After a long silence, a new post to have a look at my hen houses! The video it's in italian... but I hope that however the images will speak clearly. Ciao!
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Suggested readings
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lunedì 5 dicembre 2011
venerdì 21 gennaio 2011
The Boffa or Paduan Bearded Hen, an almost extinct breed that we are trying to save from oblivion
A new adventure. Yes, this can be considered true.
Whoever follows me will already know that my commitment and my passion are directed towards the conservation of biodiversity, both in natural and livestock. This led me, over and over again, to research and document the wealth of chicken breeds that once roamed my country, and in particular those in my region, the Veneto. Just follow this passion I have been a few years ago to pursue the traces of an endangered breed which I found very fascinating and deplored the loss of which, the ancient race Boffa. These animals, the result of the intersection of crested chickens (Polverara Padovana Great Tuft) and the largest local hens of the countryside of Padua, was known by the second half of the nineteenth century. Its most distinctive feature was the thick tufts of feathers that crowned the beak, like a beard and favorites. Slowly disappeared from rural farmyards, ended with the disappearance of all in the second half of last century.
But after long unsuccessful searches on the territory of Padua, to see if there were still survivors of these breed, some year ago I found in a poultry forum a picture that showed some chickens that was very similar to the ancient Boffa. Thanks to my friend Marco Bindocci, it was found that a flock of this breed, although not genetically selected, survived by an elderly farmer in central Italy, which has bred this poultry for 50 years, gift from an aunt who married an emigrant to the Venetian which had brought them from their land.
So, in 2009, december, a tiny group of has arrived in my chicken coop, and in February the first chicks have begun to emerge. I would like to signal you my project: the website:
with news, articles, projects strictly related to the rescue of this beautiful breed. With the website I've started also the pubblication of a blog, as "news dispenser":
Soon came a book and other news. Meanwhile, the chicks are born and grow, and they will more than anything else to shape the future of this breed. I sincerely hope you want to follow me a little 'in this adventure. See you soon!
martedì 18 gennaio 2011
Red eyes (Sleeping )
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Ectophasia crassipennis is a small parasitic fly whose larvae feeds on bugs.
sabato 15 gennaio 2011
Poultry - The Rovigo Ermine Turkey
Among the many breeds of Italian turkeys, The Rovigo Ermine Turkey is one of the few that is well known outside its home region, the Veneto. Either for the beautiful livery and for good production skills and the instinct for breeding, the breed has spread quite well among fans, but is still rather common.
Was Prof. Raffaello Quilici, Institute of Experimental Poultry Rovigo, in 1958, which starts from common bronzed turkeys and inserting Narragansett (one of the finest American turkey breeds) got to a point mutation of the selection by a small livery heads a group of ermine, on which to continue efforts to standardize the production characteristics and size.
The breed is characterized by flesh-colored legs, white skin, an ermine livery that resembles that of the German race Crollwitzer, and a medium size, with females who stood about 5 Kg and males 11 Kg. These birds are very rustic and precocious, fast feathering, also suitable for farming in the mountains. The females are excellent brooders, perfect to complete broods of many poultry, also because of their size is not excessive. Unfortunately, the lack of uniformity of somatic characteristics often leads to think that we can improve the characteristics of the livery by crossing with other breeds. In truth, the mere effort of the farmers should be more selective than enough to maximize the uniformity of the livery of this breed.The animals pictured here belonging to my friend Marco Bindocci, they become from the flock of the University of Perugia, I also had the pleasure of seeing an equally beautiful and very uniform flock, well characterized, near a farmer in Casalserugo (PD), which was obtained by a pure breed male had by Institute of St. Benedict of Padua and a group of bronze female with a right size. It 'goes without saying that in this case, that should be taken as an example, were the stubbornness and the assiduous selection made by these farmers to enable such an outcome. Should serve as inspiration and reference for every farmer, especially in these times when the word "selection" seems to scare the fans more than many others.
Was Prof. Raffaello Quilici, Institute of Experimental Poultry Rovigo, in 1958, which starts from common bronzed turkeys and inserting Narragansett (one of the finest American turkey breeds) got to a point mutation of the selection by a small livery heads a group of ermine, on which to continue efforts to standardize the production characteristics and size.
