The Old Folks Home

[Pyxis]

I don't get notifications (don't know why) but thank you. I found it! 

Also found 6 eggs on ebay for 35$ but they're gone this morning. 

I wouldn't buy eggs from eBay for this breed unless you know for a fact the seller is reputable. A member on the Games For Eggs thread just bought eBay eggs and so far has hatched one that looks like an australorp chick and one that might possibly be a cemani.

I'm saying this as someone who has been in this breed for years - if the price seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.

Also, never ever buy eggs without seeing pictures of the parent stock. For example, even if they say they have birds from a good line - GFF, TMA, my line, CJ's line, etc, that does NOT mean their birds are good quality. This breed is a work in progress and not all chicks hatch ready to go as breeders, and not all chicks that look good at hatch grow up and are good enough to be bred. I know at least a couple instances of someone hatching chicks, selling off all the good looking ones to turn a quick profit, keeping back all the ones that SHOULD have been culls, and then using them to churn out more eggs that they could sell to people to make more money even though those birds shouldn't really have been used to breed at all. It's all about money for some people with this breed, unfortunately.

If you do want some of these eggs for not too much, I currently have an auction going in the 24 hour auction thread for some that are probably pure but might not be so I'm selling them at a steep discount. Or I can point you to several other breeders (CJWaldon, RavynFallen) whose birds I have seen myself and whose eggs I have personally hatched that I know will give you some really nice chicks

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you for the vote of confidence, @Pyxis but I'm still a raw newbie to the breed, lol... and all the credit for the breeding of Shadrach goes where it's due to @cjwaldon ... I'm working hard on hatching out all I can currently, though they've now gone broody, to see exactly how the offspring turn out before I send anything out at all... I may make mistakes but I want to make sure I know what they throw and be able to give full disclosure to anyone interested in them...

For now, I still highly recommend anyome wanting any of this breed to go to you or cj first...

 

[1kluckychik]

We have never given any of our chickens de wormers or anything other than medicated chick starter. Could some of you please share what you do to prevent or treat parasites? I have not noticed any signs of any problems except for a 3 year old cream legbar hen that has laid 5 eggs in her lifetime. Most of our flocks are moulting (except our ayam cemanis) and egg production has almost halted. Thanks in advance

 

[1kluckychik]

Also have any of you used Zyfend?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Quote:

Quote:

Thank you for the vote of confidence, @Pyxis but I'm still a raw newbie to the breed, lol... and all the credit for the breeding of Shadrach goes where it's due to @cjwaldon ... I'm working hard on hatching out all I can currently, though they've now gone broody, to see exactly how the offspring turn out before I send anything out at all... I may make mistakes but I want to make sure I know what they throw and be able to give full disclosure to anyone interested in them...

For now, I still highly recommend anyome wanting any of this breed to go to you or cj first...

Could not agree with Pyxis and RavynFallen more.
I don't have the experience with purebreds/breeding stock for birds but I do with other breeds of animals.
I've always maintained that the worse thing for any breed is for it to become popular.

I'd like to add that just because a person is a "purebred" breeder it doesn't necessarily mean they are a GOOD purebred breeder.
Breeders who put the breed first exactly as Pyxis and Ravyn just did are few and far between.
From their posts above, I'd travel many miles to buy their stock because they're cognizant of producing birds of quality...not just making a quick buck.
Too many breeders concede to keeping substandard breeding stock.
Breeders should keep and breed from their very best.
The offspring they offer for sale should be of no lesser quality than they would use for breeding stock for themselves.
Pyxis is shooting straight from the hip and is honest about the eggs. Very commendable. Many would pass them as purebreds without a second thought.

I'd ask a lot of questions. Just because stock looks good...it doesn't always mean it IS good.
Some breeders don't necessarily cull for genetic faults. They may not be aware...or they may just not care.
Being new here, I've already seen the posts about the Cemani, the Cream Legbars and the Svort Honas.
Nothing ruins a breed quicker than substandard specimens.


Quick horror story:

We were new breeders of registered CKSA Katahdin sheep. 4 separate lines; 30 ewe lambs & 2 rams that I personally hand picked.
One line of 10 had 4 prolapses; related in the pedigrees, scrapped the entire line as purebreds...but couldn't afford to sell them for nothing.
Kept as commercial females and offspring marketed straight for slaughter, no chance of others purchasing these offspring.

An older, more experienced breeder in the registry who was branching into another breed offered to buy the entire scrapped line to breed to the new breed.
$500 vs a $50 cull animal was enticing but I would never consider such an offer. Vaginal prolapsing is considered a hereditary fault.
Fast forward a few years, a neighbor purchased a small flock of ewes from this "breeder" (I only found out after the fact...much too late)
The ENTIRE flock prolapsed, anything surviving he gave it away. Both Katahdins and Dorpers peaked years ago...and then fell off the map.
Gee, I wonder why?

SCG...this was not so much meant for you specifically...more for any guests reading these posts.
Everyone here has years of experience on me.

Sorry, it's a sore spot. Venting did feel good.

( I have it under lock and key...but once in a while the negativity sneeks out on me.)

 

[ronott1]

We have never given any of our chickens de wormers or anything other than medicated chick starter. Could some of you please share what you do to prevent or treat parasites? I have not noticed any signs of any problems except for a 3 year old cream legbar hen that has laid 5 eggs in her lifetime. Most of our flocks are moulting (except our ayam cemanis) and egg production has almost halted. Thanks in advance

The best thing to do is to send in a poo sample or take it to a vet in your area that does fecal float tests. Treat based on what is found.

Also have any of you used Zyfend?

See the answer to the last question. Use the medicine that is best for the parasite removal.

The last couple of people that followed my suggestion found that their flock was worm free! My flock was too so no treatment needed.

 

[pennyJo1960]

@1kluckychik the chances are you need to do nothing
take a sample to a vet do not treat with meds otherwise
is what is being recommended

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Agree on sending in a sample. My large animal vet was out here 3 weeks ago and was telling me that our area is having very resistant internal worms because people are over worming. She recommended taking in feces twice a year (spring and fall) and quarterly if I was really worried, and treating if they found a sufficient load.

It's normal this time of year with molt and less light for birds to not lay or lay less.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

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.

 

[Pyxis]

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. 

If you want them just for eye candy then it doesn't matter much, I totally get not wanting to spend a ton of money on birds you don't plan to breed or really do anything with except keep as pets My only worry would be that if you like the way they look and want them because of that if you go with a bad 'breeder' you may end with something very different, but if you're cool with that then there's no problem. I wish you luck in finding some for yourself!

Here's my post, although the bidding is up to $35 now.