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Messages - Sharon Yorks

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1
Exhibiting & Promoting / Re: Another new Master Exhibitor!
« on: November 23, 2015, 11:09:30 PM »
Way to go, Max!!!

2
News and Information / AI current Stats (as of June 3, 2015)
« on: June 05, 2015, 12:07:29 AM »

I found these stats on the United States Department of Agriculture’s website. I thought I had read somewhere that there are 20 states affected, but I think there are only 14 listed below. The link to the website is very long so I posted it at the bottom of this page. You can check out the website to see which reports are commercial or backyard and also which are chickens and which are turkeys.


Poultry Findings Confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories

212 Detections Reported - 46,239,793 Birds Affected
12/19/14 First Detection Reported - 6/3/15 Last Detection Reported

Minnesota
99 Detections Reported - 8,447,350 Birds Affected
3/4/15 First Detection Reported - 6/3/15 Last Detection Reported

Iowa
71 Detections Reported - 30,420,500 Birds Affected
4/20/15 First Detection Reported - 6/3/15 Last Detection Reported

South Dakota
10 Detections Reported - 1,168,200 Birds Affected
4/1/15 First Detection Reported - 6/1/15 Last Detection Reported

North Dakota
2 Detections Reported - 111,500 Birds Affected
4/10/15 First Detection Reported - 4/24/15 Last Detection Reported

Nebraska
3 Detections Reported - 3,794,100 Birds Affected
5/12/15 First Detection Reported - 5/26/15 Last Detection Reported

Wisconsin
10 Detections Reported - 1,950,733 Birds Affected
4/11/15 First Detection Reported - 5/6/15 Last Detection Reported

Missouri
3 Detections Reported - 53,100 Birds Affected
3/9/15 First Detection Reported - 5/5/15 Last Detection Reported

Kansas (Leavenworth County)
1 Detections Reported - 10 Birds Affected
3/13/15 First Detection Reported - 3/13/15 Last Detection Reported

Arkansas (Boone County)
1 Detections Reported - 40,020 Birds Affected
3/11/15 First Detection Reported - 3/11/15 Last Detection Reported

Missouri
3 Detections Reported - 53,100 Birds Affected
3/9/15 First Detection Reported - 5/5/15 Last Detection Reported

Oregon
2 Detections Reported - 200 Birds Affected
12/19/14 First Detection Reported - 2/17/15 Last Detection Reported

California
2 Detections Reported - 247,300 Birds Affected
1/23/15 First Detection Reported - 2/12/15 Last Detection Reported

Washington
5 Detections Reported - 6,710 Birds Affected
1/3/15 First Detection Reported - 2/3/15 Last Detection Reported

Idaho (Canyon County)
1 Detections Reported - 30 Birds Affected
1/16/15 First Detection Reported - 1/16/15 Last Detection Reported

Website link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/sa_animal_disease_information/sa_avian_health/ct_avian_influenza_disease/!ut/p/a1/lVJbb4IwFP41e1qwFZDLo5cpONFkRgVeyAEKNINCoGjcr19Rt7gHMWvSh57znXyXU-QjF_kMjjQFTksGeff2tWC5seThBMv2Ymu-YXu9nzvGSlc2lioAngDgB2eM_85v3m2tm__AE2s2xFsFHZCP_IjximfIgyqjTRCVjBPGg5yGNdTnF9xAULZ1kJRR21xewGgBeZARyHl2X4lpQ6AhAWVJWRcXE9f2kQL7xUf8VhCwvCXsC34GOzFVRGPkhbKZYE0mkmIMQVKjUJFgBCNJHsVJHEeRrij6zXyPuyfhXcwLyHQxtlR9JQJTDRnbMzGumw7GtnYD9OTrCQ36QxJTRdt_mlo-VT1F_u78tX9NuwDk2pk6qWAAnkld7sjt3ce1fbcP5PbsQ4hJ8zIUP_Ewu2cds1AxBGtNElKTepCVDUfu6XQatE0Mg7Q8oqrYFYZylj6T9Vry52l3vwHW5G2Y/?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_animal_health%2Fsa_animal_disease_information%2Fsa_avian_health%2Fsa_detections_by_states%2Fct_ai_pacific_flyway


3
News and Information / AI issues in various states
« on: June 03, 2015, 12:41:54 PM »
Just a thought - With all that is going on with the AI issues and precautions in so many states, it may be a good idea to double check with the postal service to see whether or not it is still okay to continue shipping baby chicks - if you have orders on the books. I'd hate to hear that some were turned away along their trip.

