at about 6 pm. Wed
Arrived in KC at about 11 pm thurs
Arrived my PO about 5 am Fri.

Now here's some insight into my brain.
I'd never shipped or received adult birds before so it was a worry from the start.
Left her PO and landed in Houston 2 hours later. So far so good but that's as far as that went.
Checked status and they just sat and sat. We both tried to figure out what was happening? Maybe just not updating? Idk. By wed morning it was still showing them in Houston. I checked it about every 17 1/2 minutes until my PO opened.
I called and tried to get answers I mean these are live birds. They need to at least be moving. Its been like 15 hours.
PO wasn't getting any more info then myself and played phone tag between herself, myself and both the Houston and KC hubs.
Kat and I played tag through the day also. 3:00 came and went and still no change.
It was crazy. What the heck was the usps doing.
I was worried. This whole deal just seemed meant to be. I was happy, Kat was happy and the PO was gonna kill these birds and screw this whole thing up.
About now's when I was thinking @KikisGirls is in Houston isn't she? I should get a hold of her and have her go put a foot in someone's @$$.
You guys are jacking with living creatures. Extremely beautiful living creatures that I knew what went into making them.
D@mn usps. It was a crazy day. Worrying, hoping, trying to distract myself, thinking maybe this wasn't meant to be and the poor birds.
Finally at about 11 pm I got a text. Yes a text. I got tired of checking so I changed it to text update.
Birds were in KC.
After like 29 hours from the time they arrived in Houston. Ya 29 hours plus 2 hours plus I'm not sure.. How long can a bird survive without water? IDK but was so worried.
I couldn't sleep hardly at all. I fell asleep at about midnight and was up at 5. 5:05 I got an update text that they were at my PO. That's about 25 minutes away so 10 minutes later I was at the PO. Ok maybe longer but that was probably my fastest trip to town and back ever.
When I got there the boxes was quiet and no movement. I voiced my concerns and she said oh no they've been crowing and rattling the boxes.
As I loaded them up only movement was from one box. I decided to get loaded and haul butt home. I surely didn't want to see what I expected to. Well at least the rooster or cockerel made it.
Got home and finally heard some commotion in one box. As I opened it he came flying up in the air and about hit me in the head. Caught him mid air.
I've decided he must have been so thankful that he couldn't help but to jump into my arms.
Got him 8n the pen and prepared for the worst.
One by one I opened the boxes and found everyone was alive and seemed no worse for wear.
Got them all situated and got them some water with electrolytes. Decided to make sure they were hydrated before eating so gave them 2 hours then fed them. They were thirsty and hungry but besides that they seemed fine. Figured I'd better keep an eye on them so spent half that day just staring at them.
They are so beautiful more so then in their pics.
It all worked out in the end but oh boy what an emotional draining day and a half.
Not sure I want to go through that ever again.
So how long can a bird survive in the mail?
These made it for about 40 hours from Kats place to mine.

Our post offices suck about updating the shipping info.
They are HORRIBLE about it.


You should have contacted me...I would have run over to the PO and threw a fit for ya, after I found them and gave them some water.


I'm glad they made it safely.

 

[WVduckchick]

I think I'm still traumatised a bit. I still seem over worried something is going to happen to them.
Anyways here's the rounded off times of their trip.
These are 4 all pretty much adult birds. Express shipping. Shipped wed. Afternoon expected delivery thurs by 3:00 pm.
Left her PO at 4 pm.
Arrived in Houston at about 6 pm. Wed
Arrived in KC at about 11 pm thurs
Arrived my PO about 5 am Fri.

Now here's some insight into my brain.
I'd never shipped or received adult birds before so it was a worry from the start.
Left her PO and landed in Houston 2 hours later. So far so good but that's as far as that went.
Checked status and they just sat and sat. We both tried to figure out what was happening? Maybe just not updating? Idk. By wed morning it was still showing them in Houston. I checked it about every 17 1/2 minutes until my PO opened.
I called and tried to get answers I mean these are live birds. They need to at least be moving. Its been like 15 hours.
PO wasn't getting any more info then myself and played phone tag between herself, myself and both the Houston and KC hubs.
Kat and I played tag through the day also. 3:00 came and went and still no change.
It was crazy. What the heck was the usps doing.
I was worried. This whole deal just seemed meant to be. I was happy, Kat was happy and the PO was gonna kill these birds and screw this whole thing up.
About now's when I was thinking @KikisGirls is in Houston isn't she? I should get a hold of her and have her go put a foot in someone's @$$.
You guys are jacking with living creatures. Extremely beautiful living creatures that I knew what went into making them.
D@mn usps. It was a crazy day. Worrying, hoping, trying to distract myself, thinking maybe this wasn't meant to be and the poor birds.
Finally at about 11 pm I got a text. Yes a text. I got tired of checking so I changed it to text update.
Birds were in KC.
After like 29 hours from the time they arrived in Houston. Ya 29 hours plus 2 hours plus I'm not sure.. How long can a bird survive without water? IDK but was so worried.
I couldn't sleep hardly at all. I fell asleep at about midnight and was up at 5. 5:05 I got an update text that they were at my PO. That's about 25 minutes away so 10 minutes later I was at the PO. Ok maybe longer but that was probably my fastest trip to town and back ever.
When I got there the boxes was quiet and no movement. I voiced my concerns and she said oh no they've been crowing and rattling the boxes.
As I loaded them up only movement was from one box. I decided to get loaded and haul butt home. I surely didn't want to see what I expected to. Well at least the rooster or cockerel made it.
Got home and finally heard some commotion in one box. As I opened it he came flying up in the air and about hit me in the head. Caught him mid air.
I've decided he must have been so thankful that he couldn't help but to jump into my arms.
Got him 8n the pen and prepared for the worst.
One by one I opened the boxes and found everyone was alive and seemed no worse for wear.
Got them all situated and got them some water with electrolytes. Decided to make sure they were hydrated before eating so gave them 2 hours then fed them. They were thirsty and hungry but besides that they seemed fine. Figured I'd better keep an eye on them so spent half that day just staring at them.
They are so beautiful more so then in their pics.
It all worked out in the end but oh boy what an emotional draining day and a half.
Not sure I want to go through that ever again.
So how long can a bird survive in the mail?
These made it for about 40 hours from Kats place to mine.

Heck, I was on the edge of my seat just reading that! I’m so glad it worked out. They are fabulously gorgeous!

I shipped 2 8-month old bantam cockerels from WV to Indiana, and they arrived in 20 hours. At his door! I was amazed.