Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

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I would divide it in half and then use it for breeding on one side and laying on the other! Or divide it unevenly-- however big you wanted your breeding pen to be. Sounds like a good plan to me!

Danz, I painted my OSB on the inside of my coop and it didn't look all that great, either! I just think it's not the prettiest stuff anyway, but it sure is cheap! I'll keep using it anyway.

I took my kids and the neighbor kid to church this morning. I read scripture up in front during service, and I volunteered for the fundraiser for the Preschool there. Then my little ones (who are in the preschool) sang in the 3rd service. So we ended up being there forever... Then went grocery shopping, and brought home pizza for lunch. My DH stayed at home so he could work on the coop. When we got home, he had made the rails, and had the pop door assembled and put up. Except the wire (or string??) isn't put on it to pull it up and down. He was also working on the 3rd outside wall of siding. I need to lay down the vinyl tomorrow and frame out the nest box and I think we're done for the inside!

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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I thought turkeys only laid in spring as well but I see some hatcheries offer them year round so maybe not.

My understanding is they lay spring thru fall, but it depends on temperature. Turkeys can lay up to 120 eggs a year.

 

[Hawkeye95]

our local dairy farm has a lot of turkeys-- we were out there a couple weeks ago. Their nest must have had like 10 eggs in it from their jennys. They said their turkeys lay almost all year long! Maybe they have special bionic turkeys? hehe! (I didn't know what they were-- they are a red color)

 

[ChooksChick]

Ok, the Silkie hatch is done for a few days, so I have a few up for grabs. I am keeping all of them that show no defects right now, but have a few with closer toe spacing than I like or missing an extra toe. I'll give these up to anyone for $5 each. Obviously I can't tell gender until...oh...March? ...So they're straight run! PM me.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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Thanks Renee for the beautiful fluffy silkie offerings!

I had help deciding on a breeder that shows her silkies and has racked up a bunch of points or whatever it's called. (still learning about this!) I contacted the show people who helped me hunt down 3 diff breeders and they've all just come back from Nationals. One lady sold me her show quality rooster and a 4 month old pullet that she *thinks* might be show quality.. she said the bird needs more growing out. She told me worst case is that any flaws will be very minor, but otherwise, has tight wings, etc, etc. I tried to do my best on reading up on all of this, but I just took her word for it. She is also a certified state pullorum-typhoid tester for Virgina and she does all the testing and screenings for 4-H birds and all other show birds before the shows. She has been giving me pointers on what to look for to show and wants me to keep in touch with our 4-H project. I'll be sending her pictures of how well her birds do with us. She really thinks this pullet will be able to show well for us this Spring for 4-H so we're really excited! We haven't gotten them yet. They are supposed to be shipped today-- she sent me many pictures of her colors and qualities and in the end, we picked out a splash roo and a really dark blue hen. She said the hen looks black since she has gotten darker with age, but should have blue genes, and if not, she told me we could breed back only one generation to the splash roo to get our Blue color. She had other blue hens, but they weren't nearly as nice as this one. Anyway, after that, she said I'll have to bring in other lines if I get serious about breeding since they can't all be bred back to each other for more than the one generation. So good stuff to know! I had NO clue!!! ha!!

I'm trying to pick up another kennel on CraigsList and the lady told me to email her in the morning so I could come over. Still waiting and hoping it's not late in the day before she gets back to me. I'm wanting to run to Lowes to pick up the wood I need to finish the nest boxes today so I can get the vinyl in! I can almost taste it, we are so close!!!

ANyway, starting to get annoyed that I'm still here. Sigh.

 

[chicken danz]

So Chooks, are some purebred silkies missing the extra toe? This is my first years with silkies and I don't know much about them. I am sure mine are far from show quality but they are cute and get people's attention. I only got them because I had lots of people ask for them.
Loralee, sounds like you are getting some quality birds.
Looks like the weather is going down hill this week. I was really hoping for a nice week so I could finish some more projects before I get cut on. I am such a woos when it gets cold. I still have so many shelters to get built. DH is NOT on board with any more building so it is up to me I guess. He hasn't figured out keeping me happy will keep him happy!
I so need a day to relax but know I need to get out there and get some stuff done today while I can.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Thanks Renee for the beautiful fluffy silkie offerings!

