Re: Brooding hens that won't let me near the eggs

Farm1 wrote:
..

I know
But you were overly dismissive of the problems that wet and cold can
produce I was flippant but you are also seemingly ill-informed quite
naturally of the problems in other parts of the world.
:~)

Jill have you ever been to Australia? I strongly suspect from your
lack of knowledge of the range of climates in Oz that you haven't.

not yet but have communicated with quite a number of folks there.
I do understand that there are different problems in different places


Not only do I have to cope with very high temperatures, I also have to
cope with LOWER winter temperatures than you do. You wrote that you
get winter temperatures as low as -5. Our winter temperatures can get
down to -9!!!!!!! We don't, however, get your sort of rainfall where
we now live. I wish we did.

-5 is reasonably routine
- 20 was most unusual


As you have illustrated this is a well researched situation and
there is a lot of advice for coping with it

Not for domestic poultry keepers!

The advice is there - how you apply it is up to each individual


I have already explained that even getting some of the more common
breeds can now difficult in Oz. Rare breeds are in real danger and
because of our strict quarantine laws there has been little input into
the gene pool since about the 1940s.

I can understand - we have the same problems
Its still surprising what you can do with what you have left
You have suggested that the blood lines are there -- you have birds you are
happier with. So the genetics is still available
Even in small flocks you can create valuable lines
There are "breeds" here that have been recreated from half a dozen birds in
the past 60 years here.
We too have lost many many good breeders - our problems have been lack of
demand in the 80's and 90's, the Salmonella fiasco, closing down
transporting live birds of any age, etc

Are you saying that you want someone else to do the breeding and improving
for you?
Unfortunately that is too common a problem both sides of the equator. Too
many folks want the results but not prepared for the effort of creating /
maintaining it. :~((
We are seeing exactly the same thing here
A demand for meat birds especially but no-one wants to spend a few years
improving their stocks.

we have heaps of Belties here BTW if you need to import a
few)

LOL
Its interesting how you and NZ have so many of our natives and have improved
them so much
Easy lambers in NZ are Romneys -- there are probably only a handful of
flocks over here.

I know - but they are not used to it.
You are saying that this is not unusual for you so provision is part
of your natural set up

What provision I can supply. However, when I have found a broody dead
on the nest well before the time for hatching is due, I cannot be sure
what she has died of. It could be from a snake or it could be from
heat. Either is a likely scenario.

I see


I suppose what I am saying is that it DOES surprise me that you are
suggesting that there has been no selection at all in the pure
breeds for qualities that can cope with the conditions better. You
suggest that the mongrels you create by random matings of some of
"this and that" have more "toughness" which I take to being ability
to cope and control their metabolism better, and have better
liveability.

Hybrid vigour.

Which goes all ways, and shows that the genetics is there. Stablise it in
the pure breed and you have something very valuable.


So the qualities exist
genetically in the poultry genome within the populations of the birds
available so why has no-one bred for it in the past 200 years?

I've said it is so many ways that I fear boredom if I repeat it. You
might just have to come to Oz and do a tour of the poultry breeders
and the shows.

Show breeders are less likely to be interested.
They are more likely to have their birds inside with temperature control :~)


It has happened in other countries. Africa is pretty hot but they
are keen breeders and improvers of their stocks.

And until about the 1940s Australia held most world records for egg
production and was world reknowned for its birds and breeding.

What a shame the legacy is not being continued.
I can understand your frustration

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


.

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