Messages

1

News and Information / Stepping away...

« on: March 22, 2021, 05:37:20 PM »

Hey everyone.  Just a quick note.
As many of you know, I sold out of or gave away my Ameraucanas last year, only keeping one cockbird (Solomon) and three of his favorite hens for my own personal use.

I am now stepping away from the chicken groups and pages, as it has become abundantly clear to me that I need to focus on other things right now.

I'm asking 2 things:
Please don't pm/call/text/email me about birds/chicks/eggs for sale.  I do not have any and will not have any.
Please don't tag me in a post, at this time.

Thanks, everyone. 

2

News and Information / The forum is back!

« on: February 20, 2021, 10:23:14 AM »

Good morning, everyone

The forum is now back up and running.  The reason the forum went down was due to an upgrade by godaddy (our hosting service).  They upgraded their SQL files and the version of the forum software we were on was not compatible with the newer SQL/php files.  So we had to upgrade the forum software to the latest simple machines release (2.0.18, release 2/1/21).  That is now complete.

Please note, however, that while things seem to be working fine and we trust in the complete testing done by simple machines, as someone who used to work in the software industry, I understand that it is impossible for any software developer to mimic the environment of every user out there.  So, things might get missed.

If you run into any problems/issues, please let me or Lindsay Helton know as soon as possible.

Be sure to give Lindsay kudos - she was the one that delved into the issue and after much back and forth between godaddy and smf, was able to figure out the source of the problem.

3

News and Information / Re: The passing of Clif Redden

« on: October 29, 2020, 06:28:19 PM »

An amazing man, on so many levels.

Clif and I had kept in contact over the years, even after he retired from breeding Ameraucanas.  Most of our conversations were about our faith and the times we were in.  We didn't always agree on our interpretation of the Scriptures, but we always agreed that our faith, our salvation, and our friendship were more important than any minor disagreement over interpretation.

It's strange, really.  We had just chatted about a week ago and he had asked me to do some research on a specific verse.  Last week was a tough week for me, personally, and I had not gotten around to doing that research.  While he'll not ever see those results, I'm still going to do the research and write it down - just as if I was sending it to him.  While I've shed tears over the loss today, I did have to chuckle a bit at one thing.  Now he's in heaven and getting all the answers first-hand!  Wish I could call him and ask him which of us was right.

God Speed, Clif Redden.  Until we meet again.

4

News and Information / 2020 Board of Directors Election

« on: August 31, 2020, 09:02:25 AM »

Good morning, everyone.

The 2020 ABC Board of Directors Election is about to open for electronic voting.  There is only one position in contention - that of the SE District Director - so only those members in the South East District will receive electronic ballots.  The electronic voting will run from 9/1/20 8AM (EST) to 9/15/20 8PM (EST).  Outside of that time frame, no electronic ballots will be accepted.

Each member of the SE District will receive an email from our club email address (info@ameraucanabreedersclub.org) with a special individually assigned key. Those notifications will be sent at the start of the voting - 9/1/2020 8AM EST.  That key can only be used one time and permits that user to access the electronic voting application.  If you are an active member of the ABC and reside in the South Eastern District, please check your email for that notification tomorrow morning.  If you do not receive one, please let the Electronic Election Commissioner know, as soon as possible.  You can email me at samouw@gmail.com.

It is a quick and easy process - so be sure and get your votes in!  All votes are completely anonymous - no one, not even the Election Commissioners, will see who voted for which candidate.

All results will be announced once the voting ends.

5

Breeding / Re: Breeding priorities from a historic perspective

« on: July 27, 2020, 08:59:50 PM »

Very interesting and historically informative article, Don.

I'm not sure it applies all that well to Ameraucanas, however.  This breed is not a "production" bird, as the Leghorns and RIR, and many others, are known to be.  Ameraucanas tend to be more moderate layers, and certainly are not known for meat production.

