Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Farmfresh]

That is true Free. Even walking around you could contaminate your shoes and bring back disease. That is why you are supposed to have a "special" shoes for working around your flock. It is a lot of work to keep a clean flock.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

After reading about all the handling of birds on Trader's Row, I got to wondering....you could check a bird carefully, and it could appear to be healthy, but.....someone could have handled a sick bird and not used hand sanitizer and handled the healthy bird, who is now infected and not yet showing symptoms. (How is that for a run-on sentence? ) Even with quarantining, it would make me quite nervous!

I had that exact same thought, to be honest. I cringed every time I saw a kid putting their hands through the cages to pet someone's chicken. Turtleblossom was telling kids, "Don't do that! Handling other people's birds is a good way to spread chicken illnesses!"

I stopped my own daughter several times from petting birds through the wires.

Oh and something else I learned from the Faverolle breeder, they never sell hatching eggs or anything less than 4 months old! The reason is this way, they are only selling the best of the best and they don't get complaints from someone who hatched out chicks and aren't happy with quality! I'm kind of thinking of adopting the same policy!

 

[Farmfresh]

"Always sell the best and eat the rest" ... that was my policy when I was selling eggs. It should work with your chicken business as well.

 

[lorihadams]

Whew, I'm tired just reading about your day, I can't imagine how tired you are!

Sorry it was kind of disappointing, I know you guys were really looking forward to it. Chicken swaps are kind of like that around here, sometimes they are really good and sometimes they are really a bust!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Went to auction today.

Was a total bust. Pretty much, I paid them to take my roos and rabbit.

I didn't bring home anything though!

We also sold some firewood at auction. It brought a good price.

After, Becca, Ernie, and I worked together making a hoop house for my bantams. We got it framed in and the panels on and the door frame done. Just need to hang the door, attach chicken wire, and tarp it.

I'm exhausted. I don't feel like I've slowed down all weekend, nor have I "rested up" since Nationals on Saturday.

I'm whipped.

I feel like I could sleep for a week.

Funny thing at auction today, Becca and I met a local BYC'er!! It was kind of funny and neat, and she's wanting to get some Sussex from me in the spring!

Right now, I just wanna go to bed and sleep until....OH I dunno, Friday?

 

[Beekissed]

Hey, Aly....do you have Barnvelders? I would sure like to get my hands on some fertile eggs when I get broodies in the spring! I think they are the most lovely of hens!

 

[keljonma]

Sounds like you had a wonderful but exhausting time at Nationals. It sure is disappointing that there weren't the great birds you were expecting. I went to a fair once where I was told to expect gorgeous Partridge Rocks and SLWs ...but truthfully, our Rachel and our Ida were much prettier than many of the birds there with ribbons.

I bet your dd is all excited about her new bird. Sounds like dd is just a tad chicken addicted (maybe like her mama?!)

Isn't this weather terrific?!

 

[BeccaOH]

Hey, Aly....do you have Barnvelders? I would sure like to get my hands on some fertile eggs when I get broodies in the spring! I think they are the most lovely of hens!

She doesn't. I'm not sure she is interested -- but then neither she or I have seen them in person yet. I'm on a waiting list with Ideal to get chicks in the spring. I tried some expensive hatching eggs in September and got none and seller didn't care that it was a bust. I'm sticking to chicks in the future, though I'll hatch my own eggs.

 

[SheriM]

Hey, Quail, you didn't ACTUALLY go to sleep for a week, did you? You okay? It's not like you to go this long without posting.

 

[lorihadams]

Sheri, honey, you read my mind!

Where IS Aly????

Hope everything is okay............