SLEEPING PEKIN DUCKS

By: Kenneth Broekman

On seeing the above photo one might think these ducks are dead, but they are sleeping. German Pekin ducks are the only ducks that sleep with their head down at their side or out in front of them, like a dead duck. Disadvantage is that dust and dirt can stick around their eyes.

In the bird on the left you can see the raindrops rolling from the feathering. However, because of the short neck, the bird is not able to preen easily. She cannot easily reach the preen gland and spread waterproofing all over the plumage. So, making the plumage completely water-resistant is difficult. With a long spells of persistent rain, the feathers become too wet. Thus overnight housing is a must to enable birds to dry out in wet winter weather.

Greetings from Bahrein

Zuhair Haji with hisBokhara trumpeters.

SILKIES AND SILKIE BANTAMS STATE OF THE ART SILKIE BOOK First week December available.

All full colour high resolution digital print. Breath- taking photos by Angela Schouten of her Silkies in France and photos of lots of other breeders, includ- ing new photos of US Silkies. Added hundreds of photos of Silkies the last 5 years taken of breeding projects. I quit counting pics at 1000. Last pics taken September on the Silkie meeting in Holland. Pages: 194, Silkies from Europe, USA, Japan, China. Ancient history, modern history, see for contents the website: www.tuinvee.nlOf course their genetics of colours and extremities are easy explained as you’re used from me. Schemes for easy look up, explanations in words and drawings, selection of specific colours, the troubles, abnormalities, the odds, and rare Silkies from all over the world... more details of the paint Silkes as well (the whites with large black spots, see cover) from US and European breedings.

Price: 65,50 euro ex mail and packaging (+2 euro special protective book wrap). Email me at info@chickencolours.com for your copy (including your name and the address where the book should be send to) so I can tell you the mail costs and payment details.For Europe, Australia/New Zealand the book is send from Holland (19,90 euro mail costs).For the US, at first a limited amount of books will be available via the American Silkie Bantam Club 2nd week of December and on the Shawnee show in Oklahoma. The book can be reserved via the ASBC.

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Annual Show of ‘De Vechthoenderclub Belgie’in ‘De Linde', Ransbergstraat 26A,

3350 Linter, Belgiumon 29 & 30 January 2011

Best Friends of the 'Dé Vechthoenderclub België’

It is again time for our yearly tradition! The board of 'Dé Vechthoenderclub Belgium’ has the pleasure and honour to invite you all to our annual show. We promise you a feastful weekend.

We start on Saturday, January 29, 2010 with a cozy dinner night! We want to offer you a great evening. We expect international colours and as a Belgian club we want to show our typical hospitality. Everyone is welcome provided you register before January 15, if you want to participate here.On Sunday January 30, 2011 the judging of the Game Fowl will take place, according to our own rules and with our unique voting system. Take your chance to decide which animals are the best in their series! Parallel to this voting, 2 official inspectors will judge the birds. Afterwards there is opportunity to discuss the chickens and the judging with the specialists and judges. A unique opportunity for the fancier who wants more information!Gonda Grammet, e-mail gonda@skynet.be

Photo:Dé Vechthoenderclub Belgium.

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PLEAD FOR THE OLD BRAHMA –TYPEby Haralambie (Bobo) Athes

Brahma and Cochin are the two breeds that most probably have had the greatest influence on poultry breeding, since they have always been so enthusiastically promoted in the press, they have always been popular among breeders and their genes were used to create numerous other breeds. In the last 160 years, the ‘age’ of both Brahma and Cochin, there have been significant changes in their appearance. But while the Cochin has remained the ‘giant featherball’, Brahmas have known quite a number of fluctuations in their ‘design’. Even though the standard has remained pretty much the same - in all European countries with a tradition in Brahmas – and continues to prescribe massive birds, with vulture-like eyes, impressive footfeathering and well- developed chest, the actual appearance of the birds went through significant shifts.

