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Breeds: Behind the Hen Saver® Asils Volume 3, Number 6 Backyard December, 2008/January, 2009 PoultryDedicated to more and better small-flock poultry All About the Cock’s Crow Pg. 32 World’s Oldest Breed: The Hardy Asil Pg. 50 An Eggcentric Artist Pg. 30 The Homestead Flock: Pets or Partners? Pg. 20 $4.99 US COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE CHICKS, EGGS AND SHOW QUALITY BIRDS Specializing in a variety of poultry in Large Fowl, Bantam, Ducks, Geese and Swans • Call, write or e-mail for a price list and availability. • Delivery can be arranged to shows we plan to attend. • Call between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. CST, M-F • We look forward to talking with you! Superior Farms Danny Padgett, Poultry Farm Manager 5500 N. Sara Road Yukon, OK 73099 Phone: 405-354-1401 • Fax: 405-354-2332 2 [email protected] Backyard Poultry RANDALL BURKEY COMPANY Quality Animal Health Products since 1947 FREE Poultry Supply Specialist *Catalog We stock everything you could want or need for poultry! COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE CHICKS, EGGS AND SHOW QUALITY BIRDS INCUBATORS BROODERS EGG CARTONS Specializing in a variety of poultry in Large Fowl, Bantam, Ducks, Geese and Swans NESTS & COOPS MEDICATIONS CHICKEN TRACTORS • Call, write or e-mail for a price list and availability. • Delivery can be arranged to shows we plan to attend. • Call between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. CST, M-F POULTRY BANDS FEEDERS & WATERERS NETTING • We look forward to talking with you! Superior Farms CAGES & PENS BOOKS LIVE CHICKS & EGGS Danny Padgett, Poultry Farm Manager 5500 N. Sara Road $5 OFF your first order over $25 when you mention this ad! Yukon, OK 73099 Phone: 405-354-1401 • Fax: 405-354-2332 SAME DAY SHIPPING TOLL Order Online [email protected] On in stock items ordered by 1:00PM CST FREE December, 2008/January, 2009 800-531-1097www.backyardpoultrymag.comwww.randallburkey.com 3 BACKYARD POULTRY Backyard 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 www.backyardpoultrymag.com Poultry Volume 3, Number 6 Publisher: Dave Belanger December, 2008/January, 2009 Editor: Elaine Belanger Managing Editor: Anne-marie Ida From the Editor: Editorial Assistant: Samantha Ingersoll The Future of the Fancy: Circulation and Fulfillment: Laura Opportunities Abound for Youth Ching, Ellen Waichulis, Kate Tucker, Kelly Weiler, Christine Barkley, to Join Poultry Programs ............6 Gwendolyn Jones Bookstore: Ann Tom Letters to the Editor ..........8 Advertising Representatives ........................... 16 (Rates on request) SPPA News Alicia Komanec Coming Events .................... 18 1-800-551-5691 [email protected] The Homestead Flock: Pets or Partners? ........................20 Gary Christopherson 1-800-551-5691 This issue’s feature breed, the [email protected] Helpful Hints: Asil, is the oldest historically Preparing Poultry for Winter ...26 Backyard Poultry documented breed of poultry in the world. Learn more about it (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) Dubbing to Prevent Frostbite ..26 is published bi-monthly at on page 50. 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451. Periodicals postage paid at Medford, WI Just for Fun: Holiday Fun: and additional mailing offices.©2008 The Eggcentric Artist ...............30 Have Your Chickens Been The views presented here do not Naughty or Nice? Gift Ideas for necessarily represent those of the editor Health: Your Chickens ........................... 45 or publisher. All contents of this issue The Cock’s Crow ........................32 of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Countryside Publications, Ltd., 2008. All Backyard Poultry rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or The Answer Man ....................... 38 Photo Contest ...................48 in part is prohibited except by permission of the publisher. Poultry Saddles: The story Breeds: behind the Hen Saver® Asils ............................................50 Editorial and Advertising Office: hen apron ...................................42 Backyard Poultry 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 [email protected] Subscriptions (U.S. funds): $21 per year; 2 years $35. Backyard Poultry Subscriptions 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 1-800-551-5691 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Backyard Poultry Subscriptions Constance Bothwell displays the ribbons she won showing her 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 chickens. The future of our fancy begins with youth involvement. See our youth focus on pages 54-64. 4 Backyard Poultry ON THE C O VER : The December, 2008/January, 2009 cover photo winner is by Rosemary Stockwell, Louisiana. She says, “My family is delighted with Backyard Poultry, especially my 93-year-old mom who still has chickens. I love my flock and en- joy taking their pictures and having them around. “Our rooster, Cisco, is from our White Crested Black Polish cock and an unknown hen. We have many purebred hens, but I do not know who the mother is. Cisco got very little of the cock’s traits, except the little tuft of hair behind his comb.” To learn how to enter your poultry-related photos in the photo contest, see page 48. Youth: Gertrude McCluck: Chicken in Charge .................... 