December Small Stock Meeting 12/9/24
Glad to see so many attended Fancy Fowl! Lots of new faces and first tries. Glad everyone could try showmanship and see a big breed show in full force.
Turkeys are out! Good luck to everyone who ordered them.
Ducks have been ordered and should arrive in the first week of January, have everything ready to keep them warm.
There are only two more opportunities to meet the attendance requirements for fair. They are the clinic on January 12th at 2pm at the CAC mobile building, and the other is the 4H Stock Show and Roundup at the Pima County Fairgrounds on the weekend of February 15th (the exact schedule for this event is not out yet). If one or neither of these events cannot be attended and another event is needed, I have three others that will qualify. I will offer these up if I am contacted about the issue and a replacement is requested, proof of attendance will also be needed. Note two of the other events are in January and one is in February, so requests need to be made soon. There are no events available in March! Please don’t let this be the reason someone can’t attend the fair.
The clinic on January 12th at 2pm will be about getting ready for fair. Topics like bathing your bird, grooming your bird, what to do before the fair, and what to bring to fair will all be discussed.
YQCA is due January 31st. I need copies of all certificates- I don’t care if they come individually or if leaders want to send them in a mass group. Talk to your leader to find out what they’re looking for. Copies need to be sent to the Poultry email with the exhibitor’s name and the expiration date clearly visible.
Ownership will also be due January 31st and will be open the first week of January. I am recommending that all birds are registered so that there is no worry come fair if any bird can or cannot attend due to ownership. It is also recommended that all birds are registered for every child in case birds need to be switched around it is also not a problem. Please also include any Cornish-cross meat birds or quail that may be ordered/hatched in the following months since those hatch dates are after ownership but still need to be declared as being owned.
Field Day is February 8th at the Ag Center Arena. It will include a morning full of learning and afternoon of fun! Registration will be open in January. Participants are encouraged to bring their birds. We are looking for raffle donations if anyone has anything.
I have been in contact with someone who will either attend the clinic or field day to help kids learn about dubbing and to dub birds. Dubbing is the cutting of the comb, wattles, and earlobes of all Game males and must be done to not be disqualified at the fair. I will get out what day they are able to help so birds needing this done can attend. They will be healed by fair with both these dates.
Families that are thinking of doing the Cornish-cross commercial meat birds need to order them soon. The county is NOT responsible for ordering these birds. The birds need to be hatched between February 23rd and March 9th to meet the 6-8 week requirement for fair. The reason I am saying to get the order in soon is to be sure the hatchery has enough to meet your order by that date. Some hatcheries do have a high minimum order count so it may be better if some families get together and split an order. When ordering 10-12 birds will be ideal because they are not as hardy as most chickens and will also ensure enough birds to have them all as close in weight and looks as possible. Some hatcheries that carry the Cornish-rock cross (also can be called Jumbo Cornish cross) are: McMurray Hatchery, Meyer Hatchery, Welp Hatchery, and Cackle Hatchery. These birds do not all have to female or male specifically.
Finally, there will be a poultry project fundraiser down at the Green Valley Tractor Supply on February 22nd. A sign up for time slots and donations will be put up at the beginning of February. The more help we get the better! Will be looking for donations of anything from baked goods, craft goods, or anything else anyone can think of.
Don’t forget fair poultry shirts are still available!
