Chickens: Cochins, Calicos, and Moldy Grass

Mold in the grass from all the heat, humidity, and a storm about every day, that is what killed Bear's chicks around this time last year....

(The mold opens its spores at night and gets into the lungs of the birds.)

We had juvenile chicks he was raising out so he could show them in the 2025 exhibition entry in the county fair. The breeds he selected were slow growers, and he had plans to have them fully mature by fair time.

We came home from school one afternoon in August to find EVERY SINGLE ONE dead!

We were devastated, and he came in, in tears, not understanding what happened, or why. "Mom, I feel like I got punched in the gut." My heart was broken for him; his breeding program with that particular breed went down the toilet. He wanted to back out of the poultry and quit the barn altogether at that point.

I told him..."Wait, pray, and see what God wants you to do."

A few days later, he came to me and said... "Let's wait until spring, before we get chicks again. I have the calico cochins too, let's see what they do."

So that's what we did. I talked to a showman in the spring at White River Valley, and he said to keep showing the calico cochins; eventually, they will get recognized by the APA.

Bear and I disagreed with each other about showing the Calico Cochins, as they are not APA, and I felt that he should also focus on an APA breed instead.

"Mom, if I dont show them, that's one less exhibitor and the longer they won't be recognized, besides these are calm and docile (minus red his calico cochin rooster who can be a jerk) and perfect for any kid to show, even a mini 4H kid, I want to focus and perfect this breed."

I drew a deep breath and I said, "Ok, but let's get something that is recognized already, and you focus on that too, is that ok?"

He agreed, so he could also have something APA recognized to show as well while he was working on the calico cochins. That's how we wound up with a Blue Bantam Cochin Rooster. He LOVES the blues, but I think his heart is still with his Calicos, which is perfectly fine! He is searching for Blue Bantam Cochin Hens to go with his rooster, Dynamite!

Meanwhile, this spring, the Calico Cochins ladies hatched four beautiful babies! From what I can tell, we have 2 cockerels and 2 pullets!

This is just an example of how what is bad, God turns for good.

(KEEP YOUR GRASS SHORT so it dries out fast, which prevents mold from growing)

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