Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[199787]

Exactly! Well said. As with anything there are levels if quality and if you want top quality it costs extra. I have several breeds of hatchery birds in my hen house and they are cute enough and lay well, but SOP disasters, lol.

I have chosen the Langshan and the English Orps from Del to work on. I am learning all I can and hope to make great chickens.

 

[Sclark73]

Morning everyone!
Wow it's a crispy morning. Everything covered in white and a freezing fog. Very eerie sunrise.

Love all the pics from everyone. Thank you Terri for posting the Aussies. Handsome "daddy" but that is one wonky comb! Momma is pretty! Couldn't tell for sure from the pic but it looks like almost no cushion

. Appears she has a fairly clean face too. Unfortunately, after seeing the parents, I'm afraid I just might have two roos after all. The little one is so slow developing I can't be certain yet, but if she turns out to be "he", it will probably mean freezer camp and try again in the spring. Wish I had more room for "extras" but I just don't, not yet anyway, sigh. Going to be really hard after all the time and finances invested and I couldn't help but become attached to it. I did manage to learn a lot through the experience tho so for me that counts for quite a bit. I actually enjoy anything that turns into a learning experience, even if the ending isn't as hoped. I know my personality (look at my career choices) so what made me think I would be able to take a "casual" approach to poultry raising/breeding??

DELISHA- I totally understand the "Greenfire" pricing. It was the same for me when I was breeding top line working German Shepherds. If you truly care about the animals you are breeding and not just in it for the money, and are dedicated to maintaining and/or improving the breed(s) you are working with, it is rarely going to be a money making proposition and an impossible one on a small scale. Something most people will never understand. I think I am about to head down that same road with the Australorps. I was stunned to find out how few quality breeders for them there are in this country. I now have a better understanding what most American hatcheries are doing to the heritage breeds is not unlike what the puppy mills have done to quality breeds of dogs that became popular. Just sad.

Very well said Vicki!

Also forgot to share, I go pick up the Jeep today from Cadott. Leave after 2:30 and I guess was so excited to tell anyone.

 

[Terri O]

Good wet and chilly morning to you all. I am not going to help at Blackhorse Hill today...I need a day to stay at home and work here...yeah, that's the "plan." If I can just catch up on messages and replies and videos and funnys and.......

Well, something is weird with the smileys--

Lisa--I sure did not want to hear that! (about the roos) I can always give one to Amy. I saw her hen, she was very pretty. Yes mine are rough. THey are still penned with some other types and the pen is getting small because of the size and amount of birds in there! I am planning on moving out some today and reconfiguring the pens a bit...if it would just stop raining! The mud out there is incredible. I moved the rubber mats out so I could take the loader down there and scrape and then dump wood chips...yeah, it has rained nearly every day since. I cant go there with it so wet...the loader will get bogged down and the tires will spin...more mud in the making for sure!

I found a few new places in the barn where the hens have been laying eggs! What I wonder is how do the birds that free range 24/7 continue to lay with no lights or amenities while the birds in the laying flock that get fed good (expensive) food every day, have lights, water and nest boxes go on strike? It happens every year! I am kind of thinking of letting all my chickens go wild and then just keeping my show birds in pens. It would be a lot less work for sure!

So I brought home 3 ducks from Amy's. A Buff (Cuties, that one from your sis is definitely NOT a buff!) A muskovy cross and a Silvery harlequin drake...at least that is what I think he is. Since hers are used to being locked in at night I am hoping I can have them teach my renegades to go in too. Anyone wanna place bets on this working? LOL--

OK, I have to stop writing NOW...it is real chilly sitting here...I need to move and get warm. (and maybe get something done too!) Thinking now about moving furniture....

Have a productive day--TerriO

 

[cuties]

Ha terri, I think most of megs duck were mixes!

Lisa, they chew on houses?!
Clark, they let rabbits out?!


JUDY, want to get rid of that fence?! I think we will be needing a horse only area in the near future!! Lol

I agree on you guys totally with hatchery stock. That is why we have chose the breeders birds. I am gratefull for those of you here that helped us begin this journey!

 

[199787]

Ha terri, I think most of megs duck were mixes!

Lisa, they chew on houses?!
Clark, they let rabbits out?!


JUDY, want to get rid of that fence?! I think we will be needing a horse only area in the near future!! Lol

I agree on you guys totally with hatchery stock. That is why we have chose the breeders birds. I am gratefull for those of you here that helped us begin this journey!

When I had my minis the lived in a big pen attached to a large stall in the barn. They shared it with 4 goats and my St. Bernard. One big happy family!

Heck yah they will chew on the house, lol.

 

[chikenscratch]

Terri!! This has to be fom your olive egger!!!!!!! I can not beleive she would be laying already!!!!!
I love all of your pics!! Those langshan arebeautiful!

Cs, congrats on your new girl! Remember to introduce those treats bery slowly!

Clark, those are beauitfull babies!!

Ah thanks!

 

[Sclark73]

They let rabbits out all the time. Their so tame they don't go anywhere and are easy to catch. Im just surprised they've never been stepped on.

 

[irishrovr]

Dang horses were out this morning. They have over half a round bale in feeder but I guess the yard looks better to eat. Problem is they have the yard ran sacked. The rabbit cages are all tipped over and a mess. My palomino was the culprit this time it seems as she was leading the troop around. Anyone want rabbits? I have 7 that we are trying to get rid of as it didn't work out as my son planned on raising and selling them. Their are pure Satins, Mini Satin and Netherland Dwarf and Dwarf cross. Nice rabbits, but it's just too much.

I really, really wish I could take you up on the rabbits! I used to raise red satins and I had some New Zealands, Californians, lops and Dutch chocolates as well. I miss them! Hope you find them a nice new home!

 

[Sclark73]

I really, really wish I could take you up on the rabbits! I used to raise red satins and I had some New Zealands, lops and Dutch chocolates as well. I miss them! Hope you find them a nice new home!

I have a standard grey/white female(Pauline), mini black/white female, mini albino male(Joe Biffy, funny story, son thought he was saying Biffy in the song until I told him it was Diffy but he kept the name) and mini albino female(Bella) for purebred Satins and female satin x dwarf(Lila), male satin x dwarf(Denzel) and Pure Dwarf(Thumper) When we were taking them to swaps we had lowered them down to 7$ each or buy 2 or more 5$ and still noone would buy them but other people would sell theirs for 35$ and more and sell. I've never been one to overcharge for anything or out to make a fast buck either. We just wanted to pay for food and find them good homes. I guess I'm a horrible sales"woman" for rabbits, cars on the other hand I can sell to anyone. We did sell 2 males to friends from boyscouts, which I thought was wierd as who wants males but worked out good for us I guess.

 

[199787]

Sclark, hmmm. My guess on the sales is that they were priced to low possibly and thus people who don't know would think the quality was lower. Just a guess, but unless I really knew my rabbits (which I don't) I would pass on the same kind at $7 that someone else had for $35 thinking I was getting a better rabbit regardless of weather or not it was true.

I would love to have bunnies, but just don't want the added responsibility of more animals right now.

Lisa