I had help deciding on a breeder that shows her silkies and has racked up a bunch of points or whatever it's called. (still learning about this!) I contacted the show people who helped me hunt down 3 diff breeders and they've all just come back from Nationals. One lady sold me her show quality rooster and a 4 month old pullet that she *thinks* might be show quality.. she said the bird needs more growing out. She told me worst case is that any flaws will be very minor, but otherwise, has tight wings, etc, etc. I tried to do my best on reading up on all of this, but I just took her word for it. She is also a certified state pullorum-typhoid tester for Virgina and she does all the testing and screenings for 4-H birds and all other show birds before the shows. She has been giving me pointers on what to look for to show and wants me to keep in touch with our 4-H project. I'll be sending her pictures of how well her birds do with us. She really thinks this pullet will be able to show well for us this Spring for 4-H so we're really excited! We haven't gotten them yet. They are supposed to be shipped today-- she sent me many pictures of her colors and qualities and in the end, we picked out a splash roo and a really dark blue hen. She said the hen looks black since she has gotten darker with age, but should have blue genes, and if not, she told me we could breed back only one generation to the splash roo to get our Blue color. She had other blue hens, but they weren't nearly as nice as this one. Anyway, after that, she said I'll have to bring in other lines if I get serious about breeding since they can't all be bred back to each other for more than the one generation. So good stuff to know! I had NO clue!!! ha!!

I'm trying to pick up another kennel on CraigsList and the lady told me to email her in the morning so I could come over. Still waiting and hoping it's not late in the day before she gets back to me. I'm wanting to run to Lowes to pick up the wood I need to finish the nest boxes today so I can get the vinyl in! I can almost taste it, we are so close!!!

ANyway, starting to get annoyed that I'm still here. Sigh.

Ooooh! How exciting! I was holding a couple of perfect ones back for you- was going to email you separately, but it sounds like you're all squared away! I did get a few lavenders from this batch, too, so I'm very happy. Do post pics of the birds when you get them! Are they related to one another?

 

[Hawkeye95]

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oh, shoot! I hadn't looked at the weather for the rest of the week! I was really hoping to get some good work in too. I am really just going to have to get moving and forget this lady I guess. Last night she responded right back and just wanted me to email her in the morning so we could set up the time. And now, she won't reply back. Ugh. I guess I better just head to Lowes instead. What a bummer! Today is already annoying me, I have piano lessons (kids) and then a committee meeting at church- so my day will be cut short regardless. Sigh.

Danz, I hope you get some work done and I hope DH changes his mind about helping! No fun to be stuck on your own. I do as much as I can that doesn't require two people and then it's all I can do. I need a day off too! But only after everything is done... LOL!!

 

[chicken danz]

Quote:
I thought turkeys only laid in spring as well but I see some hatcheries offer them year round so maybe not.

My understanding is they lay spring thru fall, but it depends on temperature. Turkeys can lay up to 120 eggs a year.

So does that apply to wild turkey as well? I know they have nests as late as July any way.
I am really considering getting some broad brested turkeys this coming year. I think it would be awesome to raise my own TG turkey. Plus people are always wanting turkey poults.

 

[ChooksChick]

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Yes, you will find birds that look amazing and then see that the extra toe is missing on one foot, or they're almost stuck together instead of good spacing. Sometimes you'll have a fabulous bird and the comb will be red instead off black, etc. It's just one of those things where it's always a work in progress. Even exhibition quality parents can put out chicks with stuff that you didn't expect.

I have huge poofs and great coloring and then one shows up with a toe gone! Sheesh...It's okay, they're still just as lovable!