The Russian Orloff Chicken They Are Somewhat Rare in the U.S
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Volume 8, Number 1 Backyard February/March 2013 PoultryDedicated to more and better small-flock poultry Think Like a Chicken Understanding Bird Talk Pg.26 From Russia with Love: The Russian Orloff Pg. 62 The Sex-link Chicken: Clarifying Crossbreeds Pg.58 Backyard Poultry FP 2-12 security:Mother Earth 4.5 x7 2/15/12 9:34 AM Page 1 RANDALL BURKEY COMPANY COYOTES Quality Products since 1947 menacing to your Free Catalog • 800-531-1097 • randallburkey.com livestock, pets or poultry? SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back! $ 95 ––––––––––––––19 SUPER LOW PRICE –––––––––––––– Protection Against Night Time Predator Animals FREE SHIPPING On orders of 4 Nite Guard Solar® has been proven effective in repelling lights or more. predator animals through overwhelming evidence from –––––––––––––– testing by the company and tens of thousands of users. PROMO CODE 4FREE Nite Guard Solar attacks the deepest most primal fear of night animals – that of being discovered. 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See How It Works @ www.niteguard.com SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO CHICKEN Volume 8, Number 1 BACKYARD February/March 2013 POULTRY Backyard 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 www.backyardpoultrymag.com Poultry 800-551-5691 From the Editor: About Geese: A 3-part series Publisher: Bart Smith Great Memories of the Past Seven Years....6 Part 1: Heavy Geese ....................... 64 Editor: Elaine Belanger Managing Editor: Anne-marie Ida Readers’ Letters ............................8 Anne Robinson is New Metzer Editorial Assistant: Samantha Ingersoll Farms General Manager ................ 70 Circulation and Fulfillment: Laura Backyard Poultry Family Ching, Ellen Soper, Kelly Weiler, Album: A Love of the Hobby: Christine Barkley 2012 Cover Photo Contest Winners .....16 Like Mother, Like Daughter, A Bookstore: Ann Tom Father’s Memory Sparked This SPPA News: Family Hobby .................................. 72 Advertising Representatives Breeders Directory Loaded With (Rates on request) Rare Breed Sources ......................... 18 Recipes: Alicia Komanec Sweeten Spring with a Trio of Coming Events ........................... 20 800-551-5691 Cookies Featuring Eggs..................76 [email protected] Helpful Hints: Gary Christopherson Hen and Chick Lemon Cookies ....76 800-551-5691 Winter Tips............................................. 22 Polka Dot Meringues...................... 77 [email protected] Provide Wide, Flat Boards for Roosting..................................................23 Chewy-Chocolate Brownie Cookies.... 77 Backyard Poultry (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) Natural Nest Box Filler......................23 Your Flock: is published bi-monthly by Amelia’s Flock ................................ 80 Countryside Publications, Ltd. at 145 Chicken Behavior: Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451. Learning to Think Like a Chicken ...... 26 Atty’s 4-H Flock.............................. 81 Periodicals postage paid at Medford, WI and additional mailing offices. A Guide to Raising Roosters ........... 30 Just for Fun: ©2013 Countryside Publications, Ltd. Hen Provides Therapy for Housing: Seniors..............................................82 The views presented here do not Ken’s Coop....................................... 32 necessarily represent those of the editor Youth: or publisher. All contents of this issue My Chicken House..................................36 of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Gertrude McCluck: Chicken in Countryside Publications, Ltd., 2013. All A Designer Coop: Owner gives coop Charge ...............................................84 rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or own unique style ......................................40 Youth Writing Contest Second in part is prohibited except by permission of the publisher. Health: Place Winner Stories.......................84 The Answer Man.............................42 Backyard Poultry 2012 Index .........86 Editorial and Advertising Office: Backyard Poultry Healthy Dust Bathing.....................48 145 Industrial Dr. Saving Frak: A Surgeon’s Story ....... 52 Medford, WI 54451 ON THE COVER: [email protected] Feed: The February/March 2013 cover Grit and Oyster Shell; When in photo is by Jeffrey Dewey, Oregon. See page 16 for more information on the Subscriptions (U.S. funds): Doubt, Put it Out ...........................54 $21 per year; 2 years $35. photo contest. Backyard Poultry Subscriptions Book Reviews: 145 Industrial Dr. Reinventing the Chicken Coop............56 Medford, WI 54451 800-551-5691 Hatching & Brooding Your Own Chicks ................................................56 POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM Young Chicken Farmers ...................... 57 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND Breed Focus: MILITARY FACILITIES: send What Breed Is It? Understanding address corrections to Backyard Sex-Link Chickens .......................... 58 Poultry Subscriptions 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 From Russia With Love: The Printed in the U.S.A. Russian Orloff..................................62 4 Backyard Poultry February/March 2013 www.backyardpoultrymag.com 5 FR O M THE EDIT O R : Great Memories of the Past Seven Years ELAINE BELANGER His hobbies include being outdoors, play- If you have a poultry association, EDIT O R ing music, and reading a good book. group or special event coming up, tell us While there is a new editor in the about your activities. ith this issue, Backyard Poultry house, you can expect the content of the Give some thought, right now, to what celebrates the first issue of its magazine to remain the same. We will you have to share with others. If it comes eighth year! I am constantly continue with many of the current array to your mind, chances are others will be Wamazed at how much fun it has been to be of topics, and familiar writers. We ask thinking about it too. the editor of a magazine that shares such that you, the readers, continue to share Articles are not always used imme- joy among its pages. your stories as well. diately and may be kept for an issue that The sheer volume of knowledge our fits the season/theme better. readers offer throughout its pages has Stories/Suggestions/Questions We can’t promise that everything sent been the key to the success of the publica- We ask you to share your experiences will be printed, but we do promise that tion, and we take this time to thank each that have worked well and those that every article or letter will be read and of you for your generosity and helpful- haven’t (maybe you can save someone considered. ness in guiding others as they begin the else the expense and disappointment of fun hobby of raising chickens. It’s almost trying some project you already know Photo Contest like everyone that reads and participates won’t work). Include details and try to The photo contest is ongoing. When in the content of Backyard Poultry is part be specific. Include photos or diagrams we receive a photo, it is electronically of a secret club that has already discov- to help others visualize your project. copied, recorded and forwarded to the ered how great an impact chickens can Share the fun stories of your poultry. contest judges. The original photos are have on our lives, whether we raise a few Consider why you raise birds and encour- then returned to you, but your photo may as pets, to show in competition, or as part age others who are still hesitating about still be used at any time in the future. of a healthy, home-grown diet. what breed to raise, or even if they should When we started Backyard Poultry in raise poultry at all. All Communications 2006, I was just beginning to understand If you raise unusual breeds or poultry For the quickest response to any all the unusual issues that can arise when other than chickens, tell others. They inquiry, be sure to include the following raising any poultry, especially chickens. may need that little nudge to “just do contact information with every communi- But thanks to an awesome support group it” and your story might be the one that cation: name, complete mailing address, of knowledgeable writers, I learned, and convinces them. phone number (including area code), and learned, and am still learning something email, if you have one. Your inquiry can every day. It has been a terrific learning often be answered by phone in a more curve, packed with humor, sadness and timely fashion than any other method. heartwarming stories. Along the way, I Send your stories, questions, con- made many friends in the poultry world, cerns and photos to Backyard Poultry, and treasure each of them. Thanks for Attn: Editor,