4
Exhibiting & Promoting / Ohio is officially shut down
« on: June 03, 2015, 12:29:14 PM »
I just spoke with Rhonda Simmons who is the show producer for this month's Canfield, Ohio show and she said that her show has been cancelled and that she had been on a recent conference call with the state who is now saying that all poultry related shows, swap meets, auctions, and fairs have been cancelled until January of 2016. She went on to say that there hasn't been any reported cases (to her knowledge) but that these cancellations are being done as a precaution and preventative measure. 

5
Okay, Clif. We’ve all said prayers on your behalf and have prayed for your speedy recovery. Believe it, receive it, and get a move on. There’s work to be done!

6
Breeding / Re: Breeding black to splash
« on: May 10, 2015, 02:05:24 PM »
Like everyone else here, I’m still trying to figure out the dos and don’ts and have been focused on how (and what) to breed in hopes of improving the blue Ameraucana. One thing I think is important when crossing blacks into the mix is to try and only use the blacks that have been hatched out of blues and carry the silver (S) gene. I also believe (but is not fact) that the blues you see that look muddy or dirty could be a result of them having a gold (G) gene parent. If you must combine them for some reason (if that’s all you have) there are ways around it.

When I first started breeding Ameraucanas, I started with a blue male and a black (G) female. Females will only take their daddy’s gene, while males will take a gene from both…so I was told. If you are trying to create a blue (S) pen, only keep the blue females from a cross like that (since she only has daddy’s gene) and only keep the black males from that cross if working towards your black (G) pen, then either cross the black back to his mother or a (G) female you’ve purchased from someone else.

I am currently trying a project using a black (G) male with a splash (S) female in hopes of getting the awesome qualities I have in a particular black male I got from Clif, into my blue pen. This male is as gentle as they come, has a straight comb, and is as wide as he is tall. I REALLY want his qualities added into my blues so I bred him to splash hen (that is out of a blue male that has really nice lacing/edging), so hopefully she carries that, too. Although all chicks will be blue, this chick (hoping it’s a male) carries both parent’s gene and then I will cross him back to a well laced blue and keep them all in my blue pens. I would not keep or breed back to a blue female out of this cross since she would only carry her daddy’s gold gene.

When breeding for good blues, I personally prefer to breed blues to blues since I can see what I’m dealing with, but I have also kept splash and black (S) if I like other qualities about them. This is just information (whether true or false) that I feel I have learned by trial and error and hope that it is helpful to others.

   

7
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Leg Bands vs. Wing Bands
« on: May 07, 2015, 10:58:01 AM »
With your hands. It's like a little spiral band that you can unwind and then it bounces back when you let go of it. Don't unwind too far or you'll snap and break it. And sometimes if you pull it out too far you will have to squeeze it a little once it's on the bird to help tighten the twist. I really like them.

8
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Leg Bands vs. Wing Bands
« on: April 29, 2015, 09:26:41 PM »
I really like the little rubber bands too. Once they have outgrown them, I switch to the #7 size bandettes from Hakes' Twin City Poultry Supplies: https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8_24&zenid=5aa960734b32ad9feaa9301dd0941b6b

#7 fits LF from about age 1 month to 3-5 months (depending on bird), then I switch to size #9. I've never had to use anything larger.

9
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Over 2 decades of experience
« on: April 25, 2015, 09:59:03 AM »
Great info, Paul & Angela! Thanks for sharing with everyone. I do pretty much the same as you (with a few exceptions)...probably because you were the one who taught me how to do it several years ago when I was first getting started ;)

I hatched a 21-day-old egg once that had been hauled 900 miles in a vehicle, then left in my vehicle overnight in below freezing temperatures, and then traveled almost another 300 miles for me to get it home. Unfortunately, it was the only one that did hatch and the chick had to be raised alone...although she did make friends with a moose and a dog.