The breed is characterized by flesh-colored legs, white skin, an ermine livery that resembles that of the German race Crollwitzer, and a medium size, with females who stood about 5 Kg and males 11 Kg. These birds are very rustic and precocious, fast feathering, also suitable for farming in the mountains. The females are excellent brooders, perfect to complete broods of many poultry, also because of their size is not excessive. Unfortunately, the lack of uniformity of somatic characteristics often leads to think that we can improve the characteristics of the livery by crossing with other breeds. In truth, the mere effort of the farmers should be more selective than enough to maximize the uniformity of the livery of this breed.The animals pictured here belonging to my friend Marco Bindocci, they become from the flock of the University of Perugia, I also had the pleasure of seeing an equally beautiful and very uniform flock, well characterized, near a farmer in Casalserugo (PD), which was obtained by a pure breed male had by Institute of St. Benedict of Padua and a group of bronze female with a right size. It 'goes without saying that in this case, that should be taken as an example, were the stubbornness and the assiduous selection made by these farmers to enable such an outcome. Should serve as inspiration and reference for every farmer, especially in these times when the word "selection" seems to scare the fans more than many others.
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mercoledì 12 gennaio 2011
Places: the Old Botanical Garden of Padua
Walking through the Botanical Garden of Padua, one of oldest university botanical garden still existing in Italy, is like taking a little trip through space and time. Exotic species are flanked by a humble native seedlings, flowers bright glimmer of a tangle of thorns, clusters of berries improbable colors are complemented by antique statues. Walking in the core, going from old doors, and being among flower beds and tubs from the perfect geometry is like going back in an old hortus conclusus of a medieval monastery. Groups of aromatic plants, water lilies, fruit trees, all arranged in strict symmetry, take shelter under the auspices of the old gingko tree, which looks like a cascade of golden fans in autumn, or in the imposing palm Goethe; the hidden rotonda, sorrounded by Taxus and bamboo, resembles a small green room, ready to accommodate a married couple, and greenhouses delicate Ficus and impressive Monstera build huge green walls throbbing with life.
I put here some pictures taken in October between its avenues, the garden well worth a visit even in seasons like autumn and winter, which certainly does not shine for its abundance of bloom and lushness. For any information, this is the Botanical Garden website.
domenica 9 gennaio 2011
Poultry - The Bionda Piemontese hen, inheritance from to mother to daughter
Bionda Piemontese rooster - Alessandria type. Breeder and photo: Emilio Briganti.The Italian breeds should always be discovered and exploited in our country, particularly in the areas that have seen the birth.
It 's why today I want to talk about a really great race, which comes directly from the Piedmont: the Bionda Piemontese (Piedmont Blonde).
Formerly known with various names (Bionda di Villanova, B. di Cuneo, la Rossa delle Crivelle, Nostralino) the Bionda Piemontese is a chicken with the typical characteristics of Mediterranean breeds, common in the Piedmont area since time immemorial; first references for these magnificent animals, however, are known only by from 1938, the year in which the Director of the Torino Sperimental Poultry Center, Vittorino Vezzani, decided to create a draft selection of the breed. Sure, these chickens were so popular that apparently were inherited from mother to daughter as a "dowry" means, in practice, when a daughter gets married, she received from her family a group of chickens to start their own flock. It seems that the jealousy of their strains induced as the housewives never giving fertilized eggs outside the household.
It 's why today I want to talk about a really great race, which comes directly from the Piedmont: the Bionda Piemontese (Piedmont Blonde).
Formerly known with various names (Bionda di Villanova, B. di Cuneo, la Rossa delle Crivelle, Nostralino) the Bionda Piemontese is a chicken with the typical characteristics of Mediterranean breeds, common in the Piedmont area since time immemorial; first references for these magnificent animals, however, are known only by from 1938, the year in which the Director of the Torino Sperimental Poultry Center, Vittorino Vezzani, decided to create a draft selection of the breed. Sure, these chickens were so popular that apparently were inherited from mother to daughter as a "dowry" means, in practice, when a daughter gets married, she received from her family a group of chickens to start their own flock. It seems that the jealousy of their strains induced as the housewives never giving fertilized eggs outside the household.
