- Oct 28, 2014
- 4
- 16
- 57
Hi to all you chickenites and duckites… I am not a totally new guy to this site (been on it for 4 years now) but this new thread is for old and newbies... So here I go,
I started out with 6 chickens 5 years ago, 2 Americauna, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons. They went thru the normal stuff until one year just before deer season I was practicing with my cross bow and missed the target and zoom it went right into one of my Americaunas. Dang... Then I got tired of the buffs eating all the food and not laying very well so we ate those and the last 3 got eaten by either a coon or possum. I think it was a coon because the bottom of the cage was in great shape with no entry signs but the top of the door was a little ajar and I figure he (or she) climbed the fence door and pried it open to gain entry. Killed all 3 of the girls. After 5 years old they were starting to slow on producing eggs so it wasn't a big loss except for I loved those girls and now hated the animals that killed them so I put out live traps and ended up catching 4 possum, 3 armadillo
and 5 coons. Strange because I have a fully fenced in yard but after closer inspection I found where the armadillo were gaining entry and the coons are just too smart for me. I was without any chickens for a year or two and this year I started out with backyard bees. That got me in the farmer Wayne mood again so I got 4 Easter Eggers and 2 Pekin Ducks. Now all the neighbor kids call me Farmer Wayne or Mister Wayne if they are being nice. LOL My one Pekin duck developed Juvenile Splay leg at 2 months old and I was devastated until my neighbor came over and brought her mother with her. Her mom is a true Bird Whisperer... at the 3rd day after noticing the legs she came over and "Laid Hands" on my duck and told me what it was. So of course I went to Backyard Chickens to see if they could help. Voila!!! There was a thread that explained what it was and 2 other individuals had the exact same problem and what they did for their ducks. They added Brewers Yeast and had them swim in their pool for exercise. Guess what? It worked in only 3 days she was weakly walking again without walking on her club foot and in 5 days she is almost completely normal again, (that is for a juvenile duck, she is still a little clumsy and likes to sit more than the other). I let the kids next door name them so they are now officially pets. I have come to love the ducks 10 fold more than the chickens already. I was really upset when she first developed it but I am now super happy and in love with them. I just hope they are females. One female per drake would be a travesty for one female. She would get flogged to death so I hope I don't need to make a terrible decision. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Hope everyone is well and have the healthiest animals. PS I live in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida if that makes any difference. Bye Y'all….
I started out with 6 chickens 5 years ago, 2 Americauna, 2 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons. They went thru the normal stuff until one year just before deer season I was practicing with my cross bow and missed the target and zoom it went right into one of my Americaunas. Dang... Then I got tired of the buffs eating all the food and not laying very well so we ate those and the last 3 got eaten by either a coon or possum. I think it was a coon because the bottom of the cage was in great shape with no entry signs but the top of the door was a little ajar and I figure he (or she) climbed the fence door and pried it open to gain entry. Killed all 3 of the girls. After 5 years old they were starting to slow on producing eggs so it wasn't a big loss except for I loved those girls and now hated the animals that killed them so I put out live traps and ended up catching 4 possum, 3 armadillo
We are glad you joined this flock!