10
Ameraucana Breeders Club
Judges Sheet for Ameraucana Egg Contest
2014 National Meet

Entry Number:   ___________   Class:   ___________


Category
   
Maximum Points   
Points Awarded   
Optimal Quality(s)
Shell Texture

10      non-porous, uniformly smooth throughout shell quality
10      not thin, resistant to breakage, free of hair-line cracks, without bumps or spots shell shape

10      uniform, oval, smaller ends quite evident size
10      top priority is six eggs of uniform size, then tending to large size for class of entry cleanliness
10      exteriors free of stains or evidence of sand-papering shell color
30      blue without evidence of brown pigment, inside same shade as outside – allowing for dampness
                freshness

10      yolks “stand up” and whites are not “runny” interior qualities
10      free of foreign spots or other impurities, yolk size proportionate to size of eggs

TOTALS   
100 points   
__________points
   

Disqualification:
_____ Evidence of faking including artificial coloring
_____ Eggs having been boiled or otherwise preserved
_____ No evidence of blue shell pigmentation
_____ Eggs other than true Ameraucana
   Comments:



Egg Contest Information
2014 National Meet


Two classes are provided: Large Fowl and Bantam.

Ameraucana eggs only.

No entry fee.

Awards will be given for the “Best” and “Reserve” Large Fowl and Bantam eggs.

Entries will consist of six eggs presented in a suitable container of the entrant’s choice.

Exhibitors may enter the same class more than once only if each entry represents a different Ameraucana variety and/or under hen or pullet status. Entries from pens or flocks of commingled varieties shall be limited to one per class and shall be designated “Various” on the entry form.

No unsolicited remarks by any exhibitor may be made within hearing of the judge during the judging process. Violations will result in automatic disqualification of all entries of the violator(s).

All entries become the property of the Ameraucana Breeders Club at the time of entry.

Two out of each entry of six eggs will be opened by the judge or the clerk to facilitate the judging of interior qualities and coloring.

Each class will be judged to third place.


11
News and Information / Re: Thanks
« on: April 21, 2015, 12:01:31 PM »
It's amazing how many really nice people you meet and become friends with in this club  :)

12
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Humidity control by weights
« on: April 19, 2015, 08:29:22 PM »
I usually keep my humidity at 32-39 during the first 18 days...start at 35 and you can fluctuate up or down, depending on the air cell. If there doesn't seem to be enough air cell, lower the humidity a little. When I go into lock down, I raise the humidity to anywhere between 63-68. My last three hatches have been 40 hatched chicks out of 58 eggs...30 chicks out of 50 eggs (but incubator shot up to over 101 during day 20 for a few hours)...and 35 chicks out of 48 eggs.

Having said that, I've recently noticed that it's not so much the percentage of overall eggs that are hatching as much as it seems that certain hen's eggs hatch out better than some others. I just noticed this pattern after my last hatch when I noticed that I set 5 eggs from one particular hen and none made it out of the shell, but all were fully developed chicks, then another hen's eggs (8) all hatched but 2 and another hen I set 9 of her eggs and all but 2 hatched. Then, looking back at the chicks I had previously hatched, it's always a similar pattern. It may be worth taking note of how many chicks you are getting from each hen.   

13
Breeding / Re: Skittles my special splash chick!
« on: April 12, 2015, 10:29:50 PM »
Yep! Looks like you've got yourself a little blue chick there. The black spots is probably a little ticking. I think that happens sometimes (a theory) when a person breeds a spotted splash to a blue or black. It's kind of like the spots come through onto the blue. That's just me guessing though. I'm really not sure why black ticking spots sometimes shows up on blues. Does this chick have a splash parent?

14
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Leg Bands vs. Wing Bands
« on: April 09, 2015, 07:18:57 PM »
 ::)...yes. I meant to do them. Really I did. Thanks for reminding me. I will do them now.  :)

15
Housing, Health & Hatching / Re: Leg Bands vs. Wing Bands
« on: April 08, 2015, 09:14:24 PM »
It's doing much better. I don't have any trouble with it on a daily bases and don't even think about it, but when I tried to do a pushup last week, it said, "No way!" I'm certain the bones are healed, just don't know why I can't put much weight on it. It's probably more tendon related and I just need to be stretching and working it more.

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