Wed. 6-30-2011

Well it is still hot, but we have got a little rain, so it may get better. Not having the best of luck with the new incubator. Hatching rate has sucked and have wasted several eggs. These eggs have been out of some very nice fowl and if I would of had to buy the eggs I would have several dollars in them. I guess since lots of my breeding stock cost a lot, I did have lots in them. I am not going to go into much details right now. I have contacted the makers of the incubator explaining my troubles to them. After I see how well they stand behind what they sale, I will post more. I have hatched several eggs under broody hens this year. Thank God for broody hens. I bought some baby Madagascar game chicks, they are doing well. In fact all my chicks have done well. Just having heck getting them hatched.

Myself, Molly and a friend from the panhandle went to a chicken auction in Blanchard OK last weekend. I picked up some show quality dark Cornish bantams to add to my Cornish bantam flock I have here already. Did not get them at the auction got them from a man in Chickasha on the way down.

I did however pick up a pair of Rhode Island red bantams at the auction that were better quality than I expected to go thru an auction. The rooster is a little man hater, might be the reason they got sold. I have a soft spot in my head, I mean heart for RIR bantams. I got my first bantams when I was about 14 from a man named Lee Johnson, north of Arapaho OK where I was raised. I bought a trio of RIRs. Good ones are hard to find in this area, so I was pleased to get the ones I got. And heck, how much damage can a 2 pound rooster do. (says the man with scars on his hand from being flogged)

I also picked up 8 more naked necks and 14 Guineas to run the yard and outer area to help bug control.

Ethan and I did some mowing this morning before it got hot, need to get legged propped up, looks like it could pop. I have another doctor appointment in OKC Friday, so may go to another chicken auction Friday night in Harrah OK, Being laid up and not being able to get around well, these dang chickens have sure been a life saver to keep my mind occupied, and gives me a reason to get up and move a little.  

First day of summer

This wouldn't be so bad if we haven't had several days above 100 already. I hate hot weather. Fat people do not do well in the heat. We sweat and smell bad. Have to change clothes more often, shower 2, 3 times a day if outside much and then need to go somewhere. Again I say, I hate hot weather.
Got more eggs hatching seems like daily. I bought a used brooder that needs some repair, but 3 out of 5 levels work so It is good. My hens are doing a great job on their eggs and biddys. It sure is hard on them ole gals in this heat. (again with the heat).
I may be trashing my Madagascar project. I have 15 Madagascar chicks coming this week. If they are good quality, I will use them to build my naked neck warriors out of. The 4 naked necks I picked up the other day have the run of the place. They are sorta growing on all of us. It is always a mystery to find where the little ugly buggers are.
Picked up a trio of Shamo last week. For you all that don't know, shamo are like really big fowl. My rooster is only 11 months old, and already about 28 inches tall. They do not mature till about 2 or 3 years old, so he could be a horse.

It isn't a very good picture, and he is in real poor feather, but this gives you an idea what the young guy looks like. Been doing a little work on pens and such during the cool of the morning. Ethan has been helping tremendously. This will be the end of Ethans help before long. He has enrolled in OU (Hookem Horns). He will do well there. I know I sure am going to miss him. But it is time for him to leave the nest, spread his wings and all that crap. I am very proud of him. So many kids (male mostly) seem to have problems with cutting the cord and moving on. It saddens me that we will be childless in our home in a couple months. But it makes me glad that he has the ambition to get out and make something of himself. Good luck son, and always know we love you. Dad.

