Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Quail_Antwerp]

Ok so where do I begin???

As I said earlier this week, we went to the Family Fun Field Day in Fredricksburg Ohio....Very unlikely that I'll ever venture to another one!

First, people, if you go to a public place that has literally hundreds (no exaggeration!) of other families with their 16 kids...then for God's sake don't expect to turn your kids loose with wild abandon and expect to be able to FIND them 30 minutes later!!!!

Ok, so now that I've got that out of the way...no, on second thought..you wouldn't believe the rude, billigerent brats that were there!! and NO PARENTS or responsible adults anywhere NEAR their little bodies...kids pushing infront of other kids, kids picking boogers and flicking them at others....and more kids just crying for no other reason than "they didn't get to pet the pony."

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???

Me thinks too many parents forgot their senses and their belts.

Ok, ON to the purpose of the day!! Other than the screaming brats (not mine, mind you! I kept mine on a tight, short leash the entire day. They didn't step ONE TOE out of line, but unfortunately didn't get turns on some of the kid things because of the uncontrolled child population) it was a good day.

When we first got up to where the booths were, we got to see sheep herding. My kids thought it was great that the dogs knew just what to do when they were given the commands.

Then we started wandering through the many booths and tents. It was hard to know where to start, and there was just no way to see/hear everything. Plus, it was a lot of walking and Ernie's back started to get to him not very long into it. We did stop at a table where they had grassfed beef and chicken samples. Unfortunately, the meat was frozen so the samples weren't ready for tasting. We did get to taste sample some home made whole grain bread. The Amish lady that baked it even grinds all her own grains, that is grown on their own CSA. Pretty cool, huh?
This is a picture of her table, taken with her permission.

She and her husband also had grassfed cheese from their grassfed dairy cows, and had out free samples of the cheese. It was baby swiss, which I don't care for, so I skipped that sampled. Ernie and the kids all tried it, though, and said it was delicious.

Unfortunately, I only caught the end of Joel Salatin's talk. Can't tell you much about it, except I was a bit disappointed in the man. I did get his picture, but for the most part, couldn't ask him any questions since his attention was for the most part wrapped up with the doe eyed *** who's book he was signing. (Fill in the blank as you wish.) I did tell him, or try to, about my Sufficient Self friends, and how I'd first heard of some of his methods through my friends who are hands on trying his methods. "Uh oh Ok." Honest to God that was his ENTIRE conversation with me after, "Yes, you can take my picture."

So from there we headed over to let the kids play on some of the playground stuff that was brought in just for the day. They wanted to practice milking a cow on a fake cow that squirted water, but there was a swarm of unsupervised kids surrounding the cow, and even when we asked if they'd let our kids have a turn, they ignored us.

We moved on to the animal exhibits. My kids got to see a percheron (sp?) horse, and they were quite impressed with his size. They also saw a lot of chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, and a very fat little black piglet.

We saw some displays of some neat-o chicken coops, and Ernie took his time checking them out and memorizing how they look so we can try our hand at building them or something similiar later (because no way am I going to pay $1000 for something I can build for less than $500!!!!!!!)

I have to get dinner started, so I'm going to end this for now....Chicken Swap Adventures when I come back!!!

*insert evil grin*

 

[lorihadams]

Can't wait for this......I can't believe Ernie let you go to a CHICKEN SWAP!!! He must be just as addicted as you are! Don't tell anyone but secretly I think my hubby is too Sorry the farm day thing was a bust, sounds like there were just too many people there (by people I mean spoiled little children with parents that don't know how to parent )

 

[Beekissed]

Joel must be letting his fame go to his head...... :/ Looks like he's gained a little wt. also. Hate when you meet someone you've been longing to meet and they turn out to be a jerk.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Couple things I forgot to mention about the family fun day in my last post. While we were there, we heard several pages of parents looking for lost toddlers and lost children looking for parents!!!

Also, from the couple with the homemade whole grain breed and grassfed cheese, we gleaned information regarding CSA's and tips about starting ones own CSA. It's something we may seriously consider and look into.

Last night I while talking with Becky on the phone we made arrangements for me to pick up a trio of Bourbon Reds for her at the Mt. Hope Swap. Considering we were only 1 mile from the swap while at the family fun day it wasn't a problem to swing by the swap for her. Truth be told, I was happy to have any excuse at all to stop in at the swap!!

