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BACKYARD POULTRY Backyard 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 www.backyardpoultrymag.com 800-551-5691 Poultry Publisher: Dave Belanger Editor: Elaine Belanger Volume 6, Number 1 Managing Editor: Anne-marie Ida February/March 2011 Editorial Assistant: Samantha Ingersoll Circulation and Fulfillment: Laura Ching, Ellen Waichulis, Kelly Weiler, From the Editor: Book Reviews: Christine Barkley Pages Galore, and a Whole Lot The Ultimate Pet Goose Guidebook ... 60 Bookstore: Ann Tom More ...................................................6 Advertising Representatives Youth: (Rates on request) Readers’ Letters ............................8 Youth Showmanship Guide........... 64 Alicia Komanec Special Reports: Parts of a Chicken...........................68 1-800-551-5691 Follow-up on Plastic Feed Bags .....14 [email protected] Gertrude McCluck: Chicken in Charge Turn a Polywoven Feed Sack Into a Youth Writer Contest Stories ....... 70 Gary Christopherson Reusable Shopping Bag...................16 1-800-551-5691 [email protected] Just for Fun: Coming Events ............................ 18 Checking in at the Chicken Backyard Poultry Hilton ............................................... 72 (ISSN 1559-2251, USPS 023-374) SPPA News is published bi-monthly by Tips on Breeding ............................ 20 The Story of Four Chicks that Countryside Publications, Ltd. at 145 Became Three..................................76 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451. Housing: Periodicals postage paid at Medford, The “Ideal” Chicken Coop............. 22 Backyard Poultry 2010 Index ...78 WI and additional mailing offices. ©2011 Countryside Publications, Ltd. A Modern Chicken Coop: Student Breeders Directory ................... 80 The views presented here do not Entrepreneurs Start Chicken necessarily represent those of the editor Coop Company...................................26 or publisher. All contents of this issue ON THE COVER: of Backyard Poultry are copyrighted by Breed Focus: Countryside Publications, Ltd., 2011. All Getting the Facts on Chicken The February/March 2011 cover rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or Breeds...............................................30 photo of a Gray Silkie was sent to in part is prohibited except by permission us by Donna McCormick, www. of the publisher. Silkies: The Furry, Five-Toed Bantam BluegrassBantams.com. See page 32 Editorial and Advertising Office: Chicken.............................................. 32 for more information on the Silkie Backyard Poultry bantam chicken. 145 Industrial Dr. Emus: Consider This Unusual Breed Medford, WI 54451 for Your Backyard Flock .....................36 [email protected] Identifying Peafowl Varieties ......... 38 Subscriptions (U.S. funds): $21 per year; 2 years $35. Quail ................................................ 44 Backyard Poultry Subscriptions 145 Industrial Dr. Medford, WI 54451 Gardening: 1-800-551-5691 Too Much of a Good Thing?......... 46 POSTMASTER: Backyard Poultry Family Send address changes to: Album: Backyard Poultry Subscriptions 2010 Cover Contest Winners......... 52 145 Industrial Dr., Medford, WI 54451 Health: Printed in the U.S.A. The Answer Man.............................54 4 Backyard Poultry February/March 2011 www.backyardpoultrymag.com 5 FR O M THE EDIT O R : Pages Galore, and a Whole Lot More ELAINE BELANGER the hatcheries for catalogs offering every breed you could imagine. Most of these ate winter offers us a time to relax and catalogs are also filled with helpful advice slow down after the busy holidays. on breed traits and personalities. LNow is the time to snuggle in front Many of the hatcheries also offer their of the fireplace and read a good book. It catalog online—instant gratification in- also offers us a time to plan for spring: deed. One of my favorite online catalogs is the chance to design the garden plot, the Murray McMurray’s 100-page interactive flowerbeds, and the most exciting part, catalog, with hundreds of breed photos, deciding what new birds to add to the and descriptions, see page 9 for more. flock. MyPetChicken.com is another online With this in mind, Backyard Poultry guide filled with useful pages including a is pleased to provide this huge 84-page chicken breed selector tool, a chicken care issue, loaded with articles to guide you in guide, and a “Just for Fun” section, see your poultry plans. page 84. Other great online sites include Included in this issue is an article from Stromberg’s, with articles such as “The Don Schrider, providing a great resource to Care of Baby Chicks, Ducks, & Geese” find detailed information on many chicken and “A Glossary of Poultry and Waterfowl breeds. See page 30, “Getting the Facts on Terms,” see page 79. Speaking of water- Chicken Breeds.” If you are considering fowl, check out Metzer Farm’s website, a more unusual breed of poultry, we offer containing detailed stories on waterfowl articles on emus, peafowl and quail, all management, nutritional needs, health worthy poultry in their own right. concerns and how to care for goslings and Gail Damerow offers up planning tips ducklings, see page 11. when building or purchasing your poultry But don’t stop there, other great cata- housing (page 22) and Doris Robinson logs can be ordered from these pages such gives kids plenty of showmanship advice as Foy’s Pet Supplies. Foy’s owner, Jerry Hands-free chicken picker gets (page 64). Gagne, packs this 150+ page catalog with ‘em spankin’ clean in 20 seconds! To round out the youth portion of this tips on feeding, health and management is- issue, we are pleased to have several ar- sues. Randall Burkey’s writer Byron Parker ticles written by kids: The quail article on has been regaling us with poultry humor page 44 is written by 17-year-old Carlos for several years now, but I can guarantee Vega, “Parts of a Chicken,” page 68, is you will find lots of useful products in their provided by 10-year-old Jacob Nagel, catalog. See page 3. and Julian Kindermann, age 8, gives us Consider ordering a catalog from the his viewpoint on the pleasures of raising hatchery nearest your home. Many local chickens on page 76. hatcheries can guide you to the breed that is We continue sharing the winning sto- right for you. For best response, don’t wait ries from the Gertrude McCluck Writing until the busy spring season to seek guid- Features: Contest on page 70, and round out the ance, as they are truly busy during those • Tough, UV-stabilized, food-grade, plastic “Just for Fun” section with a story from times, and can offer the best assistance tub and housing Judy Horton, of the Down Home Ranch. while the chicks are still being laid! • 1 HP motor, 10:1 speed reducer • Spray ring to wash feathers away Judy and her husband Jerry operate a Once you’ve chosen your birds, look • Feather chute for tidy work area non-profit ranch for people with Down through the magazine to find a great syndrome. Caring for the chickens is variety of coops, feed options, and equip- ONLY $975! high on the list for the ranchers, as they ment. When ordering, tell them Backyard have learned what we all know—keeping Poultry sent you! Ask about the “Set-Up Special” chickens is fun. Once you get all those catalogs or- “Scalder, cones, & other equipment available” We’ve also filled our pages with dered, don’t forget to order your copy of advertisers offering their wares—from our new book, For the Love of Poultry, a www.featherman.net chicks to housing, from feeders to treats— Backyard Poultry Anthology. With that PO Box 62, Jamesport, MO 64648 everything you need to properly care for book in hand, you will really be ready for 660/684-6035 email to:[email protected] your poultry. We encourage you to contact the new flock. See page 17 for details. 6 Backyard Poultry February/March 2011 www.backyardpoultrymag.com 7 LETTERS : Do you have something to crow about? We want to hear from you.