First Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatchathon- Join us! Set Day: Easter

[Wisher1000]

So sorry you didn't get what you wanted. Isn't it ironic though? What I really wanted was MW's but after failing to find them locally, and being reluctant to get shipped eggs due to the vagaries of incubating them, when I found a local guy selling RP eggs, I "settled" for them. If only you were closer - I'd happily trade you a couple of RP's (assuming that many hatch) for your MW's.....

Ironic? Maddeningly so!!! I guess if it had worked out for both of us, we wouldn't be having this conversation. BUT, if you want to bring those RP poults and make a road trip to Alabama, I'll make sweet tea, white beans, cornbread, fried okra, pork chops, creamed corn and homemade banana pudding (eggs and sugar on the stove custard, not that instant pudding mess!)

That's great Deb! I actually read the article you posted and the bit about them being a rare breed. The ones I have came from Ideal, I don't know how rare that is!I also read that they were developed from RP and another type white but the name escapes me - Millwalkee, maybe?

Is that a diamondback? BF just said he'd take the shotgun to it, and lose the eggs and have to rebuild that part of the coop and nest boxes, but it'd be worth it. He just countered with... or a flame thrower.

My husband said the same about the eggs, nest boxes, porch, cats, all would be colateral damage! He hates all snakes, and there is no reasoning with him.

 

[debs_flock]

Had my Easter Hatch babies out in the yard today for a fun game of "Worm Keep Away". That game is funner than football I tell ya!

I watched a round of "Worm Keep Away" today too! It was great fun for me and the 25 chicks that were chasing the possessor of the worm. It went on for nearly ten minutes, I don't think the worm was enjoying the game or the finale.

Deb

 

[cmfarm]

nope.. it's a Texas rat snake

lol.. i make pets out of them.. pretty sweet natured once they realize you're not gonna hurt tham

I hate all snakes. Rat snakes here can be agresive sometimes and will bite. I have lost too many chicks and young chickens to them, I kill them if I can. We have have cats that kill the mice.

 

[dsqard]

Since we have only had four submissions to the caption contest, I am going to let it go another couple of days. Please submit your entries by midnight Wednesday. Remember, we have a very generous prize for the contest. A full year Golden Feather membership! Even if you already have a membership, this would add another year before you would have to renew! I know we have some great ideas out there so let's get them in!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

When I was about 7, I was snake hunting along a lawn edged with tall grasses around a pond. Mind you I mean catch and release. I found a big snake, probbaly all of 18", lol . It headed for the tall grass and I grabbed its tail in a head first dive. It turned around and it bit me!!! I dropped it. Which is of course exactly why it bit me, it was defending itself. I learned a good lesson that day: treat the snakes with more respect. I never got over my fear of being bitten but I handle all snakes with respect now. I don't handle the garters anymore, but prefer the large 6-10 foot boas. My boys are the garter snake catchers, and due to similar experiences, they also treat the snakes gently.

P.S. My cats can't keep up with the mice, so I got turkeys! Haven't seen them catch any yet though.

 

[yinepu]

I hate all snakes. Rat snakes here can be agresive sometimes and will bite. I have lost too many chicks and young chickens to them, I kill them if I can. We have have cats that kill the mice.

lol.. i've been bitten several times by black rat snakes.. honestly it's no worse than getting stuck by a briar.. does more damage to the snake than it does to me!

When I was about 7, I was snake hunting along a lawn edged with tall grasses around a pond. Mind you I mean catch and release. I found a big snake, probbaly all of 18", lol . It headed for the tall grass and I grabbed its tail in a head first dive. It turned around and it bit me!!! I dropped it. Which is of course exactly why it bit me, it was defending itself. I learned a good lesson that day: treat the snakes with more respect. I never got over my fear of being bitten but I handle all snakes with respect now. I don't handle the garters anymore, but prefer the large 6-10 foot boas. My boys are the garter snake catchers, and due to similar experiences, they also treat the snakes gently.

P.S. My cats can't keep up with the mice, so I got turkeys! Haven't seen them catch any yet though.

