NY chicken lover!!!! - Page 1137

Argh! One of my NN is broody *again*. I have several that look alike, so it COULD be a different one, but grr. I don't need any more chicks and I now have two broodies. Too bad neither will take any of the chicks I currently have. (too early, but I did try with one of them). 

Still have 10 chicks that need new homes if someone wants a few - born on friday. Just mutts, but they are cute! :) I put an ad on CL but the same peeps that never go through with it are writing me. 

We are working with fencing in the yard with electric wire so the chickens can go out again. This evening (a bit before roost time) will be a test - I have my doubts that the setup we are using will contain them (4 wires) and may get them tangled up, so we'll try it unpowered first. We may have to back it up with extra fencing if the majority won't go where we 'corral' them. 

Morning all.  What a delightfully cool morning it is.  Too bad I have to ruin it by going to work.  Oh well.

The chicks are still alive this morning so I guess everyone is finding their places within the group.  Sassy ran out into the run looking for them this am but has since settled down, due mostly to Little Man getting after her.  Now maybe my silkies will start laying again!  The big girls woke me up early this am hollering about the owl that was out there.  They raised a ruckus for a bit, even though they were safe inside their coop.  Good think my neighbor is hard of hearing! 

Enjoy this beautiful day for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonykill 

  I have caught coons with many things but the cheapest stinkiest canned dog food you can buy seems to work the best. Works for possum and skunk too. I've easi;y caught and killed 15 coons over the last few years. And usually have to repair the trap after they are caught. They make a mess of the flap and bend the actuator rod most every time trying to dig their way out. 

So how come they won't go in my traps then??? :( I wonder if they learn not to and then the parents teach the offspring not to? We have like insanely smart Coons here.  Some days I think they must be escapees from an undercover genetics program...

They had tripped the trap last night, so I had to reset it.

I may buy one of those other kinds of traps instead that they have to reach into? I don't think our feed bill sells those though, I'd have to order those online, they only sell the leg and body traps there.

Has anyone ever processed Quail? I have like six males that need to be dinner, only I have no recipe and no clue how to make them dinner!

I also have three week old quail available for 3.50 each, straight run browns and whites, Cayuga/Buff cross ducklings 5.00 each (They'll be blues)  and I should have black Ameraucana chicks in another week or two, 6.oo each

I am going to process some quail today. I hope to do 9 today and I have quite a few in the freezer already 

This is the recipe I plan to try

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roast_quail_with_balsamic_reduction/

...except with a few more quail, as there are 6 of us.  Also, I don't use salt, I will use herbs from the garden.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sachasmom 

So how come they won't go in my traps then??? :( I wonder if they learn not to and then the parents teach the offspring not to? We have like insanely smart Coons here.  Some days I think they must be escapees from an undercover genetics program...

 

They had tripped the trap last night, so I had to reset it.

 

I may buy one of those other kinds of traps instead that they have to reach into? I don't think our feed bill sells those though, I'd have to order those online, they only sell the leg and body traps there.

 I put tuna & marshmallows in my trap last night & nothing.....Maybe I'll go get some canned dog food...I have to get them all by next week....aaarrgghhhh

My BLRW has a chick!  Her eggs weren't due until Tuesday, but one of them is quite literally an early bird and has made its appearance.  It's a cute little chipmunk-looking who's-your-mommy, as she had three randomly selected light brown eggs and the Leghorn egg that got crushed.  I have her screened off now so she can't get up and mosey around and so the Speckled Sussex Psycho Hen can't get to the chicks.  It was a nice surprise to find on coming home from work. 

Speaking of Psycho Hen, she must have tried to get at the Jersey Giant's chicks at some point, as the JG is seizing every opportunity to inflict a broody smackdown on her.   The JG has her little peepers out in the run today, and isn't letting any other hen anywhere near them.  The poor, dumb roo seems confused - he just stares at her when she goes screaming after another hen, like, "what is your PROBLEM?"  He probably spent half the day intervening and is sick of it!

I have 2 little polish mix banties that are the daughter and granddaughter of 2 or 3 of the first chickens we got.  The daughter has three 2 week old chicks that are possibly her eggs with a black silkie daddy (could have been a white silkie momma also).  The granddaughter has one 2 day old chick.  The egg was from my pullets, the daddy most likely being my rumpless araucana.  Both mommas are fiercely protective, puffing up as big as a turkey and charging when anyone comes near.  I now have then in their own little doghouse/coop run.  I have to finish up the last little broody coop, as I have my second BO about to hatch her little clutch soon.  We have had chicks incubating, broody mommas, and chicks peeping all over the place since Oct.   I keep hearing "Old MacDonald" running around in my head...."with a chick chick here, and a chick chick there"...lol.

    I'm going to go around singing "with a chick-chick here" now. 

Two of my BLRW's chicks are out - here's hoping that a third makes its appearance!  She seems pleased, and isn't acting aggressively towards them.  She also hasn't managed to stomp on them, which for her is a plus.  The stupid thing has been broody on and off for three months now - she'd better be good to those babies!    

It'll be interesting to see the ratio of boys to girls.  My sister wants a cockerel, as she was fond of the one the raccoon got.  Because she *wants* a little dude, I'll probably set a record for all-pullet hatches.   

Morning all!  Glad to hear everyone is getting a good hatch!  I hope this means I will.  Silkie eggs are on lockdown as of last night.  13 made it so I am hoping for all 13 to finish.  The waiting has begun.

Speaking of silkies, my glw hen Trouble was causing trouble yesterday with the silkies.  I heard squawking and came around the corner of the house to find her picking a fight with Little Man.  She is a very big girl and kicked his butt and then went after my hens.  I dont know what her problem was but as head hen of this outfit, I went and kicked her butt and ran her off.  She tried to sneak back again and got the same treatment.  My poor rooster was hiding under the front porch for a while with the girls and he pecked me when I picked him up to put him in the coop.  He calmed down after I spoke to him.  Not sure what Troubles problem was but she can be mean when she wants to be.  I reminded her that she is big enough for sunday dinner and she squatted for me.  The tots seem to be getting along well.  I have discovered that of the older ones I kept, 2 are boys.  Sigh.  I am hoping that I will get some nice pullets from this hatch.  Watch...I will get boys because I want girls. 

The rir boys are starting to vocalize more and are squabbling among themselves to determine order.  They sound funny when they try to crow as it is more of a honking noise!  Dh was working on the nesting boxes on their coop so everyone followed him around from inside their run as he moved around the coop and run.  They are funny.  They follow us like puppies whenever we are inside the coop or out around the coop and run.  I find them coming inside to see what I am doing and they talk to me.  Some even demand attention.   My hens only talk to me.  Petting is only an option if they cant get away. 

Rainy and cool today.  I am loving it.  Sure beats the heat we had.  Have a good day!