So far we have around a dozen goose eggs in the incubator. They are on day 3 now out of 28. Fingers crossed for a good hatch, this is the first time I've ever incubated eggs.
Poultry-wise, I picked up 3 Pekin ducklings and 5 Rhode Island Red chicks earlier this week. Red hens will be kept for egg-laying, the ducks will be raised and processed. I plan on trying to pick up a few more ducks and hopefully some Cornish Rock chicks early next week, if they have them by then.
I still want some quail and a few heritage turkey hens, and I will need to make a decision on whether I want a rooster or not. I'm in no rush for those however. I'm hoping to attend a poultry swap in May, and will see about locating some of these at that time. I may see about some Silkie hens as well, they are excellent setters.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Handling Others in Youth
There are rules in place for the youth. I may not agree with them, but I expect that if they are going to be put into place, they ought to be upheld. By ARBA rules, a child between the ages of 5 and 18 only may enter rabbits they own in youth. They must carry the rabbit to the table on their own and put it into the coop and remove it from the coop after judging. Children and young adults outside of this range can and should be encouraged to enter in the open classes. One of the reasons I'm sure it to ensure that the children exhibiting rabbits are the actual primary caretakers of those animals. I am a big supporter of self evaluation of individual children to determine their maturity and ability to care for and show a rabbit.
However, when it becomes plainly clear and obvious to the other youth that a child is too young, then it becomes the parent's responsibility. Perhaps in this case, the parent didn't know, didn't realize, but if so, why didn't anyone enlighten her? My child had to learn an important lesson: that it is not worth the energy expenditure it takes to be upset over someone else breaking the rules. A 4 year old girl who was not even interested in any way in the goings-on of the show won BOB. The girls did not groom her rabbit, was not required to listen or even observe the judging, and didn't seem to care either way that her rabbit won such a great honor. The rabbit was nice, and sadly it would only make my child appear to be petty if she said anything about what happened. As such I instructed her to simply, "let it go." With luck, sometime between now and the next show, someone, perhaps a person that has no personal stake, will inform that other mother of the rules and expectations of the fellow youth competitors.
I personally welcome the mother and the daughter with open arms, in the open class until the little girl becomes old enough to show in youth per ARBA regulations. If they are going to create a rule, it ought to be enforced.
However, when it becomes plainly clear and obvious to the other youth that a child is too young, then it becomes the parent's responsibility. Perhaps in this case, the parent didn't know, didn't realize, but if so, why didn't anyone enlighten her? My child had to learn an important lesson: that it is not worth the energy expenditure it takes to be upset over someone else breaking the rules. A 4 year old girl who was not even interested in any way in the goings-on of the show won BOB. The girls did not groom her rabbit, was not required to listen or even observe the judging, and didn't seem to care either way that her rabbit won such a great honor. The rabbit was nice, and sadly it would only make my child appear to be petty if she said anything about what happened. As such I instructed her to simply, "let it go." With luck, sometime between now and the next show, someone, perhaps a person that has no personal stake, will inform that other mother of the rules and expectations of the fellow youth competitors.
I personally welcome the mother and the daughter with open arms, in the open class until the little girl becomes old enough to show in youth per ARBA regulations. If they are going to create a rule, it ought to be enforced.