So we get to the swap and the first thing we see....puppies, dogs, retired breeding dogs, etc. Basically, almost every puppy miller in Holmes County. Not all of them were Amish, either. I'm sure not all were Puppy Millers, as one lady we met only had Shih Tzu's and was very up on their breed...but the others all had like 5-10 different breeds of pups and/or adults. If they weren't millers, they were definitely back yard breeders....which I'm not opposed to dog breedings if it's done responsibly, ya know?

Anyway, I digress, as it was indeed a Swap for chickens and other livestock. We met a woman selling SKUNKS!! I almost died laughing. I mean, who wants a pet skunk?? She had 2 or 3 litter of baby skunks for sale.

Then we saw chickens, lots of chickens. I saw my first pair of Blue Sumatras. I'll say they were pretty, but not something (gasp!) I was interested in. We walked by a lady who had 3 trios of Bantam Wheaten Ameracaunas.

I need to take this moment to say, I'm not an Ameracauna fan. Infact, I just sold off my green egg laying EE's because I was just not impressed with them. I've no interest whatsoever in Ameracaunas, nor what colors they should be, etc.

That is, I wasn't interested until today.

The Bantam Wheaten Ameracaunas were gorgeous!! Well, if chickens can be gorgeous, that is. I immediately knew that I wanted a pair, but yet at the same time I also knew that at $20 a trio and $12 a pair, there was no way I was leaving with any of them.

So we walked on. I wasn't that interested in any other chickens we saw. Nothing there looked as nice or clean as the lady with the Ameracaunas set up. It was obvious that she takes good care and pride in her birds.

We find the guy who has Becky's Bourbons, look at the turkeys, try to get him to come down on price, and then told him we'd be back to pick the turkeys up after we finished looking at the rest of the swap stuff.

We walk down the rest of the way and on the way back I see another guy with beautiful Bantam Wheaten Ameracaunas. I stopped and admired his little trio, and asked him how much. He chortled good naturedly and replied, "Oh, they're not for sale! I just bought them from the lady up the next aisle!"

I couldn't believe it! He had bought my Wheatens!!

So we walk off and go back to the Jeep. Drive into the swap next to the guy with the Bourbons and load them up. I decided to drive up the next aisle to see how many of the wheatens the lady had left. Two roosters and six hens! AND she had marked the pairs down to $10!!

I reached in my pocket, and pulled out $8...CRAP. I just knew a pair of those beautiful birds would not be coming home with me. Not for $8 anyway....


But what's this????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What we know and what actually happens are two totally different things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I politely told the lady that I only had $8 in my pocket, and that I would really love to have a pair of her Wheatens, and would she please accept $8 for a pair? She took the longest minute of my life to think about it, but then she said...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so happy! She let me pick which hen I wanted from the 6 and I was allowed to choose the rooster I liked better out of the two roos. Those are the kind of people I like, when they let me choose my birds instead of trying to sell me the ones they want me to buy.

It was the best swap trip ever!!!

Haven't decided on names for them yet, but you betcha I'll be working on building myself a small flock of these!!

So much for downsizing!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Can't wait for this......I can't believe Ernie let you go to a CHICKEN SWAP!!! He must be just as addicted as you are! Don't tell anyone but secretly I think my hubby is too

He had no choice, I was driving

Bee, maybe if I actually read one of his books, I might have got more of his time

 

[Blackbird]

Honestly I never understood the big thing about him that was so special. but there are people, famous or not, that you hear one thing about and their nothing you thought, let alone someone to admire. Oh well.

I've never seen Wheatens before, those are really pretty, sounds like you got a good deal!

 

[Farmfresh]

How disappointing about the Field Day. It is sad when the rudeness and inconsiderate behavior of other people (and their wild children) can ruin the day for others.

I am also sorry to hear about Mr. Salatin's coldness. Perhaps you just caught him at a bad time. (I hope that is what it was.)

I am so happy you were able to get the Ameraucana's for your price. AND I am glad you are giving them another consideration!

Ameraucana's are one of my favorite dual purpose breeds. I got my first taste many years ago when I was still showing chickens. There is worlds of difference between the quality birds (like you now have) and those lousy mutts pawned by many hatcheries!

