Jottings from Jim Christmas 2011

But after loosing 15kg ( put a good bit of it back on) and with health improving following the discovery of a pancreatic stone, and being the guinea pig for a new removal technique, I am improving somewhat. These events have had a sobering effect on me. They make me stop and think, ( cant do much else, wired up with tubes, alarms and no food, and no where to go), and reconsider what I consider valuable, and my priorities in life.

My pancreatic problems didn’t seem so bad until the young man in the next bed, in for his 3rd bout with pancreatitis, caused by binge drinking, had the riot act read to him. Stop this behaviour because next time will probably be your last. We might not be able to save you again. Wow! Now as many of you know, I don’t drink alcohol at all. But it can be hard to convince the doctors of this,  as 90+% of pancreatitis is because of binge drinking.

 Today those who don’t drink are usually called wowsers. It is interesting that the term has a unique origin to Australia, one which is unknown to most. It has come to mean killjoy, spoilsport anti fun, though I still cant work out what is fun about getting so plastered you cant remember the fun! I have no problem with the social drink, trouble is many don’t seem to be able to have one. In fact the name came from a feisty group of ladies round the time of Federation (1900’s) who said : We Only Want Social Evils Removed, the initials make WOWSER. They worked in the slums of Melbourne where the results of drinking, gambling, and prostitution were socially disastrous.

While in hospital, I saw a different group each time, most with the same problem, most with an inability to contro their actionsl, with disasterous effects on their lives and the lives of those around them.

It made me  reflect on the decisions I had made long ago.  One time when I as a teenager, at my first big party, and myexperimentation with and  reaction to the free flowing alcohol. I couldn’t see what was happening to me, but fortunately everyone else could,  and told me so. I made a decision to not place myself in that situation again, where a substance was controlling me without my knowledge. So I don’t drink alcohol at all, with one exception. In China some years ago, working with a contingent of Aussies out in the country, the Chinese laid on lots of beer because that’s what Aussies drank. But nothing else. The water was too dangerous to drink, the beer was warm, but it did stop the dehydration. Next day we found somewhere selling Coke. I was very relieved.

This year I have had a fair bit of time to contemplate the possibilities of where I am at, where I am going, matters temporary,  and matters eternal. These events tend to make many priorities of life seem less than worthy, and I am grateful for the enforced break which enabled me again to examine my life, assess priorities and practices, and to focus on the things that really matter.

My conclusion, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

Christmas and New Year are the traditional time where we ask these questions, and I hope you will also be able to get some time ( without being in hospital) to examine your priorities in life, so that how you live life will enrich both yourself and those around you. My best wishes for this holiday season, and for the coming year.

                                                                                                        Jim.

Business 2011

Overall the year has been one of delight and drama in business terms. It seems no matter how hard we tried we have been a failure at predicting sales volumes and having stocks of just what everyone wants just when they want it. The year started with wet, wet and more wet. This means all the free rangers suddenly wanted egg washers. Our last real wet season was before the renewal of the free range industry, and during the long dry some of the range problems (mud and dirty eggs) were somewhat less. Before we knew it,  we were selling washers with delivery dates almost 12 months ahead.

The US and Europe both are in apparent go slow mode and getting some stocks has been hard. Nest boxes, drinker cups, crates all have been difficult to keep in stock. Sales of incubators have taken a jump, with sales of Bellsouth 100 almost 100% up on last year. I think we read that as saying the experiment with several low cost Chinese incubators is over as the eggs have failed to hatch , if you know what I mean.

The Rcom Maru range have opened new ground in the application of the technology of electronic control into the medium sized machines. The factory couldn’t keep up with sales requirements but of course now we are over stocked, but the season is all but over. Check the specials on the CT1000  on the RCOM page but only for sales before our Christmas close.

For 25 years we have been selling Lubing drinker cups in a variety of configurations, from Coke bottles to pvc pipes to cage row systems. With a couple of new fittings making easy attachments to 20 litre poly drums, the product has caught the public imagination and sales have surged. Interesting how many now claim they developed the idea. Lucky I still have copies of all the adds. One of the simplest cleanest methods I have ever seen for small backyard flocks. Its just a bit strange they sell for more at auction on Ebay that the regular list prices on our web sites.

Speaking about web sites, the development of our new eshop has put us into online sales as well as online information. I think the time had come for this sales method, we have enough information online for customers to make good decisions without so much phone support,so online sales makes sense. The new web site has a neater, smoother and more consistent way of getting the information out there. In time, the old site will fade away as we transfer the technical material into the information pages. But it leaves us with some questions. What facilities do you want in our web site? Do you want us on facebook? What about twitter? How about a regular blog? Send us an email poultry@bellsouth.com.au, your responses may just be the spur we need to do these things.

Another marketing experiment was plucking machines. We have been offered these out of China regularly over the past few years but resisted them as we make our own. However like many local products, made with top materials for commercial use, the prices are much higher than the equivalent for the Chinese product which is ideal for home use. But the Chinese product has been sold at inflated prices because it is compared with the commercial product. So we ran a few Ebay sales starting at $100.00 to find out what the Australian volume market really thought was a fair price to pay. I think we upset a few importers as we have set our prices for regular “buy it now” about half their asking prices, so now most Ebay asking prices for pluckers are now about half what they were. I think the customers are happy and we are pleased with the sales on our end. We have also been able to bring out a matching budget scalder range to suit the hobby producer.

BUSINESS 2012

 Dont we all wish for a crystal ball so we know exactly what will happen.

At present, the calender  is filling rapidly and plans are well advanced  for the big events  of the year.

January and its off the the USA to the Atlanta Poultry Expo to see all thats happening in the commercial and technological world, meeting with suppliers, and scouting for newe commercial products and ideas to bring back (like we did with the Lubing cups). Also allows us to get a feel for the changes in husbandry and nutrition that often are very usefull once translated to the hobby and free range markets.

Seymour Alternative Farming   Feb 17, 18, 19 . A good time to preorder bigger items, nests feeders, incubators and we will take them along. 

Sydney Royal Show April  ( There is an incubator package worth $2000.00 as a door price open to all exhibitors. Must be picked up at the show). New industry sponsorship means a great bunch of programs aimed at the general population and the backyard poultry keeper. Shaping up to be a great show for the public, and as often has been said, the Royals are the showplace of purebreed poultry. We can delivery to the show if you pre order.

The National Show Canberra  Queen's Birthday Weekend. This is the biggest show in Australia, and happens only every 4 years so dont miss out. Canberra accomodation, leastways the sort I can afford, is all but booked out. This is the premier breeders show with birds from across Australia, along with internationl judges, and  the premier equipment suppliers (yep that's us!)'.  Again we can deliver to the show and save the freight.

After that its breeding season again.  Prepare, lots of vitamins, check the incubators in advance not when the eggs are on the table.  Good breeding!