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I so agree with that on the "buy the kid a ribbon" bit. :) I had someone ask me about that too... they got nothing. Told them if it is good enough for a fair it stays here to make more and if it isn't it is my food. :P Fred how did you KNOW in the beginning I WASN'T 'one of those" anyway...

Whichever book you have none compares to the mentorship of another great breeder followed by experience. If book learning isn't applied it is no good anyway!! Nothing beats a mentor who can handle your flock bird by bird and actually SHOW you on yours what under color etc means. Then you learn...

I think it is the best one and IS the APA version. Other companies sell condensed, etc versions. Before I got mine I checked out every version I could find. I found the the 2010 from the Association to be the best one and easiest to use. Getting it straight from the Association ensures you get a...

I was watching the flock after I culled a few more for the stock/broth for the year. I saw one of the black (sell) bands on what I thought ..... now he looks ratty, why did we pick him..... but when I got closer to check it out the characteristic molting quill ends showed why he looked that way...

Yep. And I am not the best judge but Fred is mentoring me and said my eye is getting good. He got me MY start trio when I was complaining that what I had been given WAS NOT RIR as I remembered them at Granny's. I had posted wanting to know exactly WHAT BREED I had as I knew they weren't what I...

I don't know as much as others or how soil affects them but Fred has been here and judged mine.... some are going with him to Indiana and the horn color on legs and leg color is good. My soil is hard pan clay if dry and slimy/suck you under when wet. In woods though is all black boggy type muck...

I agree with getting "THE BOOK" American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection. Then get a good mentor if you are like me and not everything sticks. It really helps to have a mentor point out on your live bird exactly what the book is describing.

I know a lot don't believe this but pumpkin and fresh pumpkin seeds will help with worming too. I sometimes cut one saving the inner pulp/seed and freeze in Ziplock bags. Just thaw a little bag and I give it to the whole flock.

I'll say this: weather you produce 100 or 30 each year heavy culling is a necessity. I agree the more you can put on the ground (from your best) and the heavier you cull the better your chances of producing quality. But manage even a smaller flock with the quality feed and careful selectivity...

Was planning on doing some more sorting early this morning but since I heard the coyote pack not too far away just a couple hours ago, and the cock has just calmed back down after the eagle made its morning pass over, I think I will wait until mid morning for that chore or letting them out to...

I'll be 'feed sacking' some older hens Monday to start making room. Way past time to say goodbye to those two other breed hens... was waiting to see just how LONG Granny and Buffy would lay. Guess they thought if they kept up they'd get to stay around. RIR quality space is needed ;) so time to...

What a relief!!! :celebrate I have to work more on that small tractor tomorrow.... it needed repair after moving it up on the platform... needs more.... didn't construct too well. Hasty just didn't cut the mustard once I moved it a few times. ;)

@Fred: Most all the group from Mothers Day weekend have the leg horn color! But then again most of them I judge as young cockerel though and only a few pullet juvies. So depending on development I may have a few young cockerels to sell. The last seven from the second group I still have in the...

Oh I do NOT like seeing this Fred... you two can NOT think about taking my only mentor away from this area as I am not polished yet! Throwing a little tantrum here!!!!!! I seem to lose friends to moves as fast as I can develop them. You are one of the few friends who understand why I want to do...

No they are now three weeks!! You will notice I said 'appear' :D An educated (perhaps) guess based on thickness of legs and standing taller than others plus being slower than the other five to begin tail feathering. A few other subtle indicators but really you don't know for sure until egg...

We will see how many hatch. See one little pip right now so by tomorrow the "showing" should begin!!! :pop Then I will know if I do one more batch. ;) The first batch of hatchlings appear to be heavy on the males. I'm suspecting 10 little cockerels to 5 pullets. We will see if THIS 2nd hatch...

I'm in Michigan like Freds Hens... we meet up in the middle sort of at either the Amish Country Feed Store on Kittle road near Mio OR we meet in Gaylord Tractor Supply on old 27 or Family Home something on M-33

Well Fred,I hope those in your brooder I gave you do well. Praying for a better hatch this last group I gave you than it looks like I am having. Just attempted candeling my last batch and discarded more than I would like. One of those an early quitter. How are yours doing? I hope some of them...

Thankyou for the loan of that turner Fred! It is really putting my schedule at ease.... got a couple errands run after the food distribution volunteering without having to run home to turn the eggs first :)! A couple of the first hatch do seem to have the wide to the rear :rolleyes:blocky body...

First pip was late night Friday and hatched by Saturday morning. Most hatched by last night with two more pipps. That makes 17 of 24 hatched out and waiting today to see if the other two zip out. Today was supposed to be hatch day.... or so I had figured. One still had egg yolk tiny piece...