When I was still breeding - which I'm not any longer - I set goals for each breeding cycle, and for each breeding pen, depending on where I was in achieving the "perfect" bird. Of course we all know the "perfect" bird doesn't exist (though I've seen some at shows that came pretty dang close!).  Setting those individual goals didn't mean I was overlooking the whole bird, however - in fact, quite the opposite.  I was addressing each individual bird's shortcomings and trying to put a pair, or trio, together that would strengthen that shortcoming in the next generation.

6

Breeding / Re: Tailsets in young and old birds

« on: July 27, 2020, 08:50:58 PM »

Wow, Gordon!  That's very nice that you kept him that long and are still getting fertility out of him.  Solomon, my Grand CH, was just a year older (2016 hatch) and he's dried completely up.

But he's going to be around for as long as he lives - he's staying here, along with a few of his favorite hens.

7

Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Cumulative points have been updated!

« on: March 01, 2020, 07:43:54 AM »

You're more than welcome, Lindsay.  Glad, in my "retirement", I'm still able to help out a bit with some of the technology challenges.  Keeps me busy.

Just wait for the next project!  You know what it is....but for everyone else - coming soon is an online input for meet reports!  You could actually just pull it up on your phone at the show and start entering the information!  It's taking a big longer in development, because I've had some other issues going on, and because it is, at least behind the scenes, a fairly complex project, but we're making progress.

If anyone has any ideas for technical solutions, or website improvement, please send them to your DD or to Lindsay.

8

News and Information / Christmas Morn

« on: December 25, 2019, 01:23:44 PM »

Merry Christmas to everyone!

This was a poem I wrote a few years back and I recently was asked to read it at our church Christmas play.  I managed to get through it. Now I'm sharing it with you.

Christmas Morn

Christmas morn dawns bright and cold
With snow thick upon the ground.
Children squeal with glee, their wishes fulfilled
And joy and laughter abound.
 
The tree, once bright, now sags with the weight
Of the lights, and the many shiny balls.
Its day, once anticipated, has now come and is going.
The needles, now dry, silently fall.
 
The stockings, once hung o’er the mantle with care,
Are now emptied of their secret stash.
The candy cane wrappers and empty battery packages
Now litter the floor with the rest of the trash.
 
Forgotten are the recent memories
Of the shopping, the rush, and the noise.
Soon forgotten, too, are the mountains of gifts –
The ties, the socks, and new toys.
 
Is this what You meant for Christmas, Lord?
Are we honoring the memory of Your Birth?
When the TV stations track Santa’s progress
From the North Pole to the ends of the earth.
 
But so few words are spoken
In memory of what this day truly means.
So few thoughts turn to You, Lord
In the rush of this holiday scene.
 
I truly love this season, Lord.
I like the lights, the gifts, and the noise.
I like Christmas carols sung by the fire
And children’s faces as they open their toys.
 
But, even more, I love the memory we honor.
The joy and miracle of Your Birth
That promises of our salvation
And hints at Your sacrifice, and its worth.
 
So, this Christmas day, amid the rustle of paper,
And shouts of joy and acquisition
I promise to remember You, Lord
And what it means to be a Christian.
 
Susan Mouw

“6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

This, and many of my other writings, are included in my book, The Road to the Cross.

9

Past Meets / Re: Meet Reports Updated and reposted to the website

« on: November 23, 2019, 08:08:46 PM »

It was beyond my capabilities to ignore them.  lol

10

News and Information / Last post

« on: November 22, 2019, 07:57:54 PM »

This may well be my last post on the forum.  I'll check in from time to time, but continuing health issues have limited my time, energy, and availability.

I hope everyone has a great time at our National, at the Dixie Classic, in a couple of weeks.  To all my friends, I'm not going anywhere!  I'll still be around and still have a few projects going.

