So, yesterday we went and got a couple of turkey hens for Richard, he has been so lonely (remember Richard is my Bronze Heritage tom turkey). He performed like nothing on this earth. Even though the hens were not his breed, nor are they purebred, they are some kind of mix. They are opposite to his gender and that is all he cares about.
These two girls are beautiful. One was born last June (2007) and the other one the previous June (2006). The previous June (2006) gal raised her brood last summer and was a great layer. The place where I got these girls from was a place of beauty within itself. The man obviously cared for ALL (and I mean all, you will find out what I mean in a minute, hold on....) his birds with amazing cleanliness and orderlyness. Amazing and I was proud to purchase stock from him and will purchase more in a heart beat. He also gave me a name of a buddy of his that raises Khaki Campbells further out the valley, so I am contacting him today too. I am grateful to have met this man, I think that he has many contacts for birds that I may wish to get. He is also a member of the Fraser Valley Bird Fanciers Association (or something like that).
He had every imaginable bird on earth at his place, all in beautiful pens in large barns, fenced yards, and simply beautiful. Let me see if I can recall most of what I saw.
All manner of chickens: Araucanas, Cookoo Marans, Brown Sex-Sal-Links, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, banties of all manner, and several other breeds
Peacocks coming out his ears
Pigeons coming out his ears, many, many breeds
Guinea fowl
Turkeys, bronze heritage, red bourbon, royal palm, blue slate, oh my crackers!!!! The Red bourbon was very pretty, as was the Royal Palm
Muscovy and Indian runner ducks, wow!!!!
All kinds of other fowls too
He is going to get some more breeding pairs (can't remember what, but they were like $2,500 a pair)
There was so many more, but I just can't remember
This is a backyard farmer gone wild!!! Nothing commercial about this dude, but wow!!! A couple of years ago when the AI was terrible, almost all of his stock was killed off, that was a tragedy that so many of the farmers here had to endure. The government paid him for most of his stock they killed, but that was heartbreaking for him. His stock all tested as negative, but that still didn't stop the government from death stuff. Poor soul, but he has started over again, and I must take my hat off to him (and hundreds of others).
So, what a trip that was. I was very glad to go and get to know this fine man. I trust the quality and health of his birds, this shone through. Anyways, here are pictures of Richard and the new hens. Today I have lots more work to do to make my place even nicer for these gals. They are getting their own house that I am cleaning up. I am cleaning out another boxstall that has my Son-in-Laws "stuff" in. I will reorganize another area and put his stuff in there. It will be good for him and me and the turkeys will have their own house, and then I am off to the bush to cut down some branches of the vine maple to make some nice perches for these girls. They love to roost high and I don't want them in the trees, they have a house that will be safer for them. Have the most beautiful and wonderful day, let's love this life we live. Cindi
Hen #1, she does not have a name yet, but that will soon come, as with the other's
This one may be a blue slate crossed with something, he was not sure of a couple of crosses, due to so many hatching last year, some got mixed up I guess
This one may be crossed with a bourbon red and a bronze heritage, again, I guess a tom got loose and had some fun......