The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

Thank you for understanding.


A few months ago I had to go to someones office for a meeting. I sat down at her little table with the rest of the group and saw she had a quilted table runner on it. I glanced at it, then asked her if she made it. She said that she was so very not talented but wanted a quilted something for her table and got it off Etsy.

As I sat through the meeting, bored, I began looking at the runner more carefully. From afar it wasn't my style fabric or pattern wise but looked fine. Up close I could see areas where seams had given away because the person sewing wasn't careful to maintain proper seam allowances. I also saw sections where the person used the selvage (holed edge at end of fabric to hold it to the manufacturing process which is supposed to be trimmed off before using the fabric) or even cut something too short and used it anyway, batting exposed. It was, from all angles, an awfully poor made table runner.

But the person who bought it didn't know that, and everyone else around the table didn't know it, either. And maybe the person making it was new to the art, which would make the mistakes forgivable. It doesn't really matter. She was happy with it. It served its purpose. I really wanted to go back home and make her something quality to put there, but I realized she wouldn't know the difference or even really care. She's happy.


Looks like you're in Canada? Can you ship eggs to USA?

 

[cjwaldon]

Not trying to get into an argument but here goes. While I appreciate the advice, I don't want (maybe closer to need) show quality birds. I'm not planning on showing. I can't afford them nor do I have the means to keep them up. I don't have a breeding program or even space to do that. I have zero interest in breeding for perfection or standard (but I respect others that do and I love looking at well bred birds). I simply love the way certain breeds look and want them in my very mixed flock so that I can see them. Mutts are my favorite breed and I love being able to tell each bird apart in my flock based on coloring. Maybe I'm getting an off shoot brand with cheap eggs but I'm the kinda girl that drives a cheap Suzuki instead of a Toyota because in the end I just want to get there. I understand the ramifications for the rest of you but for my purpose(s) a subpar specimen would be fine.

I have chickens for many reasons - meat/eggs/entertainment so for me to get a "kinda" bird at a reduced price is fine with me - it allows me a small joy of seeing something unique without worrying that a fox will eat my 400 dollar bird.

Hope you don't mind my difference in opinion.

Couldn't find your post on the 24 hour auction - went back a few pages.

I understand your point of view. No need to pay big bucks if you don't care what the bird looks like. However, you like a certain breed because of it's very unique characteristics. If you go with the cheapest seller, especially a seller that will not provide photos of parent stock, not only will you likely get birds that don't possess those unique characteristics that attracted you to the breed to begin with, but you are supporting and encouraging those who's priority is mass production rather than quality production. And this goes for any breed, not just Ayam Cemani. If you don't care if a Silver Laced Wyandotte is actually laced or not, or if you don't care if a cochin has feathered legs, if you don't care if an Ameracauna has muffs, if you don't care if a Marans lays brown eggs . . . then purchase from a hatchery. Please don't support people who will end up destroying the breed because they are not even trying to maintain the characteristics that breed is known for. This is especially relevant with the more expensive breeds. The larger the price disparity between the best breeders and the cheapest breeders, the more likely you will end up with something that more or less does not represent that breed. For example, you like Ayam Cemani for their black combs. Are you still going to like your "Ayam Cemani" with pump round body, white earlobes, red shoulders, and bright red comb? You don't have to buy "show quality", you can still get nice yard birds without paying top dollar, but please don't support those who aren't the least bit interested in improving the breed, whichever breed you fancy.

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you for understanding. 
Looks like you're in Canada? Can you ship eggs to USA?

Oh, I'm in Vermont

And I totally agree with CJ, try not to support bad breeders when you do buy some eggs/chicks.

 

[cjwaldon]

Thank you for understanding.


A few months ago I had to go to someones office for a meeting. I sat down at her little table with the rest of the group and saw she had a quilted table runner on it. I glanced at it, then asked her if she made it. She said that she was so very not talented but wanted a quilted something for her table and got it off Etsy.

As I sat through the meeting, bored, I began looking at the runner more carefully. From afar it wasn't my style fabric or pattern wise but looked fine. Up close I could see areas where seams had given away because the person sewing wasn't careful to maintain proper seam allowances. I also saw sections where the person used the selvage (holed edge at end of fabric to hold it to the manufacturing process which is supposed to be trimmed off before using the fabric) or even cut something too short and used it anyway, batting exposed. It was, from all angles, an awfully poor made table runner.