Above: pair of Light Brahmas shown in 1881, and given as an example as an ‘exaggeration in plumage’ – most probably influenced by the “Cochin-Craze” from the same period. Below the illustration, an old hen and a cockerel from one of my bloodlines.Personally, I don’t mind huge footfeathers – on the contrary, this has always been a criterion for selection.

At present, with German Brahmas being perhaps the most widely ‘advertised’, the type of Brahmas seems to be oriented towards rather tall birds, often lacking in chest development, head-points and footfeathering, but with close-to-perfection colour and markings. If this tendency is to last and to be spread across the entire Europe (the American standard being projected according to another set of principles, anyway), our future Brahmas will become a breed completely different from the one envisioned by its creators – the breeders whose year-long efforts in selection made Brahmas famous in the first place. Naturally, the manner of judging at shows will have a major impact on the future development of the breed. Personally, I prefer the old Brahma type, but since I also enjoy showing my birds, I must confess that nowadays judges and show visitors seem to be more impressed by size than anything else, even though, on many occasions, the impression of size is given by sheer height, the rather long-legged birds being the most ‘eye- catching’. Opposed to this impression, birds with good chest development and extremely massive footfeathering appear to be more short-legged than they really are.

On the left: A winning male at a German National show in 1937, bred by G. Brenners.

On the right: An adult, not yet fully-feathered male from the bloodline I use most often for showing.

So, in order to breed birds to my own liking, but also in order to be able to win at shows against the ‘tall giants’ of the present, I have several bloodlines – their corresponding representatives are shown here in comparison with the most illustrative pictures in the historical development of the breed, as featured in a book that can be certainly considered one of the most comprehensive and holistic approach on Brahmas. The author is Hans Dietrich Other, and the book is titled Cochin, Brahma und Zwergbrahma – Die Entwicklung der drei Huhnerrassen und die 80jahrige Geschichte des Sondervereins der Zuchter. You can judge for yourself which “Brahma-design is the most impressive and which corresponds best to the majestic look desired in Brahmas. And perhaps we, as caretakers of this great breed, should pay closer attention to the ‘old masters’, the ones who created it, before trying to change it and talk about ‘the evolution of the standard’.

On the left: a drawing of one of the first “Light Brahmas” ever, in 1853. Notice the resemblance between the drawing and a Light cockerel bred in order to rival the size and height of the Brahmas imported from Germany, that I meet at shows.

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Dipo products originated from the combination of health care / pigeons, but there is also experience with breeding chickens, rabbits and cats. Meanwhile, research has irrevocably shown that these products have proven their operation, especially in the contraceptive area.

The following products can be ordered through the webshop http://www.dipoproducten.nl/Dipoproducten.php

Dipobac probiotica contains 5 different good lactic acid bacteria and thus regulates a healthy intestinal flora. It also increases the overall resistance and expels the pathogenic bacteria and pathogens in the feces from the body. Quick visible results. Dipobac is "the right alternative”.

Dipo protector contains Thyme oil, Oregano oil and Eucalyptus oil and works especially well in pigeons against Trichomoniasis, worms and Coccidiosis. Prevents infection via drinking water.

Garlic oil plus is an oil with garlic, plus the three above oils. The addition of chlorophyll in this oil provides some extra vitamins. Expels micro organisms, works as a blood purifier, improves overall fitness and increases resistance.

Dipo propolis is one of the few substances to which a natural antibiotic activity is attributed. Regular benefits give a peak and the highest degree of resistance. Dipo Propolis keeps the airway clean and inhibits the growth of fungi and bacteria. It also protects the drinking water against bacterial growth, even at higher temperatures.

By: Aviculture EuropeEffect of light on life processesThe American researcher John Ott researched the differences in the effect of artificial light and daylight on life processes. Ott discovered that only a full spectrum of natural light (including natural amounts of infra-red and ultra-violet) worked to completely promote full health in plants, animals and humans. He published his findings, titled "Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals, and People” and compared the effects of the OttLite (daylight lamp), with those of other 'normal' fluorescent light sources.In humans particularly, many studies have been done on the beneficial effects of daylight on health and wellbeing in general. For example, people who suffer from depression or spring-fatigue are often greatly helped by light therapy, sitting one or more hours per day under a daylight lamp.

