I always tell folks I blame my poultry addiction on my friend Art Rieber, he is a licenced judge.... 

We first moved to our farm  in April & I wanted to have a small flock of my own, since we were now "farmers' I thought it only logical that we have a small backyard flock for fresh eggs right out our back door  LOL ..... so that summer I checked out the open show at the local fair &  I was mezmorised by all the fancy breeds of poultry...

I had always thought a chicken was a chicken & envisioned my little flock as cute, all white feathered, laying machines~never did I every imagine all the different breeds & colors of chickens in all my life!!  I began to reason, well, shoot, if I am to have a flock of laying hens, I might as well have a PRETTY flock of laying hens, so I commenced to walking up & down each row admiring cage after cage of all those beautiful purebred chickens, & I must have been drooling I think  :))  then as I rounded the last corner~there he was!!! 

Art & his Black Sumatra cockerel ....oh he was drop dead georgeous!!!  (the cockerel, not Art, haha)  I fell head over heals in love with Sumatra that day ~ and it took me four long years before I aquired my first Sumatras, so I know all about the excitement you are feeling now.  I must warn you though, Sherry, this poultry fever is very, VERY contagious & there is no known cure....oh but what a way to go...LOL....

Dee, in Iowa.

SherryParker7 said:

For Christmas my husband bought me two young trio's of large fowl black Sumatra's. They just showed up this morning. They are beautiful!!! I've had a single black hen for a few years but now I'll be able to breed and show (hopefully) several birds. Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

What a good hubby you have & what a great Christmas gift!!!! You are one lucky girl  :) 

Only thing I ever do for my breeders is to add vitimins&electrolites to the water 2 or 3 times a week during breeding season & use a gamebird ration with oyster shells offered free choice.  My Sumatra hens are last ones to start laying, usually in April (I am in Iowa) They are pretty easy keepers & great foragers too, I raise all mine on pasture & only keep my Sumatras penned up during breeding season to keep them from crossing with my other exhibition breeds.  Best tip I know is to go to as many open shows as you can & search out other Sumatra breeders or judges, you can learn a lot from the experts  :))

Where do you live Sherry & how long have you been breeding & showing?