My husband had to laugh at me the first time I got bit by a snake.. the snake bit me so I grabbed him again (never let go the first time... ) and finished pulling him out of our heater.. silly guy thought it would be a nice place to sleep.. but I didn't want cooked snake!.. he was just over 8 feet long when I measured him.. beautiful snake!.. Since it was winter we kept him as a pet until the following spring then released him into our backyard.. he never tried to bite me again after that first time (not saying a snake won't.. just that he didn't). I would much rather deal with snakes and tarantulas than have to deal with most people I know!

that one never would have bitten me if I had gotten his head (I like to distract them with one hand and grab right behind the head with the other).. but since he was stuck in our heater i didn't have as much of a choice where I grabbed him

lol.. when I lived up north I was the neighborhood snake catcher.. any time a neighbor ended up with a snake in their home (or car) they would come running for me to come get it

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I find all animals very interesting; they are more complicated than most people realize. ANd more straight forward than people.LOL What you see is what you get with animals, not people. **sigh**

I love to see the colors of the snakes, even the garter snakes have a variety of patterns.

The kids could ID one by the stumpy tail. Hence "Stumpy". Didn't see him last year, hopefully he's still around. Would like to see him this year. THe kids have caught him year after year. He'll be missed if he is gone.

 

[Wisher1000]

WooHoo! I have movement in an egg!

I know you guys see that all the time but it is the first time for me! EVER! I don't know how many I have or even which one it is, LOL! When I saw it move, I put it back quickly and ran to tell y'all! Now that I think of it, I need to candle all of them soon, it's almost time for lockdown. I might just get a chick this time!

 

[karimw]

We had bullsnakes at our last house, but I haven't seen anything more than garter snakes on our new property. Found a hatchling in the one of the pens yesterday - the chickens had made short work of him .

In other news I candled Saturday night and pulled 6 mostly clear turkey and IaB eggs leaving me with 20 turkey and 14 IaB. DH said he kept hearing birds though he knew so far past sundown they should all be asleep. So I checked the incubator and found one of the turkey eggs 1/2 zipped. About 15 minutes later we got this:


Based on the fuzzy feet I'd say it's a splash Cochin mix. And apparently I have a Cochin hen that lays brown speckled eggs bigger than the turkeys do! That would be the downside of letting turkeys and chickens share nest boxes.

I had noticed a REALLY wonky air cell on that egg and figured it had to do with the 3 weeks it had been sitting before set date. It was a perfect hatch considering I had just lowered the humidity because I thought the turkey egg air cells were a bit small. It was running about 22% when I saw the zip. I stuck in some wet paper towels, but it hatched about 5 minutes later so it probably didn't make any difference.

So I took a late night hike out to the coop to stuff this little sweetie under an Iowa Blue that hatched a half dozen chicks yesterday. Thank goodness for broodys!

 

[HEChicken]

So sorry you didn't get what you wanted. Isn't it ironic though? What I really wanted was MW's but after failing to find them locally, and being reluctant to get shipped eggs due to the vagaries of incubating them, when I found a local guy selling RP eggs, I "settled" for them. If only you were closer - I'd happily trade you a couple of RP's (assuming that many hatch) for your MW's.....

Originally Posted by Wisher1000
Ironic? Maddeningly so!!! I guess if it had worked out for both of us, we wouldn't be having this conversation. BUT, if you want to bring those RP poults and make a road trip to Alabama, I'll make sweet tea, white beans, cornbread, fried okra, pork chops, creamed corn and homemade banana pudding (eggs and sugar on the stove custard, not that instant pudding mess!)

A very tempting offer.....[off to check Google Maps for the distance from Kansas to Alabama....]

lol.. i've been bitten several times by black rat snakes.. honestly it's no worse than getting stuck by a briar.. does more damage to the snake than it does to me!

This is very true. I keep corn snakes as pets and have been snagged many times by a hungry snake who assumed the reason my hand was reaching into his/her enclosure was because it must contain food. I liken it to being scratched by velcro. Although I did have one who latched on and started swallowing my index finger. I'm not sure what would have happened once she got to the last knuckle but I didn't want to find out, and submerged her in water until she let go voluntarily.

WooHoo! I have movement in an egg!

I know you guys see that all the time but it is the first time for me! EVER!

I don't think it will matter how many times I see it - it will always be exciting. Same with watching them zip and hatch!