In any case, despite the collapse of the 60's of last century (due to new methods of agricultural and livestock), handed down from generation to generation, this race has come down to this day and since 1999 is the subject of a restoration project as well as have become Slow Food garrison.
Physically, the blonde looks like a fawn, black-tailed chicken; some selections have blue or white tail. Males can reach 2.5 to 2.7 kg, females stood, however, between 2 and 2.3 kg. Skin, legs and beak are yellow, the comb tends to curl up in hens. There are two main types: the Alexandria Blonde, with white - yellow earlobes, and the Cuneo Blonde, with red earlobes that result from crosses with New Hampshire. They can produce from 180 to 200 white or light pink eggs, weighing close to 60 grams. The deposition started at the 6 th - 7 th month of life. Rustic and sturdy, they are good egglayers also in winter; there are perfect for free range breeding.
In short, this is a fantastic breed with a really fascinating history and many qualities that deserve to be further considered by the Italian breeders (especially from the Piedmont!), as well as other local race, the White Saluzzo.
Important Note: all animals are bred shown by Emilio Briganti, whom I thank for the willingness to provide the pictures and congratulations for his commitment to the Italian breeds. If you wish to contact us, click here to send him an E-mail.
Physically, the blonde looks like a fawn, black-tailed chicken; some selections have blue or white tail. Males can reach 2.5 to 2.7 kg, females stood, however, between 2 and 2.3 kg. Skin, legs and beak are yellow, the comb tends to curl up in hens. There are two main types: the Alexandria Blonde, with white - yellow earlobes, and the Cuneo Blonde, with red earlobes that result from crosses with New Hampshire. They can produce from 180 to 200 white or light pink eggs, weighing close to 60 grams. The deposition started at the 6 th - 7 th month of life. Rustic and sturdy, they are good egglayers also in winter; there are perfect for free range breeding.
In short, this is a fantastic breed with a really fascinating history and many qualities that deserve to be further considered by the Italian breeders (especially from the Piedmont!), as well as other local race, the White Saluzzo.
Important Note: all animals are bred shown by Emilio Briganti, whom I thank for the willingness to provide the pictures and congratulations for his commitment to the Italian breeds. If you wish to contact us, click here to send him an E-mail.
Bionda Piemontese hens - Alessandria type. Breeder and photo: Emilio Briganti. mercoledì 5 gennaio 2011
THANKS! Thanks to you, the blog now has new eyes!
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| La nuova videocameraSamsung HMX H200 |
Some time ago, I appealed to readers because it helps me give a new camera to the blog, to haver the chance to offer some quality movies to all. Well, after a few weeks,our goal has been achieved! Thanks to the generosity of some of you, especially Michael and Ida, the blog now has new eyes with which to watch the world!
Yesterday in fact the Epiphany in early (or late Santa Claus you enjoy better), led to Oryctes.com a new camera: a Samsung HMX H200. Why this choice? This is an entry level HD camcorder that records onto SD ticket in MP4 format, which makes it very convenient to pour everything into the computer. The H200 has a CMOS sensor 1/4,1 "to 3.32 MP, timelapse function with the click of a frame every 1, 3, or 5 seconds, 34 mm filter, 20X optical zoom ... In short, she seems to have all the characteristics to be an excellent traveling companion for our blog. Some users have reported a slight buzz if you zoom in conditions of silence, that mean? For the purposes for which will be used by the blog, I don't think this will give any problem. She has also an excellent value for money. Already, the price: how much? In electronics stores in this area the price ranged between 260 and 330 €, if the H200 stimulate your desire to get a new HD camera entry-level here you will find also links to Amazon's store, which offers some to a competitive price.
Waiting to put online the first video shot with it, I leave you a series of tests found video on YouTube. I think they are useful. Here then also link to a discussion about H200. To me, it definitely served to orient myself toward this purchase.
Thanks to all again!
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| Samsung HMX H200 |
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