Harvest Breeze Farm |
Bearded Silkies ♥ Bantam Cochins♥ Registered Pgymy Goats
| Hi and welcome to Harvest Breeze Farm 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, its in the country, surround 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 2 llamas, Equalizer and Spook, 21 pygmy goats, (that number varies monthly) and several chickens. I mainly focus on the bearded silkies and bantam cochins. In 2008 I will be entering my 3rd year of exhibiting poultry and my 5th year of breeding silkies and cochins. We are currently raising silkies in buff, white, black, splash and blue. And bantam cochins, frizzle and smooth varieties in white, black, blue and splash. I love ALL of these colors. I've been around poultry all of my life, my parents raised leghorns when I was a kid, we raised them for eggs and meat. I always knew someday I would have my own farm with animals. I've taken a little different route then mom and dad and decided to raise birds primarily for breeding and show. I have admit being a 'breeder' isn't as easy as it sounds, at least if your like me and nit pick every part of each 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 your serious about your future generations you have to carefully choose the birds you put together. I have to give Nikki Stetson from HatTrick Silkies credit for helping me through my mistakes, and boy I've made my share:) Thanks to her and the beautiful birds I purchased, set a great foundation to build on. One of the major points I'd like to make about breeding is; you want to move forward in your program, if not careful what you blend or breed together, you will end up two steps behind. So, carefully choose the birds you breed together. Also, 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 am speaking from experience, that's where my two steps behind comes from:) First, I would encourage any new breeder that is 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. Second, buy from reputable people that breed with the SOP in mind. If you decide to show, 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 they 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". Third, 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 could 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 said once 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:) |
| 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 Frizzle Club of America •National Pygmy Goat Association •National Poultry Improvement Plan |
| Food for thought:) Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose Helen Keller |
| ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE THE PROPERTY OF HARVEST BREEZE FARM. DO NOT USE THESE PICTURES WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM US. THANK YOU. |
| **PROUD TO HAVE A NPIP CERTIFIED FLOCK** |
| Blog updated April 17th, 08 |
| Website updated May 7th, 08 |
Thanks Nik.....wink wink
| Results are in from the GAteway show, check out the "show results" page:) |
| Pick of the Day! Buff Silkie Pullet |
