Keeping records and banding your poultry
Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:57 am
Hello everyone!
Ok, here it goes... I work with ALBC type livestock, heritage endangered breeds. Todays question is about the birds I breed. I am fairly new to this, well part of my child hood was on a farm and part of my adult life, I mean actually raising flocks of birds that put me into the mom and pop level hatchery business.
I raise heritage birds for eggs, meat, show etc... I have to take meticulous notes though, for one I am dealing with breeds that are dangerously close to disappearing (some of them, others are making a strong comeback thanks to programs like ALBC, ARK, slow food movement etc.).
Two, I am dealing with very few lines, I breed my birds and I also bring in lines from other breeders if possible. For some like my Speckled Sussex chickens I have 5 folks I work with to improve my flock, with my Golden Cascades I only have two other folks :o( VERY few breeders, same with Java chickens.
Ok, so sidetracked, point is I would love to have either software or someone to hold my hand at this point. Until now I have been small enough to take notes of everything and feel confident I have it covered. Then I realized I need to order bands so I can tell who is who in each flock, which lines, which kids, where they go, how they are doing etc.
So I went to purchase bands right? Simple task, well the ones I like dont have numbers on them, I thought that was ok until my OCD kicked in. Numbers, I need numbers though, I need to be able to track each chicken and know everything about it. Social security numbers for chickens you know? So I am still stuck there, I decided on the numbers, but how to number them, how to file the numbers, to track, the best method to keep it all straight and not confusing...
With my larger livestock its easier, I dont have 2000 large beasts, my birds though, think ducks, chickens, turkeys, quail, guineas, geese, peafowl, pheasants, and a couple others... I cant have a 3 ring binder for each bird.
SO, is there a way to stay organized, keep records on everything, make it so I am tracking the characteristics of the birds when I breed or cull. I need a record system, and to know the best way to number the birds, the best system to number them.
I know this is long, and I am sorry, I just am frustrated at how much detail goes into each bird and how difficult it is for me to even find a method to number the birds, not to mention the records!
Anyone that can help me I would be eternally thankful. I wish we had a small hatchery, heck any hatchery, nearby to take me under their wing so to speak.
Thanks in advance.
Judy Lynn
Ok, here it goes... I work with ALBC type livestock, heritage endangered breeds. Todays question is about the birds I breed. I am fairly new to this, well part of my child hood was on a farm and part of my adult life, I mean actually raising flocks of birds that put me into the mom and pop level hatchery business.
I raise heritage birds for eggs, meat, show etc... I have to take meticulous notes though, for one I am dealing with breeds that are dangerously close to disappearing (some of them, others are making a strong comeback thanks to programs like ALBC, ARK, slow food movement etc.).
Two, I am dealing with very few lines, I breed my birds and I also bring in lines from other breeders if possible. For some like my Speckled Sussex chickens I have 5 folks I work with to improve my flock, with my Golden Cascades I only have two other folks :o( VERY few breeders, same with Java chickens.
Ok, so sidetracked, point is I would love to have either software or someone to hold my hand at this point. Until now I have been small enough to take notes of everything and feel confident I have it covered. Then I realized I need to order bands so I can tell who is who in each flock, which lines, which kids, where they go, how they are doing etc.
So I went to purchase bands right? Simple task, well the ones I like dont have numbers on them, I thought that was ok until my OCD kicked in. Numbers, I need numbers though, I need to be able to track each chicken and know everything about it. Social security numbers for chickens you know? So I am still stuck there, I decided on the numbers, but how to number them, how to file the numbers, to track, the best method to keep it all straight and not confusing...
With my larger livestock its easier, I dont have 2000 large beasts, my birds though, think ducks, chickens, turkeys, quail, guineas, geese, peafowl, pheasants, and a couple others... I cant have a 3 ring binder for each bird.
SO, is there a way to stay organized, keep records on everything, make it so I am tracking the characteristics of the birds when I breed or cull. I need a record system, and to know the best way to number the birds, the best system to number them.
I know this is long, and I am sorry, I just am frustrated at how much detail goes into each bird and how difficult it is for me to even find a method to number the birds, not to mention the records!
Anyone that can help me I would be eternally thankful. I wish we had a small hatchery, heck any hatchery, nearby to take me under their wing so to speak.
Thanks in advance.
Judy Lynn