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zek

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Posts posted by zek

  1. Just today near home I found this Hoodie Crow nest - the upper bird (sorry about the image quality) is a hybrid Carrion/Hoodie and the grey doesn't extend right down the back and breast as it does in the normal bird. This bird has been about for the past year or so. We sometimes get Hybrids and Carrions on the East coast of Ireland, tho' the Hooded is the normal variety.

    I wonder if the young will revert to normal Hoodie colours?

     

    My friend's son wants to rear one - I know Jackdaws and Magpies were reared successfully many years ago - does anyone have any experience of Hoodies or Carrions?

     

    Zek.

    post-1826-127082737606_thumb.jpg

    post-1826-12708273857_thumb.jpg

  2. I don't celebrate it (tho' my parents used to), even though I'm a Christian. Thursday will be spent like most other days - with the family around the fire, a few games of ludo etc, read a good book, and a walk, weather permitting. No Xmas tree, big dinner, decorations, carols, presents etc.

     

    It's very unlikely that Christ was born in the Winter - Mary and Joseph were going with many others to be taxed, which was a long journey for multitudes, and it's unlikely that the Roman officials would have organized such a taxation at such an inclement time of year. Shepherds were also in the fields at night time, again most unlikely in Winter-time.

     

    It's a pagan festival that has nothing to do with the birth of Christ, and everything to do with commercialism!

    Guess who works in a department store selling lots of toys and decorations - Ironic!

     

    Zek.

  3. You lot have all the answers! Thanks for that,

     

    Zek.

     

     

     

    why in the world did you eat a guinea pig?

     

    They are cheaper to keep than conventional livestock, and they take up less room. they are a major part of the diet in Peru and Bolivia, particularly in the Andes Mountains highlands. It is also eaten in some areas of Ecuador (mainly in the Sierra) and Colombia.

     

    From This

     

    428px-Guinea_pigs_and_corn.jpg

     

    To This

     

    800px-Roast_Guinea_Pig.jpg

  4. I'm illustrating a book on Hen Harrier studies in North-east Ireland, and am looking for good photographs (High resolution) of birds that these raptors prey on, such as Meadow Pipit, curlew, or grouse chicks. Adult Grouse would have to be of Irish stock as they're a slightly different colour from those on the mainland. Good Hen Harrier photos would also be welcome, but they're usually like 'hen's teeth'. I would use the photos to produce drawings or paintings for the book. I am willing to pay for the one-off use of such a photo for the purpose of book illustration.

     

    There are quite a number of good photographers on this site, so if you feel you have good shots of any of the above, then let me know.

     

    thanks,

    Zek.

  5. I used to keep a couple of these about 20 years ago - they were my Grandfathers up until he died. They were very tame and confiding. I had trouble finding a gander for them, as they're not so common in the North East of Ireland, but eventually I did. The fox broke in one night however, and wiped out all three birds - I was gutted!

     

    Zek.

  6. Some good advice coming through, though (if I'm allowed to differ), I would follow a different route.

     

    It's been over 10 years now since I kept poultry. I kept Sebrights, Rosecombs, Polish, Pekins, Indian Game, etc, and ducks, geese, peafowl, quail and pheasants etc. I also kept a small flock of farmyard banties/bantams. My farmyard stock weren't as small as the Rosecombs etc, but not as large as the ex-cage hens either - somewhere inbetween. They were hardy, good clockers/mothers, and came in a multitude of different colours, some with topneys (feathered hats), and some without. Now if I were doing it again, I'd search out the local farming papers (there's usually a poultry section), or take a drive through the countryside and call at a few farms. I'm not so keen on the purebreds - I like a nice mix of colours, and they're easier to tell apart too. I'd get a nice coloured rooster, and 8 or 9 nice average sized banties. Does it really matter if they produce 5 eggs a week instead of 7. Eight banties producing 5 eggs a week still leaves you with 40 eggs a week, and although they're smaller eggs, they're packed with taste!

     

    For me 'food conversion ratio' and egg production aren't everything - I like a traditional mixed flock that are pleasing to the eye, and definately a nice rooster to head the flock.

     

    Just my thoughts,

    Zek.

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