I am astounded by how many people just randomly breed things ... chickens, dogs, horses, etc... No matter what chickens I used to have, I always tried to improve upon what I started with. In just a few years of careful breeding you can improve your stock for more eggs, better meat, or whatever trait you are aiming at.

Some people just think any old thing will work. Puppy millers and indiscriminate backyard breeders have simply ruined many dog breeds in this country. Breeding hip dysplasia, epilepsy and other major medical issues into the breeds by pure carelessness and greed!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Mr. Salatin may not have been as bad (I've had a good night's sleep since yesterday lol) as I initially felt he was. I was pretty irritated by the time I got to him by the crowds of people and rampant hooligans~oops I mean children I would have to say the circumstances really do not allow me a fair judgement to the kind of person he is, or whether I approve his methods.

As for my new Ameraucanas....sigh....I could just stare at them all day!! My little cockerel should develop a black beard and muff, and an Ameraucana person on BYC assures me that if he's young, then his colors should improve with his first molt. I sure hope so.

I'd say I don't plan to show chickens, ever, but I can't say that's true for my DD. She is hoping to join 4-H this next year and show chickens as her 4-H animal. So it does bode well for my DD to have quality chickens accessible to her.

Today's projects include fixing up a small coop and run for my Wheaten Ameraucanas. Since they are bantams, I shouldn't have to worry about too big of an area. One, I need a place for them to stay in quarantine, and 2, I don't want them to be in with the other bantams ever so that I know there will never be the possibility of cross breeding!!

Since I didn't have a spot for them last night, they spent the night in a dog crate, in the back of my jeep LOL. I rolled down all my windows just a bit so they would have good air flow, and they stayed warm and dry all night. They were quite perky this morning when I checked on them.

I'm really hoping the lady who sold them might be at the October Swap with more. I'm thinking 2 more hens or 3 and maybe another roo. I am really kicking myself, because I should have asked her for her contact information so I could get more later without having to wait for the swap. I was just too excited to leave with the two I managed to get to think about phone numbers LOLOLOL

I am about to go check on my broody rouen duck, as yesterday her eggs were pipping, and I'm hoping we have some ducklings this morning!

 

[Farmfresh]

I showed in the Mid-American Bantam club as a child, showed my poultry in 4-H, competed at the State fair and have been a small (I mean small) 4-H show judge as an adult.

I am not really that interested in the show world now, but I am really excited by a quality bird. So many people just think of chickens as old barnyard pets instead of the truly beautiful (and useful) birds they are!

Keljonma and her "first ladies" prove my point exactly. She has VERY beautiful, high quality, even show-worthy hens. They all fit their particular breed standard. Those shape and color differences make them even more beautiful as a "collection". Those breed standards, when followed, usually indicate a good layer as well as a vital healthy bird.

The breeders of old - and even some of the newer guys - are forever striving for beautiful birds that are vital, exciting and PRODUCTIVE. A hen that never lays egg is not much of a hen! A meat bird that has no flavor or produces little meat is a flop as well. Some of our newer breeds still leave room for much improvement, but if you look at history there was usually one (or just a handful) of enlightened breeder(s) that are ultimately responsible for the work that defines some of the breeds we have today!

Examples:

* the Jersey Giant developed by the Black Brothers in America in 1870's
* the Rhode Island Red is attributed to one small town Little Compton, Rhode Island
* and the bantam version to Perrin Johnson of Rochester, New York in the 1920's
* the Delaware - George Ellis of Delaware created the breed in 1940.
* the Australorp - Wiliam Wallace Scott and Arthur Harwood of Australia 1919

That is why even if I NEVER show a bird I try to keep my poultry to the breed standards.

I also think that is why God made people in so many shapes and sizes - it makes a more beautiful "collection"!

 

[Dace]

Aly your chickens are beautiful!

I am new to this who chicken thing...city girl gone nuts kind of a thing (not really but that is what the family thinks)....but I love proudly displaying my pretty little green eggs! I adore them. Maybe the honeymoon will wear off but what is it that you don't like/or just are not impressed with the Ameraucanas? Just curious

I am already thinking that next spring I want more , although the kids want some barred rocks.