The Rewards of Starting Slow

It's springtime here in Alberta. After a long and bitter winter, the snow is melting, the sun is shining, and the birds are starting to lay their eggs. It's the time of year when you start seeing everyone looking for baby chicks, ducklings, and hatching eggs of all descriptions. We're all guilty of it, but I am reminded constantly of the reason why it's not such a good idea to rush into things. As I learned during my first year on our farm, there is a certain amount of knowledge that can come only with experience. 

Rushing in headlong and buying absolutely everything you think you might want, is absolutely the worst thing you can do. Both for yourself (mainly your sanity) and for the animals that you're starting to collect. Start with one type of poultry, be it chickens, ducks, or geese, and then give yourself time to learn how to care for them properly. Learn to identify normal, healthy behaviours so that when there's something wrong, you'll know it quickly. 

Get a mentor, someone who can give good sensible advice when you come across something odd. Trust me, that happens more than you can imagine. I can't count the times that I've sent a strange picture to my friend asking her, "What the heck???" If she doesn't know, then she knows where to point me for more information. She gave me great principals and made sure that I learned good habits.

I rarely bring in adult stock, but when I do they get quarantined for a minimum of a month, usually longer. If I have a bird that's not thriving, they are humanely culled and sent in for testing. Since I do sell chicks and hatching eggs, it's my responsibility to be sure that I have a clean flock. That means testing. There are lots of bugs out there that can cause backyard keepers a ton of heartache, and the last thing I want to do is sell someone a sick bird. 

I've expanded from my initial purchase of Polish chicks and meat turkeys three years ago, but those additions were done slowly. This is my first year with a breeding trio of heritage turkeys. A breeding tom is not to be messed with, and that was a hard lesson for me. I think if I'd started off with him, I'd have probably packed it in all together, because a 30 lbs + bird launching himself at you is a little intimidating. My lessons from aggressive roosters and pushy drakes have given me the tools to handle him.  

So do yourself a favour and ease into things. We all had to start somewhere, but set yourself up for success, not heartache. Your critters will thank you.