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Harvest Breeze Farm

Bearded Silkies ♥ Bantam Cochins♥ Registered Pygmy Goats

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0 9 Silkies and Cochins

Show Preparation

Hi, my name is Shari McCollough. Welcome to Harvest Breeze Farm's website. Our hobby farm is located in West Central Indiana. We are
in the heart of the corn belt! I absolutely LOVE where we live. It's in the country, surrounded by fields of corn and soybeans. I really
enjoy the privacy, peace and quiet. Our farm is FULL of life. We always have something going on; if it's not the new chicks hatching, it's
baby kids being born. We currently have: two llamas (Equalizer and Spook), 21 pygmy goats (that number varies monthly), and several
chickens. I mainly focus on the bearded silkies and bantam cochins.

I am currently participating in my 4th year of exhibiting poultry and my 6th year of breeding silkies and cochins. We are currently raising
silkies in: buff, white, black, splash ,and blue. And bantam cochins, in white, black, blue and splash varieties.

I've been around poultry all of my life. My parents raised leghorns when I was a kid for eggs and meat. I always knew someday I would have
my own farm with animals. Instead of raising chickens for eggs and meat, like my parents, I have decided to raise birds primarily for
breeding and show. I have to admit being a 'breeder' isn't as easy as it sounds, at least if your like me and nit pick every detail about a
bird. I feel thats what it takes to get it right. I would like to share a few of my experiences with you. First, their's A LOT more to
breeding birds then meets the eye. If you're serious about your future generations you have to carefully choose the birds you breed. I
have to give Nikki Stetson from HatTrick Silkies credit for her help and guidance through the years:) Thanks to her and the beautiful
birds I have purchased, I know have set a great foundation to build on. Once you decide who you want to buy from, get to know the person
you are dealing with, don't be afraid to ask for pictures if their is no web page available. Ask for references before you buy, especially if
it's an expensive investment. It's definitely 'BUYER BEWARE'. I highly suggest any new breeder serious about breeding any type of birds
to educate yourself about the breed you'd like to raise. I highly suggest the Standard of Perfection and/or Bantam Standard . These
two books are the "poultry breeders bible." Each has EVERYTHING you need to know. If you decide to breed with exhibition goals in mind,
that's what the judge will base his decisions on. I say, "live it, know it, breathe it!" I would also suggest going to a few poultry shows in
your area. This is a great way to get yourself familiar with the way a bird should look, plus, you can talk to breeders and ask questions. This
is the best way to learn. I've NEVER met a breeder that wasn't willing to talk chickens. Be on your toes, don't fall into that 'Show
Quality' trap. Some folks really mis-represent themselves and the birds they sell with this title simply to 'sell'. Ask tough questions; you
have a right to know before you buy. This goes for hatching eggs, also. Think about it, how can an egg be 'show quality'? Their is no way to
know what is inside the egg until it hatches, develops, feathers in, and matures. Their are very few birds that fit the 'show quality'
category. Just because you put two 'show' birds together, doesn't mean you will hatch out ALL 'show' birds. You may get a few to show, but
every chick hatched will not be a 'show' bird. Like a fellow breeder once said, and I quote, "you put the best with the best......and hope for
the best." That really wraps it up! So don't let folks tell you any different. Your best choice is to go with solid breeders, and work from
there. Last but not least, have fun and enjoy yourself, it is a wonderful hobby, I have met so many good friends raising poultry. Thanks for
dropping by my website. Feel free to visit often; I update at least once a week:)

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Here's a little about me, my thoughts and
Harvest Breeze Farm

Proud to be a member of the
following:
•Cochin International
•American Silkie Bantam Club
•American Poultry Association
•American Bantam Association
•APA/ABA Youth
•National Pygmy Goat Association
•National Poultry Improvement Plan

Food for thought:)

Success is not the key to
happiness. Happiness is the key
to success. If you love what you
are doing, you will be successful.

Albert Schweitzer