Young Champions

Is it luck, or is it many hours of figuring, thinking, studying, and planning that makes a mating click. Sometimes luck will wipe you out, that happens, but most of the time it is the other that will cause one to stumble or be victorious. I checked on my hens today. I have two that should hatch today or tomorrow. I saw three heads sticking out from under the hen so am guessing more today. I hope that the planning pays off, and of course I can always use the luck.                                              

This hen was selected for qualities that have been passed down thru generations of planned breeding. I acquired the rooster she was bred to in hopes of helping my breeding pens. Anyone can throw two chickens and a pen and they will make young. The thing is though, one should upgrade the type of young one gets. Going backwards or staying where you are already is not an option. It is illegal to test these birds as has been done for thousands of years. But as they grow I will watch them. I will see how they interact with their siblings and other chicks in the brood house. As they mature I will separate the ones that need separated, and the others will find their way to the frying pan. Planning, studying, selection, culling, and of course a little luck. With out it, one would just be raising chickens.  

Todays Ramblings

Well last night we got some much needed rain. It was raining when I went to sleep, and woke up a couple hours later it was still raining. Thank you Lord for the rain we really needed it. Had a doctors appointment in OKC Thursday. Coming home stopped at some chicken places. Picked up 10 young Shamo Bantams from one guy. Not real high on bantams other than my Cornish, but I figure these are a fair investment, when I get them mature they should be easy to turn, unless by then I have decided they are something I want to keep. You never can tell about me. I stopped at 2 more places but only bought fowl from one of them. I picked up a real nice Gray game stag.

I also picked up some Naked Neck chickens (Turkens).

I know, they are ugly, but they grow on you. Really the naked necks don't do much for me, BUT I have a plan. I have been looking at the Madagascar game here on the internet, and they do entice me.

I am looking for pure Madagascar game fowl as we speak. But as a back up plan if I cant find any or afford those found, I will start breeding toward my on version. I will breed the naked neck into my oriental game fowl to get the naked neck gene. It is dominant so it will be easy to insert into my breeding. I will then cull deep and keep breeding into my better orientals. Malay, Saipain, Thai and Asil. Birds will be culled hard according to gameness, then standard features. One thing about it, birds this size that do not meet my standards, will look good in the freezer. As stated before, I know I would be better off starting with pure Madagascar (using the word pure loosely as I think pure fowl don't exist) But one must use what he has available. I will keep you posted on how this turns out. If any one out there knows where I might locate some of these please contact me.                                                                                 

Movie Review and More

Well it has been a hectic week. I now have 6 hens broody on eggs, Incubator is 2/3 full. I am on my way to being a chicken tycoon. Well at least somebody with lots of chickens. Spent one night in the ER at Alva. Doc couldn't do much for me, but he did give me a wicked pain shot. Went to bed at 2:30 in the AM and slept till noon, got up, ate a bite and slept the rest of the afternoon, and went to bed about 10 and slept all night. Doctor at the VA did some blood work and told me to go home and keep my leg propped up. He don't seem to understand I am running a chicken ranch here. LOL
I ordered the 1974 classic "Cockfighter" starring Warren Oates, Richard Shull, Harry Stanton. From the Internet "

Storyline

Frank Mansfield has wanted to win the Cockfighter of the Year medal for ages. Frank never speaks. After shooting his mouth off one too many times then losing a champion rooster in a casual hotel room cockfight, he swore never to speak again until he's won that award... He makes a bet with old crony Jack to be settled at the upcoming meet. Frank puts his car and his trailer on the line; he loses. Jack gets the trailer, and Frank's part-time girlfriend who goes with it. Frank's long-time girlfriend Mary Elizabeth wants him to get serious and settle down. But Frank has to raise some money for a new cock - $500 - then he can form a partnership with fellow cocksman Omar Baradansky and make another try for that medal... "
I enjoyed the movie if for no other reason you don't find many movies on this sport. I have always been a Warren Oates fan from the days of long ago when he co-starred on the series "Stoney Burk" I know all you young people out there are asking who the heck is Stoney Burk. It was a series about a rodeo performer back in the early 60's. Stoney Burk was played by Jack Lord who also played Steve Garrett in the original Hawaii 5-0. Again all the young people are saying, this was a series before. Come on keep up. Anyway for content alone I give the movie "Cockfighter" two thumbs up. There was some good footage of some fights in the movie. It was a very  good movie to watch when you have your feet propped up.