The Streaker
"Yes, that's my daughter..." *sigh* Anyone that has ever potty-trained a toddler knows that when they are on the cusp, if they say they have to go, that means better find a toilet NOW. Apparently my youngest daughter, Aydi, is no different. Today at the show, the first time I took her to the toilet, she paid careful attention to it's location in the very large show-room. Thereafter she took it upon herself to get to the potty when she needed to go without alerting me. There seems to be one slight problem however, her habit is to push down her pants and then run to the toilet room. Therefore, it almost became a common occurrence to witness her streaking (slowly mind you, she'd leave her pants around her ankles) across the rear of the showroom in a direct line towards the bathroom! I can think of at least half a dozen times today. It was certainly embarrassing for me to have my child constantly streaking through the room! On the other hand, any parents that were there I'm sure could sympathize, and I know several snickers and a few out-right laughs were emitted every time she ran to the potty today!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Advancing
A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. I finally found employment as a retail store assistant manager. The geese continued laying eggs in a different nest, I had been collecting them, but decided last week to see if they could do it themselves. I have half a dozen in the house awaiting an incubator, the geese have an additional 5 in their nest. They are not setting as of yet. I brought in half a dozen laying hens, of which only one is laying consistently (a green egger), though a second laid one egg a couple days ago (then stopped). And the rabbits finally started kindling, we are up to 5 litters: 3 Holland, 1 Jersey Wooly, and 1 AFL.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
New hens & poultry
Today I added half a dozen laying hens back to our 'homestead'. They are simple mix-breed girls, supposedly 6-8 months of age, but most of them appear to be younger. They are pretty girls, 3 are black, 2 are mostly white with some gray speckling, and one is a beautiful white and black speckled hen with a muff. She happens to be the only one of them currently laying and a great surprise, she's a green egger! I had those before, so I'm grateful to have another here.
I don't have a rooster, and am not worried about breeding these ladies. They are here to fulfill a purpose and that is to produce eggs for our family. I'm very grateful to have them here and to have made a new friend in the person that took the time to meet with me and talk to me about her hens.
Next I'll be looking for Coturnix quail for eggs, heritage turkeys for eggs and a couple meat turkeys for meat, Pekin ducks for eggs and meat, and also some chicks. I'm not sure on egg layer breeds yet, but I'll be aiming to get at least half a dozen Cornish Rock chicks to raise out for meat.
I don't have a rooster, and am not worried about breeding these ladies. They are here to fulfill a purpose and that is to produce eggs for our family. I'm very grateful to have them here and to have made a new friend in the person that took the time to meet with me and talk to me about her hens.
Next I'll be looking for Coturnix quail for eggs, heritage turkeys for eggs and a couple meat turkeys for meat, Pekin ducks for eggs and meat, and also some chicks. I'm not sure on egg layer breeds yet, but I'll be aiming to get at least half a dozen Cornish Rock chicks to raise out for meat.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Disappointment and Redemption
The goose eggs are gone. There were 3 in the nest, but yesterday I noticed the goose was out with the others of the flock, therefore not on the nest. When I went to check and collect the eggs, the nest was empty. I will be setting another live trap in the barn today.
I'm also waiting to hear about a job, not the best job I could have, but one that better suits my background I think. I'm still waiting though, if I've not heard by tomorrow, I'll be calling them to see what has happened to delay.
On a brighter side though, I have finally managed to locate some actively laying hens, or at least they are according to the person with whom I spoke earlier this morning. I want the hens for eggs for our family. Again, I have to make the barn safe as I wish to keep the hens safe and collect their eggs for family use.
I am also waiting on 3 does to kindle this week. Two are AFLs, Pie and Mambo, and one is a nice little broken sable point HL.
I'm also waiting to hear about a job, not the best job I could have, but one that better suits my background I think. I'm still waiting though, if I've not heard by tomorrow, I'll be calling them to see what has happened to delay.
On a brighter side though, I have finally managed to locate some actively laying hens, or at least they are according to the person with whom I spoke earlier this morning. I want the hens for eggs for our family. Again, I have to make the barn safe as I wish to keep the hens safe and collect their eggs for family use.
I am also waiting on 3 does to kindle this week. Two are AFLs, Pie and Mambo, and one is a nice little broken sable point HL.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Clearing up some Misconceptions
I'd like to take a moment to clear up a few rabbit genetic misconceptions.
First, breeding chocolate into reds or torts will NOT clean up the color on those animals! It will NOT remove smut issues. It may hide it better, but that is only because chocolate against red tends to be harder to see. The problem will STILL be present! So to all those breeders out there constantly telling new red/tort breeders to cross in some chocolate to clean up the color, STOP IT! You are not helping them in any way! You are merely perpetuating a problem that already has enough issues clouding it and making it more difficult for those people to succeed. If you want good cleanly colored reds and torts, cross to clean colored reds and torts! Want more rufus factor? Cross to a brighter colored animal! Even if it's not a lot brighter, it will get you moving into the right direction. Want to be able to see your progress in the line? Then keep to a genetically black based variety!
