Recent content by Mixed flock enthusiast

  1. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Breaking broody ducks

    Yeah I didn’t know that ducks could bite so hard - I was shocked! My older ducks have never bitten me like that. I think I should buy the sitter a long pair of rose gloves. I use work gloves because my hens draw blood too, but both the hens and ducks have figured out that they can bite my...
  2. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Breaking broody ducks

    Hi All, I’ve had a mixed chicken/duck flock for years, with some very broody chicken breeds so am used to breaking the hens. However, I just added some Metzer Farms ducks last year and have had much more duck broodiness from their Welsh Harlequin, Cayuga, and blue Swedish lines. I had never...
  3. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Predator Proof Enough to Leave Door Open?

    I’m in Oklahoma and my coop is also within my run. I have windows (two on each side) and the south end is all hardware cloth. The coop is quite safe if closed up, but I did not provide anywhere near enough ventilation for our similarly hot hot summers. I spent the first few years making the...
  4. Mixed flock enthusiast

    New Guinea Mom Needs Advice

    Wow - your Guinea and homing pigeon set up is really something!!! Your whole property is amazing. But all those predators - you have a lot going on!!!
  5. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Hoop Coop in TX, I think it might have been a bad idea

    I have one hoop coop with a white vinyl “billboard” tarp over it, and one with black shade cloth over it. White is the best for deflecting heat. You can also fold your tarp back so less of the coop is covered.
  6. Mixed flock enthusiast

    What breed are these Guinea? They came from Atwoods and they didn’t know what they were? Also how

    Congratulations on your new keets! They look like they are the “wild type” coloration - Pearl grey. This picture below is of an adult Pearl grey hen with some different colored keets.
  7. Mixed flock enthusiast

    When Can Male Guinea Fowl Breed?

    Crack a few open into an bowl and find out! Fertilized eggs have a bulls eye or target appearance (right egg). Unfertilized eggs just have a small white dot (left egg). You may need to turn egg with a spoon to find the blastodisc. When satisfied, eat the egg - Guinea eggs are delicious!
  8. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Half of my guinea flock has disappeared in one go

    Returning to the scene of the crime is typical, so a coyote seems very likely. Info on bobcats in Virginia: https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/bobcat/
  9. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Guinea Fowl Question.....

    My guineas aren’t fooled by chicken shaped/colored eggs. I make pink Sculpey eggs if possible. If I don’t have time for that, I briefly steam six Guinea eggs so they won’t develop. Then I mark those and return to the nest. I collect new eggs every night. If it’s an outside nest, I remove my...
  10. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Meet Grounder; my one eye guinea

    Aww, poor Grounder! Thank goodness you’ve trained him to take his meds and not be too stressed out by caring for him. Wind has been so crazy this past week, and we have another red flag warning day today!!!
  11. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Half of my guinea flock has disappeared in one go

    Gosh I’m sorry! That must be a very painful discovery. I should have asked first where you are located, and what predators you know are around. I’ve been assuming USA, like me. I am going to guess that you had multiple coyotes, a pair or pack. It can be hard to tell coyote, fox, and bobcat scat...
  12. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Half of my guinea flock has disappeared in one go

    I’m so sorry! A dog usually will leave the bodies or carry one around and play. A coyote, fox or bobcat will carry off what it can for their pups but will also pluck the bird in place to eat the bird and leave a circular pile of feathers. Three dead birds is probably a coyote, fox or dog. In my...
  13. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Where Can I Find Guinea Eggs?

    Mine have tolerated a lot of interference from me. I’m currently trying to convince them to make coop nests as they get into so much trouble looking for their perfect nesting site. So I lock them in until 4:30 ad they get 3 hours until dark. They still coop up, with some trying to roost on the...
  14. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Half of my guinea flock has disappeared in one go

    12 missing guineas? Too many for something to have carried off in one day. Look around for clues like big clumps of feathers that could indicate a predator grabbed a bird. If you can’t find feather clumps/bodies or only find one or two, it’s likely something spooked the rest of the birds and...
  15. Mixed flock enthusiast

    Coop Divider Build?

    I can’t find a finished picture right now, but here it comes a with the framing. I put a door n the center where it is framed, then filled the sides in with hardware cloth.
See more
Back
Top Bottom