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(http://www.afn.org/~poultry)
November 2001 |
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(http://www.afn.org/~poultry)
November 2001 |
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In This Issue:
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NEXT MEETING:8:00 PM SHARP Friday, November 16 at the Pavilion in the garden behind the Mounts Building located at 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach - directly across from Palm Beach International Airport approximately 1/4 mile north of Southern Blvd. |
Hi Poultry Fanciers,
This has been a great month and there is a lot of good news to report. We need a huge trumpet fanfare for our super salesman of the year, Mike Robinson. He sold 5 ads and obtained a $200.00 donation. YES! YES! The rest of us, not quite so good, but everything really, really counts. Lee Salmon 2, Andrea Sisson 1, and Pam Marrietta 1. We thank each of you for the great effort. The absolute final deadline for ad sales is Dec. 1st, so lets keep trying.
As of now, we have a grand total of $1,325.00 in our signage account. During the fair we c!/ access this account for the following: a. Chicken for the 4-H BBQ, b. Richard Greggs Trophy, c. premium money for the poster, photo and Rooster Crowing contest, d. chick and duck order, e. Raffle items, f. Food for workers, g. Bread sales, f. anything else that might come up.
Time to announce the winners of our In-Club show:
Thanks again to our friend, Dr. Dale Porcher for taking the time to come and judge.
The next project we have coming up is the Christmas Parade December 8th. I will have all the details at the November meeting. We have all our little wooden critters to use and we can take tame birds with us. We need Christmas items and some good ideas fast. The parade starts at 11am and I will find out where to meet to work on the project. I know that it is at a park in the Acreage but I don't know which one.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Don't forget that our November meeting MOVES TO THE THIRD FRIDAY because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Halloween in the Village was just fantastic. We had a great time. The kids, the costumes, the candy (supplied by the Village) was wonderful. Andrea Sisson and her children Luci, Tyler and Charles helped with the candy giveaway. Luci, as a cow girl, can twirl a real rope. That was impressive. Not only the kids were in costume but most of the adults were too. I believe one of the big winners were two sisters dressed as a hamburger and French fries. The two kids that caught my attention were dressed as Colonel Sanders and a chicken. Peggy Belvin and I were also busy with the GHOST chickens and handing out candy as fast as we could. What a night!
The big, WONDERFUL Poultry Fanciers Surprise looms ever closer. It will definitely be present at this next exciting meeting. Come, and uncover the MYSTERY ITEM.
Things for discussion at this meeting will include the Photo Contest, Christmas
party-Yankee Swap and a surprise GUEST SPEAKER and program by Linda Wright.
See ya'll soon. Lee
"We Are Crowing For YOU!"
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Dutch
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The name itself is a misnomer, as all Dutch are bantams. They are one of
the few "true" bantams, not originating from large fowl. There is no large
counterpart of the Dutch. There are large and bantam Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes,
Sussex, Lakenvelders, and so forth, but no large Dutch.
Bantam Island, in the Dutch East Indies, was the original homeland of this docile, proud little bird that was imported into the United States shortly after World War II. Details on shape, color and other particulars can be found in the ABA Standard. The Dutch is the smallest, in weight, bantam recognized by the ABA. Pullets should be 18 oz., hens 19 oz., cockerels 20 oz., and cocks 21 oz., making them lighter than the Old English and Modern Game bantams.
I grew up on a Kansas farm during the 1960s and raised large and bantam White Plymouth Rocks. Military service and jobs in cities kept me away from my chicken "habit" for thirty years. When I moved back to the small town life, the first priority was setting the hen house in order and deciding on a breed. I have no regrets for choosing the Black Dutch Bantam. Dutch are bright, perky, regal birds that thrive by being raised on the ground with room to roam. They remain active and perky when confined. Fritz and I have kept breeding trios in standard double show coops with good success, and the birds are not crowded. When allowed to roam, the Dutch are ever on the lookout for food, insects, and that favorite of all healthy fowl, the good old fashioned dust bath.
I belong to the old school, the one that believes that chicks should have hens hatch them and dirt for scratching. Unfortunately, broody hens are not always available when needed, so a couple of incubators can be found in my bedroom. Yes, I live with my chickens, or so I have been accused. In very cold Kansas winters you may even find (and hear) breeding pens in my sunlit basement. Once that chicken bug invades the bloodstream it is incurable, and ain't it grand?!
I do draw the line at helping chicks out of the shell. If a bird is too weak to get out of the shell, chances are it will be a feeble adult. Strong, healthy chicks will be able to hatch cleanly. Weak birds will weaken your flock, and don't we have enough to worry us with color, type, size, comb, and legs, without the bother of puny chicks? I also use the old method of choosing breeders. Handle and LOOK at the birds. Spend some time in a chair, either in or near the chicken pens. Just sit and mentally sort the birds for future reference. Observe your birds and enjoy the entertainment they provide.
Of course, keep notes and records of your birds and breeding pens. A flock of chickens, a rocking chair, several shade trees who needs anything more on a lazy summer afternoon? The Dutch hens lay a nice sized egg for such a small bird, nearly the size of a pheasant egg. They often lay daily with a day off now and again. The hens are excellent setters and brooders. Because of their size, seven or eight eggs is a sufficient clutch for them. Eggs often pip on the 18th and 19th day and hatch quickly if the chicks are healthy. (More next month)
American Dutch Bantam
Society
Gloria (Dusty) Miller
(Email: dustym AT pokynet.com)
HC 67 Box 416
Ash Flat, AR 72513
"We Are Crowing For YOU!"
The Club is looking for volunteers to build a float for the 1st annual Acreage Christmas Parade on December 8. We must register by November 1. It should be a lot of fun, and give the Club exposure in an area where many people have poultry.
Please contact Lee Salmon or Peggy Belvin if you can participate in this event.
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Photos From Our Club Show October 26, 2001
Marcelo Martinez and his fine Grey Japanese Cock the won Reserve.
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"We Are Crowing For YOU!"
2001 Meeting Meal Schedule
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NEWSLETTER ARTICLES, PICTURES, SUGGESTIONS NEEDED!
Please send any of the above to:
Mike Schmidt,
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Jeremiah Perryman is looking to buy some King pigeons. Please call him at 561-967-6332.
Susan Robinson asks that any who have books on loan from the Club Library, please return them or contact her at farmalllane.AT.aol.com.
Nancy has chickens and pheasants for sale: 561-795-1323 or nancychickylady.AT.aol.com.
Due to my heavy work schedule and my age I need to sell my breeding stock. I will sell "cheep" to club members. I have pairs of Black tailed White Japanese, Millie Fluer, Cochins, Rosecombs, BB red game birds, 3-pair Ringneck pheasants and many more. Call Nancy at 795-1323 or e-mail nancychickylady.AT.aol.com
Newsletter Editor Mike Schmidt
Webmaster Dennis Hawkins
© Copyright 2001 Palm Beach County Poultry Fanciers Association
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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