Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[room onthebroom]

I won’t condemn hatcheries and farm stores, because they do provide a service in this country. Many people get their start that way. Then if they get serious about it, they figure out there are better sources, but getting them involved to begin with is still worth it.

Being open to other ways of doing anything poultry related is important too. You think your way is the only way! It may very well be, with your setup, but it’s not the world over. This site serves everything from keeping one hen for fresh eggs in a tiny backyard coop to huge farmers, raising chickens to butcher as food. I support any and every effort.
Thanks Kathy. You inspire me daily!

Exactly!

 

[casportpony]

Thanks Kathy. You inspire me daily

 

[room onthebroom]

x2!

 

[drumstick diva]

x3

 

[Shadrach]

I think many members are afraid to post. One said the other day they didn't want to post for the fear of being chastised for not euthanizing their bird!

This is similar to some of the comments I've had via PM's. Roughly they felt there wasn't any point putting their view because the 'badges' all group together and support each other. It's something I've seen a lot of on BYC.

 

[Shadrach]

Interesting just looking back on this thread.
It started with me having a rant about an Educator who as I believe many would agree gave bad advice.
I was polite and even provided a study and an alternative option. It seems she either didn't read the study, or didn't understand the implications of it. Apparently completely incapable of admitting she might be wrong.
If this had been say Chickens Really, probably the reaction would I believe have been different. However this person is one of the establishment.
Next there is the point that The Pond is according to those that post here, a safe place to come and have a rant.
I was quite careful to make clear that the rant wasn't directed at anyone here on the pond, because some here are extremely sensitive over any criticism be it well founded, or not, about BYC and the various enclaves that exist here.

I don't understand either.
There doesn't seem to be a coherent standard. We have some good ones here on the pond and even if I don't agree with them they generally know their stuff. There are others too.
I guess some must be 'political' appointments that support the site ethos.

A few posts further on it went from a general 'conversation' to a personal one with this.

Does that mean I don’t deserve my educator badge?

I had in an earlier post made quite clear I think my comments were not directed at anyone here on the pond.
Now I'm a stuck between a rock and and hard place. Do I lie and keep the peace, give a few group hugs and stfu, or do I try to make my point as honestly and fairly as I can (?)
The truth is what I posted here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-on-the-bank.1101447/page-15506#post-21460767

Debate by Internet seems to almost always have a problem with the word 'You'.
In 'proper' English this is overcome with with the use of 'one' to represent the general rather than the personal to some extent. For example,"One is less likely to cause offense if one uses the word 'one' rather than 'you' when debating contentious issues."

From here on things just deteriorated.
I made a mistake here in not taking into account the you and one communication problem I mentioned above.

That isn't quite what I had in mind when mentioning supporting the ethos of the site.
You could be perfectly pleasant while still condemning hatcheries and chick bins in farm stores.

Judging by this post WV has taken this as personal.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-on-the-bank.1101447/page-15508#post-21461674
and has launched a personal attack on me with 'you think your way is the only way!'

Then there is an example of what some complain about when being 'frightened' to post their opinion on BYC, the group support squad arrive and provide lots of hugs and emotional support pressing the like button.
It's incredible really, particularly given I had made it very clear at the outset that none of what I had written was directed at anyone on the pond!

 

[Shadrach]

I won’t condemn hatcheries and farm stores, because they do provide a service in this country. Many people get their start that way. Then if they get serious about it, they figure out there are better sources, but getting them involved to begin with is still worth it.

Being open to other ways of doing anything poultry related is important too. You think your way is the only way! It may very well be, with your setup, but it’s not the world over. This site serves everything from keeping one hen for fresh eggs in a tiny backyard coop to huge farmers, raising chickens to butcher as food. I support any and every effort.

And this is one of the reasons why you have an Educators badge as I have tried to point out earlier.
I won't support any system that throws half of the hatch into a grinding machine, posts day old chicks through the post. A brief read of the forums indicates that many of these chicks either die before arrival or suffer health problems later due to poor incubation practices and the trauma of transit.
And no, I don't think my way is the only way. I think there are other ways but the current practice isn't one of them.

 

[perchie.girl]

I buy from the farm store a local one. The chicks are robust healthy and cared for... They are Kept separately by breed and with a heat lamp if they so choose to have one.

Their people are educated about care of chickens and if one arrives in iffy condition they go home with one of the employees that know how to care for them.

Here in the US this is a big country and in order to get the breeds we want most chicks are shipped through the mail. The only time i ever ordered from a private breeder was one from northern California. Guinea Keets Came in one container all forty of them... There was watermellon zip tied to the sides of the box... And when they got home they were poopin Pink..... All forty made it.... Lost two because they were too little.... not from shipping issues but because they were in with 38 other Jack booters.... I didnt see em in time.

Now there are local breeders that I can purchase from.... but IF I didnt like their setup or care operation I would pass em by.

deb

 

[kwhites634]

I buy from the farm store a local one. The chicks are robust healthy and cared for... They are Kept separately by breed and with a heat lamp if they so choose to have one.

Their people are educated about care of chickens and if one arrives in iffy condition they go home with one of the employees that know how to care for them.

Here in the US this is a big country and in order to get the breeds we want most chicks are shipped through the mail. The only time i ever ordered from a private breeder was one from northern California. Guinea Keets Came in one container all forty of them... There was watermellon zip tied to the sides of the box... And when they got home they were poopin Pink..... All forty made it.... Lost two because they were too little.... not from shipping issues but because they were in with 38 other Jack booters.... I didnt see em in time.

Now there are local breeders that I can purchase from.... but IF I didnt like their setup or care operation I would pass em by.

deb

I'll buy from Southern States (our regional co-op) if I (or a broody hen) don't hatch my own eggs. A year ago I bought 5 Buff Orpingtons from them and never had a problem with any of them, other than one of them turning out to be a rooster. On the other hand, many years ago I ordered (from another store in the same chain) pullets & a cockerel that were supposed to be Rhode Island Reds, but were actually Red Sex Links. Good birds, just not what I ordered.

 

[sourland]

Ripples on the Pond. Good morning, Good Folks. My lily pad was rocking so that I became seasick.

Princess just woke up, and as I went into the bedroom to kiss her I had an inadvertent gaseous release. She immediately said, "You can't blame that on Dani anymore." Another reason to miss our girl.

Tonight is the last performance of her show, and tomorrow they take down the set.