11

Exhibiting & Promoting / Ohio National District Meet and Self-Blue Qualifying Meet

« on: November 22, 2019, 01:48:17 PM »

Report for this show is now posted on the website:

http://www.ameraucanabreedersclub.org/meet_reports/11-09-19%20Ohio%20National%20Show%20&%20Self-Blue%20Qualifying%20Meet%20Columbus%20Ohio%20-%20District.pdf

12

Past Meets / Meet Reports Updated and reposted to the website

« on: November 22, 2019, 11:32:11 AM »

The following meet reports have been updated and reposted to the website:

9-7-19 Twin Tier Poultry Show Bath NY:http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/meet_reports/09-07-19%20Twin%20Tier%20Poultry%20Bath%20NY.pdf

10-5-19 Central Illinois Poultry Show - District: http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/meet_reports/10-05-19%20Central%20Illinois%20Poultry%20Bloomington%20IL%20-%20District.pdf

10-2-19 Beaver Pigeon Poultry Show: http://ameraucanabreedersclub.org/meet_reports/10-12-19%20Beaver%20Pigeon%20Beaver%20Dam%20WI.pdf

13

Exhibiting & Promoting / Self-Blue Final Qualifying meet - Ohio Nationals

« on: November 09, 2019, 12:23:00 PM »

From Lindsay Helton, at the Ohio National, just a few minutes ago:
"The final qualifying meet for the self blue Ameraucana color variety is being held today at the Ohio National poultry show. 42 self blues are on hand for the occasion and have been entered by 10 exhibitors including (in order of exhibitor number) Pat Dukes, Barbara Dodington, Susan Mouw, Lindsay Helton, Jean Ribbeck, Paul and Angela Smith, Eric Waterman, Shannon Rowe, Chris Cross, and Dakota’s Chickens. Good luck to everyone showing today! We are hopeful that the variety will become officially approved today!"

14

News and Information / Re: Surgery is scheduled - more updates :)

« on: August 06, 2019, 10:04:19 AM »

Just thought I'd post an update, for anyone interested.

The surgery went well, although lasting 6 hours, and I was in ICU for 3 days, instead of one.  It seems my body wasn't producing enough oxygen and I had to be on a respirator.  But once the oxygen levels came back up and I was moved into a private room, things progressed quickly.

The surgery was extensive, but we knew that going in.  They cut out about small saucer size (and shaped) hole into the side of my skull, just inside the hairline and above the ear on the right side.  They lifted the brain up, put five layers of "patchwork" over the 4.5mm x 6.5mm gap in my brain pan, trimmed off the already-dead herniated brain tissue, set everything back in place and sewed me up.

One of my hopes is that these "episodes" I've been having since Jan/18 would also be resolved with this surgery and that hope held fast until about 4 weeks after the surgery, when I had one.  I've had a couple since then; the most recent this past Sunday where I lost about an hour.  The neurosurgeon now believes, combined with the low oxygen production following surgery, that I have some blockage somewhere in one of the major arteries and has requested a full cardio-vascular workup.  The scans for carotid and trans-cranial have been done and come back clear, so we'll see how this all progresses.  The various Drs have gone back and forth over the last year and half deciding what exactly these episodes are, with some calling them focal seizures and others deciding they must be TIAs (transient ischema attacks).  The neurosurgeon that participated in my surgery (there were 2 surgeons - neuro and oto (ear)), has eliminated the possibility of these being focal seizures and has determined they are TIAs, or mini-strokes.

My plan is to attend some shows this fall, especially the Ohio National.  We've worked so hard to come this far with the self-blue acceptance, it would give me great pleasure to see the grand finale.  I won't be bringing many birds - just a few, as that's about all I can manage these days - but I hope to see many of you there.

15

News and Information / Surgery is scheduled - more updates :)

« on: May 16, 2019, 01:13:18 PM »

Ok, folks, we have a scheduled time for surgery of 5/21 at 11:30. The surgery will take about 4 hours and I will be in the hospital at least 5 days.
After home care will be at least 2 weeks on "restricted duty", whatever that means.
Barry said he is going to stay at the hospital until I'm out of surgery on Tuesday, and will be updating my FB page sometime either that evening or the next morning.
My siblings all have his phone number, too, so they may post updates if he can't get to a computer, since he doesn't have a smart phone (his choice).