Dixie Chicks

[BriardChickens]

Drama queens are everywhere. I try my best to avoid it.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Oh, @ApiaryandAviary that was an awesome visual!!
Although, it is sad when a few ruin it for so many others... :/

 

[BriardChickens]

there, I stretched my feelers out to find a couple more Cayuga ducks. who doesn't want to find a black - grey egg!

 

[perchie.girl]

I'll have a talk with hubby.. see where the new house is going exactly. If it's all too close the shed will have to move.

Maybe the boss/neighbour can pull it for me when he's doing our excavation for the foundation

I mean the excavator will already be there.. patience.

Perchie, you just gave me another idea, call Rona (a building center), they sell and deliver sheds. Maybe they can move one.

no patience, but all a distraction from waiting 3 more days for my duck hatch!

PERFECT.... Call em... they probably hire out the muscle....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

there, I stretched my feelers out to find a couple more Cayuga ducks. who doesn't want to find a black - grey egg!

Just remember they lighten up over the laying season... First eggies though are supposed to be pretty dang dark.

Black Runner ducks do the same thing... I want them because they arent particular about how much water they get to swim in.

edited to add.... and they dont fly much
deb

 

[BriardChickens]

Yepp!

I was considering runner ducks for their laying ability but heard they don't do well in our climate. They look hilarious too.

Today is a holiday, I'll call on my days off for a quote on moving that shed. Otherwise I'll bug the neighbour after figuring out if it's actually movable.

 

[Beer can]

Khaki Campbell's lay more eggs than any chicken.
I was thinking of getting some mallards hoping they would be better with the predators. Cayugas are pretty awesome though, and native to NY which is cool, but I don't know how predator warry they are?
Then I'm thinking Cotton Patch geese would be cool, and very predator wary. They say they are the only domestic goose that can fly from a standstill. Plus they are supposed to be very friendly. I just miss having waterfowl on our pond :-(

 

[BriardChickens]

Do it beer can, you need water fowl!

 

[Alaskan]

So, my expensive shipped Marans eggs are done, I got about 50% hatch... Not horrid, not great, but not bad.

However.... SEVERAL of them have bad toes.

I am soooo peeved.

Also, some were supposed to be BBS Black Copper.... But they all look black to me, even the one that hatched from a splash egg.... So that one HAS to be blue or splash..... I thought the blue chicks had different color down???????

Dunno.

But the toes....I mean REALLY, is there not a Marans in the entire world that has good toes? None of these were welded together... So no surgery needed.... But several had the outside small toes way short, one has a rudimentary nail, one had the outside toe folded under the middle toe AND a splayed foot...that one is stuck in a "shoe" and hobbles.

I love it (not), my shipped expensive chicks I am going to sell most for just $8 each as culls.

At least ALL of the eggs were fertile.... That is a nice change.

 

[minihorse927]

50% hatch rate on shipped eggs is amazing. What sucks is they have toe problems. I think I'd ask the breeder if they honestly have any foot issues with theirs. If you don't like the answer,try to put a feeler out for reviews on said breeder.