January thoughts

The first month of the year for most, signals the start or beginning but, here in the bird room we are well into our “new year” schedule wise. A few months after our molt, most of us have reviewed, analyzed, confirmed and conversed with friends about what we did and didn’t do successfully last season. A well earned trip to the NBS in Knoxville Tennessee in November to show, see old friends and to learn something new. And now we are well into the planning stage, with timelines established, potential breeding pairs sorted and a list of tasks to accomplish before the craziness of March/April.

It does feel like the month is flying by as we are chatting today on the 19th. Since today was a state holiday here, I was able to spend some extra time in the bird room. It’s always a blessing to get any more time in there since I work full time. Today, a cuppa for me and a bath for the kids, it became apparent that I had a fox in the hen house! I missed a rather randy young male when I separated the 2025 kids and he had found a willing hen! Tea towel in hand, a few cuss words and an extraction was made and a new cage was found for this overachiever. The 2025 hens are in a longer flight cage, the 2025 cocks I have had to place 2 to a cage or completely separate cages. As the light increases not only do those beautiful songs get stronger but, the hormones start to run amuck.

This last half of the month I will be getting ready for a light adjustment for February, playing closer attention to diet, and a start on increasing the conditioning foods. I feed quality seed all year long, and supplement every other day with a wide variety of greens and vegetables.

I’ll sign off now and get ready for the work week ahead. Thanks for stopping by! Thankful, grateful, blessed.