Brandy, a 30 week old Partridge Brahma pullet, has just laid an egg. She "squats" when I reach for her, shoulders out and braced, a submissive posture that signals her readiness for breeding and also, sometimes, this is simply submission to someone over her in rank as she considers me to be. The cockerels are not currently living with the girls after one was injured resisting their raging hormone-fueled breeding attempts, but now that two more are laying, it's almost time for them to be returned to their girls. Notice the gorgeous pattern in her feathers. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-71_JRQx-M

An incident with a relative months ago prompted this video, but that was only a springboard for this talk today. Just a reminder on an old topic that's always worth repeating! Check out Guildbrook Farm on YouTube to watch their house build and see some excellent food storage videos ! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdJgYv8-szI

I have a brief talk regarding the single barred rooster, how the barring gene works and what it produces in progeny with accompanying slideshow from my own flocks, beginning with photos of the original show quality rooster we lost, his replacement we also tragically lost and how we used a single barred rooster to "breed back up" to a normal, double-barred flock again. See genetic chart below. (For the sake of brevity, I speak rather rapidly and the sound is not the best, no exterior mic, so if you have questions, post them in the comment section) Rooster x Hen Single barred x solid = single barred males, barred females, solid males and females (Deacon) Single barred x barred = double & single barred males, barred & solid females (Atlas, Rex) Double barred  x solid = single barred males, barred females Double barred x barred = double barred males, barred females Solid x barred = barred males, solid females  (this is a Black Sex Link) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0L5GVuZK_k

My awesome husband has pushed through his chronic back pain and generously completed a DIY drop-in table to fit my Janome 7700 sewing machine. The flush surface will make quilting larger quilts much, much easier with less back, shoulder and neck strain. The cheapest commercial tables not only are pressboard covered with laminate, but cost $200 plus a $90 acrylic insert to fit your particular machine. This was much more cost effective and looks like furniture; should last many years longer, too. And I've been making some quilted tote bags lately to change up my fun during our rainy beginning of Fall. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEA0eK0nHnM