54 Showmanship: A Fun Thing To Do ......................................... 56 The Chicken Tractor: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle .............. 58 Profile of a Lot: A Surprisingly Special Place ............................. 60 The Great Chicken Show .........62 The County Fair: Beginner’s Luck Hooks Youth, and the Rest is History ...........................64 Backyard Poultry Breeders Directory ........... 65 December, 2008/January, 2009 www.backyardpoultrymag.com 5 FR O M THE EDIT O R : The Future of the Fancy Opportunities Abound for Youth to Join Poultry Programs ELAINE BELANGER fully and effectively in the poultry fancy as an adult.” had the pleasure of attending the Sea- Youth learn about a variety of breeds, side Feather Fanciers (SSFF) “Bash enabling them to decide the right breed at the Beach Poultry Show and APA for their situation, general care of poultry, INational Convention” in late October. including housing, feed and health. They Many parts of the event were unique will also learn to exhibit poultry, if that You never know what you might see at a and interesting, including the fabulous is their interest. The program challenges poultry show—or at least near one. This weather, the exhibition hall filled with youth to develop individual talents and man and his blue and gold McCaw parrot birds, the wine and pastry auctions, and skills, promotes showmanship, fellow- stroll the beachfront boardwalk I used to much more. But for me, at every poultry ship, community involvement and the travel from the hotel to the fairgrounds for the SSFF Poultry Show, Ventura, show, the youth program is the part that overall poultry fancy. California. entertains and inspires the most. I witness the efforts towards those While showing birds is a high priority goals at each show I attend. Visit their port youth programs with sponsorships for the kids, showmanship, educational website to learn more about joining and reduced subscription rates—contact posters and many other activities are also APA/ABA Youth Program: www.apa- us for more information at [email protected] important, and the kids shine; sporting abayouthprogramsite.org or 800-551-5691. 4-H outfits, dress shirts and big smiles. Another wonderful youth program is See pages 54-64 for several youth- It is such a pleasure to see that these kids the 4-H Youth Development. related articles and look for additional still study manuals and practice working Subscriber Cherrie Nolden summed coverage of the SSFF Show in the Feb/ with their animals. They prepare hard for up the value of 4-H programs when she March, 2009 issue. Encourage your these events and their enthusiasm shows shared her experiences with us in the child’s involvement in a youth program when presenting to the judges. April/May, 2006 issue of Backyard Poul- today—just for fun. Many of the poultry shows offer a try, “Life seems to follow an unpredict- variety of youth activities sponsored by able and often convoluted path, presenting A friend is someone who thinks the APA/ABA Youth Program. The pri- new challenges and opportunities. More you’re a good egg, even if you’re mary objective of the APA/ABA Youth often than not, I have chosen to embrace slightly cracked. Program is “to encourage and help our these challenges despite them requiring Statement of Ownership, Management young members to acquire the knowl- more work, and often, a leap outside of and Circulation edge, skills and experience to participate my comfort zone. The end results have Title of publication: Backyard Poultry. Publication no. been rewarding and eye-opening experi- 023374. Published bimonthly. Annual subscription price $21. Mailing address of publication, headquar- ences that have shaped who I am today. ters of general business offices, publisher, editor and The confidence required to take these managing editor: 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, Taylor, WI 54451. Publisher, Dave Belanger; Editor, Elaine leaps did not come naturally. Looking Belanger; Managing Editor: Anne-marie Ida. Owner: back, I owe most of my accomplishments Countryside Publications, Ltd., Dave Belanger, 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451. Anne-marie Ida, to the life skills I learned during the years 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451. Known bond- I spent as a 4-Her.” holders, mortgagees and other security holders owning The goals of the 4-H Youth Develop- or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: none. Extent and nature ment program are to teach leadership, of circulation: Average no. of copies each issue during citizenship and life skills, while having the preceding 12 months (actual no. of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date): A: Total no. of fun, learning, exploring and discovering. copies printed: 74,667 (83,000). B(1): Paid/requested Programs are offered for youth from all outside county as stated on form 3541: 65,719 (71,947). B(2): Paid in-county subscriptions: 0 (0). B(3): Sales walks of life, whether they live in cities, through dealers, carriers, street vendors, counter sales, small towns or rural communities.
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