Second, it does NOT help anyone in the fancy to keep rabbits that produce white spots or white nails and just "cross those to brokens to 'fix' the problem." The problem is keeping them in the first place. Cull those babies OUT!! Because it is inevitable that sooner or later, someone is going to use those animals, get promising youngsters after crossing and then have their hearts broken because the animal has a DQ white spot or nail! And please STOP telling youth to pluck out white spots before showing, it is ILLEGAL to do so, and telling the youth to do it taints our future generation breeders and perpetuates the issue. Not to mention they could get in serious trouble for it. Adults are supposed to set examples for our youth, so DO IT.
Finally, once and for all, linebreeding IS inbreeding. I get so sick of people telling me they linebreed, but they would NEVER inbreed, because inbreeding is just terrible! Sometimes I want to laugh, other times I want to shake the person, most of the time I just shake my head. It's very difficult educating people when they've been given so much misinformation while they were newbies. The definition of inbreeding is the selective mating wherein both individuals are related in some way, no matter how minor. Crossing a pair of cousins that are separated by 6 generations is still inbreeding, though very minor. Crossing a parent to an offspring is the main definition for linebreeding, however breeding full-siblings or half siblings is no better or worse. Learn and understand what inbreeding can do for your herd. Understand the potential consequences and be ready to handle those if they come up. Otherwise, take the time to recognize when this quite powerful and useful breeding tool can and should be used in creating a herd that consistently produces top quality animals in all traits. It has been done and can be done by anyone that cares to learn.
That is all... for now. ;)
First, breeding chocolate into reds or torts will NOT clean up the color on those animals! It will NOT remove smut issues. It may hide it better, but that is only because chocolate against red tends to be harder to see. The problem will STILL be present! So to all those breeders out there constantly telling new red/tort breeders to cross in some chocolate to clean up the color, STOP IT! You are not helping them in any way! You are merely perpetuating a problem that already has enough issues clouding it and making it more difficult for those people to succeed. If you want good cleanly colored reds and torts, cross to clean colored reds and torts! Want more rufus factor? Cross to a brighter colored animal! Even if it's not a lot brighter, it will get you moving into the right direction. Want to be able to see your progress in the line? Then keep to a genetically black based variety!
Second, it does NOT help anyone in the fancy to keep rabbits that produce white spots or white nails and just "cross those to brokens to 'fix' the problem." The problem is keeping them in the first place. Cull those babies OUT!! Because it is inevitable that sooner or later, someone is going to use those animals, get promising youngsters after crossing and then have their hearts broken because the animal has a DQ white spot or nail! And please STOP telling youth to pluck out white spots before showing, it is ILLEGAL to do so, and telling the youth to do it taints our future generation breeders and perpetuates the issue. Not to mention they could get in serious trouble for it. Adults are supposed to set examples for our youth, so DO IT.
Finally, once and for all, linebreeding IS inbreeding. I get so sick of people telling me they linebreed, but they would NEVER inbreed, because inbreeding is just terrible! Sometimes I want to laugh, other times I want to shake the person, most of the time I just shake my head. It's very difficult educating people when they've been given so much misinformation while they were newbies. The definition of inbreeding is the selective mating wherein both individuals are related in some way, no matter how minor. Crossing a pair of cousins that are separated by 6 generations is still inbreeding, though very minor. Crossing a parent to an offspring is the main definition for linebreeding, however breeding full-siblings or half siblings is no better or worse. Learn and understand what inbreeding can do for your herd. Understand the potential consequences and be ready to handle those if they come up. Otherwise, take the time to recognize when this quite powerful and useful breeding tool can and should be used in creating a herd that consistently produces top quality animals in all traits. It has been done and can be done by anyone that cares to learn.
That is all... for now. ;)
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