But the person who bought it didn't know that, and everyone else around the table didn't know it, either. And maybe the person making it was new to the art, which would make the mistakes forgivable. It doesn't really matter. She was happy with it. It served its purpose. I really wanted to go back home and make her something quality to put there, but I realized she wouldn't know the difference or even really care. She's happy.


Looks like you're in Canada? Can you ship eggs to USA?

But was she happy? Or did she accept it simply because it served a purpose? And how do you know everyone else around the table didn't know the work was shoddy? I would have noticed all those things, but I would have been polite and not said anything. Yet the person who sold it made money, and was therefor encouraged to continue cutting corners, because the purchaser either was unaware or didn't care.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

But was she happy? Or did she accept it simply because it served a purpose? And how do you know everyone else around the table didn't know the work was shoddy? I would have noticed all those things, but I would have been polite and not said anything. Yet the person who sold it made money, and was therefor encouraged to continue cutting corners, because the purchaser either was unaware or didn't care.

Because she said she loved it and as I walked back to my office with another employee (who knows I sew) I brought up the runner. The other person didn't notice (but also doesn't sew).

My point is, there's options available for everyone.

 

[microchick]

@Wickedchicken6, you can vent all you want because I totally understand your horror story with the Katahdin sheep. We went through our own horror story with them after accepting a gift of 4 bred ewes in exchange for letting our Amish neighbor to graze his flock of 30+ on our property. We were neophytes when it came to sheep so he assured us that Katahdins were worm resistant and he had never had to worm them......later to find that they were dying off like flies at a regular basis from guess what? Fatal parasite loads.

We spent a couple three hundred dollars on treating those sheep after loosing two young ewes. We finally gave the farmer his surviving sheep, banned them from grazing on our property and later found out that he had sold them all and replaced them with what he said were Katahdin crosses that were supposed to be more resistant to parasites because he didn't want to do chemical worming.

Hearing this I went out and began pulling up fencing. When DH asked me why I told him so nobody played on our sympathies tempting us to give into him grazing sheep on our land which we found out was carrying a heavy worm load in the grass.

To this day I have coccidia pop up in my chickens.

And yes, it does occasionally feel really good to rant.

@Superchemicalgirl are you sure we weren't twins separated at birth? I feel the very same way. I love my mutts. I love their variety and colors. While I have trouble telling my Buff O's and Welsummers apart unless I have them banded, I can always pick out one of the mutts and remember their names. I have also noticed that the mutts are stronger and more resilient than my pure bred birds.

I have a great respect for owners who are breeding for perfection. It's just not for me.

 

[Bunnylady]

To this day I have coccidia pop up in my chickens.

Coccidia are host-specific; meaning that they infect only one species of animal. While your experience with the sheep was regrettable (and expensive!), the cocci in your chickens is an entirely separate issue, and has no involvement with those unfortunate sheep.

 

[perchie.girl]

Very good discussion I must say.... I am of the want em because they are interesting but dont care if they arent to the SOP.

I just care that they are healthy hearty and wily..... Big predator population here. From coyotes to Mountain lions and worse yet the occasional domestic dog.

I do know about breeding and blood lines through having horses for almost fifty years. Conformation and Good genetics are what drive me not the running trend. Too many bloodlines have been bred to the point where they arent viable except to look pretty. But they cant move and cant stand up to hard work. Or they have a few brain cells missing or off kilter.

I want chickens for entertainment and eggs and meat.... I want Guinea Fowl for the same reason but hope to be able to sell a few locally. And want a few goats for brush duty. and horse company. Four is my limit... I may go with retired milkers but i prefer Wethers.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

To this day I have coccidia pop up in my chickens.

Coccidia are host-specific; meaning that they infect only one species of animal. While your experience with the sheep was regrettable (and expensive!), the cocci in your chickens is an entirely separate issue, and has no involvement with those unfortunate sheep.
Yep... horses and cows in the same pasture most parasites dont cross species so the parasite load winds up being lower.

deb

 

[pennyJo1960]

I would love to have the cattle and horses of my youth problem is..
they cannot be found long since gone and I would not be able to care
for them as should now.. that is why nothing is as before
not enough coffee had fix typos