YO GEORGIANS! :) - Page 226

Can't help much with the mouse question. But as far as sand floor, I sift it with my sifting forks just like I clean my horses stalls with. Look for the closest tynes you can find. For smaller stuff I use my ancient metal rake to scoop under it. The sand falls right through.

I was at a livestock auction this week (in Lyons, GA) and there were many ducks for sale. Do you have any auctions near you? They're hard to watch, because the auction house staff tend to be... well... jerks and it's hard not to buy ALL the animals just to save them, but if you're desperate you might do a huge favor to a few ducks and save them from the pet food factory (or wherever they were going).

I was going to take some of my bantam mixes to the auction here in town but after reading this I'm scared to.  OMG~  I don't want anything bad to happen to my babies.  I have 60+ chickens & have to down size.  Most are chicks (cochin, silkies, d'uccles and some GLPs)  I also have some brown layers.  I have some right now that range from 1 day to 5 weeks.  You can spread the word if you know of anyone in S. GA that would like some chicks for pets.

Where are you?
 

I'm in Cochran.  It's about 40 miles below Macon.

These are my childrens chicks.  They decided to hatch some chicks and now they want to sell some to get alittle extra spending money.  They wouldn't dare want to take them to the auction if they knew something bad would possibly happen to them.  I think we're just better off just trying to sell them ourselves. 

I don't mind roosters being used for soup (that's what I would do if I had the time to process them) but I won't tolerate abuse. One of my students raises livestock (goats and fowl) for a living, but he and his daddy were both put off by these two particular auction houses (Lyons and Swainsboro). I can't abide being mean just for the sake of being mean. It's not right.

I'll keep my ears open for folks looking to add to their flock.

Thanks, I appreciate it.  No, there's no excuse for being mean just because they can. I love animals and I just can see them hurt.  I have a chick right now that I thought had a slipped tendon but I think it is a splayed leg so, my son and I used the bandaid method for splayed legs.  If I have to, I'll take it to my vet.  I can't see culling something so beautiful and so sweet just because it has a handicap.  If there's no improvement by the end of the week I'll call the vet.   I also have a GLP that is blind and has crooked toes.  If we had not taken the time to set everything exactly the same everyday, she wouldn't be here today.  She's doing great!  This is something that just happens.  It's no ones fault.  That's what I have to explain to my children when we have one that doesn't make it or that has a handicap (so far only 2 out of several dozens that we've hatched).   A lot of people wouldn't take the time.  Off of my soapbox now.  Please spread the word or keep your ears open for me.  I really appreaciate it.

You have d'uccle chicks ? I would be interested. I live in Perry.

I can't say that they are pure.  This came from a mix that we ordered off of ebay.  It was listed & sold as a "Bantam Mix: Silkie, Cochin, D'uccle, Sebright"  We're new to this so, I can't be truthful if I come out and tell you that they are. All of the eggs were different shades of cream, white, & tan.  They were also different sizes from very tiny to almost golfball size.  I can post a pic and let you see.  They are beautiful regardless.  The one's that look like they might be d'uccle started as tiny chicks with pin feathers on their feet.  These feathers now look more like big bid feathers on its feet.  It is solid black with slight gray hue.  We also have a gray one like this.  I don't have any mixtures of colors except in my non-feather legs.