Things have been busy lately, but I wanted to share some photos I took from the Northeastern Poultry Congress – which is essentially the Northeastern Westminster Dog show of chickens.
If you’ve never been to a poultry show, do yourself a favor and check one out. You’ll you be amazed at all the different breeds, you’ll learn things about chickens, and you might even bump into a friend or two.
The birds are kept in small cages during the show (which typically lasts a weekend.) They are viewed, judged, and winners are chosen.
Although it’s easy to feel sorry for birds in stark cages, here’s the good thing about that situation – as anyone who has tried to take photos of chickens knows, it can be near impossible – chickens are constantly moving – when they are in a tight place, you’ve got a better chance for photos.
Here are some of mine from the weekend.
This egg is so fresh you can still see the bloom on it.
And now for a truly colorful cast of characters.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at Wendy@SimpleThrift.com
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Lessons Learned from the Flock 
Half of them look bored and the other half are like, “WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY PICTURE, HUMAN?” lol
Delightful! My husband loves to go look at the chickens!
It’s one of my favorite yearly events!
Wendy
On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 2:23 PM, Lessons Learned from the Flock wrote:
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We missed you this year Wendy! On Saturday we came but didn’t stay for long, too many other things we had to attend to. We can’t stay away, even when we’re not showing.
However, next year we should French mottled houdans to show after Dennis has been working with a small flock again.
I enjoyed your photos, as always, a nice diversion from othergoings on 😕
Well I am sorry I missed you. I actually hadn’t gone in a few years and it was nice to be back.
I look forward to seeing your chickens next year.
Oh and by the way I won 5 things in that “world’s greatest raffle!” Keeping up the tradition.
Wendy
On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 9:52 PM, Lessons Learned from the Flock wrote:
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Cute! All of them. I have a Q., I am getting chickens soon, my first flock, what would you suggest? Am thinking of Sussex Speckled. 4 females, and maybe one male. Am building the coop myself, making it as predator proof as possible. Could you give any tips to a newbie? My Dad had chickens my whole life, (Rhode Island Reds). I loved to feed them and collect the eggs. 🙂
Ashley if you do searches on this blog you’ll find lots of information. Sussex Speckled are a good hearty, egg laying bird. A beginner flock of 4 – 6 is perfect. There’s no need to get a rooster unless you want to breed your birds and DO NOT get a rooster if you have close neighbors. The best thing you can do for your flock is give them a secure coop, which is sounds like you are doing.
Get your chicks in the spring, keep them in the house until fully feathered. Give them plenty of food and water and then sit back and enjoy. (There are obviously a few other steps like introduce calcium when they start laying but what I’m driving at is that you don’t need to be a Rocket Scientist to raise chickens.)
Wendy
On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 10:05 PM, Lessons Learned from the Flock wrote:
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I have a dog and a cat, only place they are not allowed is the bathroom. any suggestions?? The cat is a hunter, the dog is more curious. Not much of a hunter.
Nope sorry, wrong blog.
On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Lessons Learned from the Flock wrote:
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BTW, they will be pets first, and layers second. (I am not interested in meat from them). After they can’t lay, they will just be pets. I don’t have it in me to kill.
Good work at the raffle Wendy! I was so frustrated because I knew we’d be gone, so I never got any tickets. Oh that was hard! I wanted one of Lauren’s Lucy’s too, but was getting rushed! Next year I’ll get mine 😊