First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[dpenning]

I know someone in Minnesota that would like some copper maran eggs to hatch............


MM.

It is Ray not Ron! And I am sure Ray started the dispute, Bert is too friendly to start anything. However, I did notice when I let him out this morning he tried to get with a little red sex linked hen. He grabbed her behind the head and started to climb into the saddle, when Ernie kicked him off...

I wish Pearl and Bert could meet and fall in love! The baby frogs would be so cool. I find it amazing Bert is as active as he is. I have seen him over 75 yards from the coop everyday. I am so glad the weather has changed, I am just scratch feeding him now. I figure it does him good to forage and not just sit at a feeder.

I am thinking the DW is a tad upset with me. She has figured out I am feeding wild bird seed instead of cheaper chicken feed to them all.. She is not buying the “ they like it better” excuse.

Like you I like my flock right now. I want more pens to control breeding but I am not sure how many more birds I will add. I assume there will be some unintended additions this summer.

I am also thinking of opening Guinea Fowl hunting season. The little “word deleted to keep me from being banned” are driving me nuts. I just chased them out tof the coop again. They have their own coop with game bird laying mash, but they prefer my chicken layer mash. I am actually thinking of listing them on Craigslist. Of course, what a waste to feed them over winter and sell them just before egg laying starts.

You need to have your DH read the last couple pages in the Minnesota thread, there was a lively discussion has to how many labs per chicken are needed to keep the yard clean. One person suggested a “mastiff” whatever that is. The consensus is there must be a perfect number.

Jessica, can I come live with you? I want 300 chickens running around. I sat outside with the birds yesterday and so loved it. I cannot believe how watching chickens do their thing can be so relaxing and enjoyable.

It is strange Sunny is not laying any eggs. BUT my diamond encrusted chickens have not laid an egg in a week now. Which is bothering me.

I am setting a few eggs today, maybe 12-15. Two diamond encrusted eggs and the rest EE. I am thinking of trying to sell a few for Easter. I know it's disgusting but, the more people the like chicken pets the better!

This is my delicate petite flower, Daisy. She is an English Mastiff. 190 lbs but on a diet.

 

[duluthralphie]

This is my delicate petite flower, Daisy. She is an English Mastiff. 190 lbs but on a diet.

That's one huge poop eater! How many chickens can it clean up after in a day?








I cannot win with Bert. Last night he was upset I made him go in too early. Tonight I left him out later and he was sitting on the stoop to the coop in front of the door ,wanting to know why I made him stay out so late...

BUT he is not fooling me! I saw him sit down when I was about 50 yards from the coop, otherwise he was playing with the turkeys and a barred rock!

 

[nj2wv]

Tonight when I went to put the meatheads in the coop , one of them flew to the top of the run. It is six feet high. Even if it flew to the tractor first two feet high then the run, it still flew four feet. I didn't see the actual flight. I just saw it on the top of the run and had to get it down. It wasn't there before I got there. These meatheads are athletic.

 

[dpenning]

That's the problem, you can't judge the chicken clean up abilities by the size of the dog. Daisy is something of a snob, no chicken clean up.

 

[duluthralphie]

Tonight when I went to put the meatheads in the coop , one of them flew to the top of the run. It is six feet high. Even if it flew to the tractor first two feet high then the run, it still flew four feet. I didn't see the actual flight. I just saw it on the top of the run and had to get it down. It wasn't there before I got there. These meatheads are athletic.

They are very agile when young....

When they get to be Bert's size they are still active but are less agile. Bert roosts on a wood chip bale. He is still able to leap the 18 inches in a single bound! I do try to help him down so he does not break a leg. But somedays he is down before I open the door for him.

I do not call him a meatball anymore, he is more like a meatloaf..

 

[mountain mom]

We have an Australian Shepherd who cleans up pretty well after 8 birds... he leaves the especially gross ones on the ground though.
Then I have to clean up after him... not so sure we have a win here.

I have broken through the tough exterior of my sweet husband. He just proposed an amazing coop/brooding plan for the meaties and turkeys. He still doesn't know there are chicks accompanying me home from the grocery tomorrow... BUT, I am convinced Keadis will be an excellent mother. At least I want her to be. She is totally trying to start a clutch of eggs. So adorable. Surprise, tomorrow your non-existent clutch will have hatched!! If there is a hen that would protect chicks, it will be her.

On the chick front: I have decided to let my kids each choose one type, I will choose one as well. I want to bring home 4, but will settle for 3. I think that will go over better... arguing a dying rate and all... while I expect all to thrive. I really hope my hubby never reads this... all my secrets will be revealed.
My daughter is leaning towards a silver grey dorking or a barnevelder or maybe a cream barabanter. Sorry, I am too lazy at this point in the day to do capitals. Who knows what my son wants, he will decide tomorrow. Probably picking a cute chick. Total dude, that one. I will choose a Russian orloff, if their legs are yellow, or a copper marans. Those are better priced than the diamond chickens. $15 as opposed to the NOW $70. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANY OF THIS. The cream legbars were so successful, they ordered somehow more fancy, more diamond encrusted ones.

Almost a month and my meaties will be in!!!

DoubleKindness- you have copper marans, right?! Maybe we can make a deal? If you are ready for CX by mid April, I will drive them (aka my hubby and I will bring them down to you) for only the chick cost from the feed store, if we could come home with a Marans roo?!

 

[holm25]

I got another cat and are getting our doelings Sunday or Monday!!!

My roo is naughty and is escaping his pen. Did I tell you I found a weasel trying to kill him. That weasel is lucky I didn't have a gun... Coyotes were also right next to them house and scared our Jersey right through a cattle panel. Them darn things.

I was gone and had know one to turn my eggs I am saving for hatching. Will they be fine it was only1-2 days

 

[mountain mom]

Holm- You have the life of a kid that I wanted!! So did Ralph. I am now doing my best to provide this to my kids. Such an amazing upbringing to not only be around so many animals, but to enjoy them as well!

 

[holm25]

Holm- You have the life of a kid that I wanted!! So did Ralph. I am now doing my best to provide this to my kids. Such an amazing upbringing to not only be around so many animals, but to enjoy them as well!

It is fun!! But doing all this stuff has caused lots of fights within the family. As my uncle is a know it all city boy who thinks he could be a farmer. My parents want to raise our animals the way I do. And then there is my grandpa who is also a know it all. My brothers and sisters don't care I have 4 siblings!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Holm, enjoy the animals, I know I did as a kid. I had more animal friends than I had human friends..

Did your Grandpa grow up on a farm? If he did he may have some ideas that seem old or strange to you, but there could be a good reason for them. I did raise my kids on a farm for a few years, but I got too busy making a living to realize what was truly important, I wish I had kept some "farm" the entire time my kids were in school. However, we do what we must.


When I was growing up here, we owned 2 miles of river shoreline, acres of swamp and fields, Now all that is left is the skimpy little 13 acres I live on. The closest kid was 2 miles away. If I had not had animal friends I would have had no one. Of course, that has changed over time.

Did your Uncle grow up on the farm you live on? I am not taking sides but that could be his precious memories on that land too.

My father was set in his ways too, and you will be someday yourself. Work around it, I did, ride a cow! ( just don't get caught doing it) And remember pigs are pretty smart when it comes to removing a kid from their backs.....