Daylight LampsDaylight Lamps is an umbrella term for daylight lamps that try to imitate daylight as much as possible. This mainly applies to the color spectrum of daylight and to a lesser extent to the light volume. There have been studies on the effects of daylight on production, health and welfare of chickens, but unfortunately, as yet, little research has been done on the effect of daylight lamps in chickens. But here and there (eg in chicken forums) we read positive experiences from hobby breeders.As far as we know, researcher John Ott, is the only one who has honored and explored the effect of these daylight lamps in chickens. According to this examination chickens live longer, remain healthier and show no cannibalism behaviour with the light of a daylight lamp. Moreover, the eggs contain 20-40% less cholesterol than chicken with common fluorescent light. However, there is doubt about the reliability and level of his scientific investigations. (Bron: Matze, M., 1996, Licht & Gezondheid. Een probleem verkennende studie.)

ALFASTART CHICKS

A complete starter feed containing amphipods for newly hatched chicks

The optimum start for new chicks

Alfastart chicks is the optimum starter food for newly hatched chicks of chickens, pheasant, quails, partridges, peacocks and other fancy birds. The structure of the food is specifically tailored too meet the special requirements of newly hatched chicks by allowing full consumption of all the nutrients. The composition of Alfastart chick closely replicates the natural diet that galliform birds in the wild would eat. Alfastart contains protein-rich pellets, amphipods and fine seeds as well as all the required vitamins, minerals and trace elements to meet a chicks needs.

Look for feeding advice and more Garvo products athttp://www.garvo.co.uk/

Photo: Monique de Vrijer.

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EXHIBITION CALENDAR 2010/2011

THE NETHERLANDShttp://www.sierduif.nl/Tentoonstellingsrooster.pdf

BELGIUMFlandershttp://www.vivfn.be/tentoonstellingenWalloniahttp://www.neerhofdieren.be/AIW/index.htm* calendrier des expositions en Wallonië

SWITZERLANDhttp://www.kleintiere-schweiz.ch/index.cfm?Nav=110

FRANCE - poultryhttp://perso.orange.fr/volaillepoultry/expositions.html#expoFFRANCE – pigeonshttp://www.pigeons-france.com/rubriques/evenement/

GERMANY - pigeonshttp://www.vdt-online.de/main/index.html* termineGERMANY– poultryhttp://www.bdrg.de/termine.shtml

GREAT BRITAIN – pigeonshttp://www.nationalpigeonassociation.co.uk/#/championshipshows/4527485075(maybe not yet available)GREAT BRITAIN – poultryhttp://www.poultryclub.org/SHStructure.htmGREAT BRITAIN – waterfowlhttp://www.waterfowl.org.uk/events.html

EUROPEAN BREED SHOWS 2010/2011

European Breed shows for poultry

10 - 12 Dec. 2010 Enschede, the Netherlands.Twentse Fowl and bantamsContact: Robert Hoornstra, e-mail: secretaris@twentsehoenders.nl06 - 08 Jan. 2011 Zuidlaren, the Netherlands.

Brabanter, Breda, Owlbeards and their bantams.Contact: Albert Wijnholds, e-mail: wijnhab@hetnet.nl14 - 16 Jan. 2011 Luxemburg.

Bielefelders and bantams, plus Game bantams.Contact: Mw. Micky Tompers, e-mail: tomguy@pt.lu

European Breed Shows for fancy Pigeonsseason 2010/2011

16 - 19 December 2010 in Rottschleife, Germany.Swiss Pigeon BreedsContact GZV Pfarrkirchen e. V., Paul Bauer Reisbacherstr. 3 84326 Falkenberg Gmain, Germany.

Source: Entente Europeennehttp://www.entente-ee.com/

Dates of some of the main Shows in Germany this coming Season. 92cnd National Show - Frankfurt 17th to 19th December 2010 (BDRG Show)

The Entry Results are in! 1,560 Birds, almost certainly one of the highest concentrations of Swiss Breeds to be seen in Germany, or Switzerland up to the Present day!