I LOVE this forum but...

[kiaya611]

I really love this forum for my chicken questions/experiences, etc. and those of others...but I have found that for my turkey, guinea and peafowl questions, I don't get very many responses and I was wondering if anyone knew of any good forums like this one that dealt with these other birds?

Thank you for your help.

 

[maggiePI]

www.the-coop.org/

A different site with different personality, I check out both sites but read more of this site's posts. It really is nice to be able to post and find info about other fowl. There are some strong personalities which can be intimidating but some very good folks.
Suzanna in Medford - hi neighbor!

 

[robin416]

http://www.guineas.com/

 

[countrygirl4513]

www.poultryconnection.com has peafowl etc. forums

 

[Mike_Winters]

poulryconnections the last place to go if you want to talk about pet bird their all thight backsidees

 

[Arklady]

So what are you wanting to know about those other breeds?

Arklady

 

[kiaya611]

Mike...That's what I worry about with some forums. I have been in some forums on different things and there are allot of "know-it-alls" with BIG egos and that they always end up getting into arguments and name calling, etc. and then instead of being a nice constructive place, it turns into a place I have no interest in being.

That's why I like this forum so much for my chickens. I know I am new, but I have yet to read a post that defames someone else and I always see people trying to help others or share the good and bad experiences with each other. I truly wish all forums would follow what I have seen here as an example of what a forum should be.

Arklady...I am interested in many of the same things I was when I started here with chickens... coop design, brooding, how I can keep these birds in an area that has houses pretty close by. I live in an un-annexed portioned of a relatively small city so I can have farm animals, but my property is only 1/2 of an acre. I am not trying to have 100s of birds, but I have wanted to raise my own birds (for eggs/meat and just plain fun) for many years and I have finally got the chance. I know there will be certain things that will be more challenging than others due to my location than others, but if I keep things small, I believe that I can work with what I've got. I wanted to have guineas to use in the garden and so I don't have to use pesticides. I don't like to use chemicals if I can help it plus I am on a well and it is a shallow driven well because we have a shallow water table here and adding more chemicals just isn't a good idea.

Of course, with each of these species, comes different kinds on knowledge, needs, problems, etc. and although own and have ordered books on allot of this, I have to admit that I am not the best reader in the world because I tend to be somewhat dyslexic. Plus, it has been my experience that books can only take you so far. I can't ask a book a question, per say. I have always found that talking directly to people that have done something for a long time or have a great passion for something can be invaluable. Especially when you need an answer quickly like when it comes to medical issues and you either can't afford a vet or one isn't available...when you have a question about how to build a nest box or what size a chicken door should be...sometimes the things that might seem to be simple and might vary well be in a book are the answers that I need or want and can ask in a forum and get multiple answers from real experiences and reasons why someone has done something the way they have done it.

So, my long-winded answer summed up is that I just want to be able to talk with people that have experience and knowledge with these other birds (turkeys, peafowl and guineas) as the people here at BYC has with chickens. Like I said, I LOVE it here for chickens, but I also want to explore other species also.

Thank you for asking and thank you for listening.

I guess I am rambling, but I hope you get what I mean.

 

[robin416]

Are you fenced?

And one very important suggestion, talk to you neighbors before you get Guineas. They may not appreciate the vocalization of the birds. I've got them and can tell you they can be heard a half mile away when they get started. If mine are in the back yard the windows need to be closed because I can't hear over them.

If your neighbors really feel put upon by your aviary they can make your life miserable. But with careful selections you could end up with being a neighborhood favorite.

 

[kiaya611]

My yard is fenced with a 4' 2"X4" wire fence.

I am curious about your comment about "careful selection". Are ther breeds that are less noisy than others?..or did you mean something other than that? I didn't plan to have very many of them (4 or maybe 6 at the most) since I don't have a large property.

I have always wanted them ever since I read about them in Mother Earth News in an article about Gardening with Guineas. I like the idea that they will eat the bugs that I don't want around here and will keep me from having to use pesticides. I wanted to have them be able to "free range", but since I am around other houses, I would be afraid that they would fly over to my neighbor's property's and create problems. That is something I am concerned with getting turkeys and peafowl. I know I can clip their wings, but since they are much smaller birds, I would worry more about their safety not being able to fly out of danger's way. The bigger birds, I wouldn't worry about as much since they have size on their side.

Allot of this is learning for me and I am trying to find out what works for me and what doesn't. I know that I have wanted to try raising some of these different species of birds for a number of years and have never been in a place that was zoned for it or a place where I had any land at all. Here, what I have might be small, but I think that I could try some of the things that I have wanted to try. Someitmes, it comes down to trying something to see if it works of if it doesn't. That is how it is for me at least. I could read about it forever, but without trying, I will never actually know myself.

I wish there was a place locally that had Guineas that I could go to to see them and see what they are like, but I don't know of any place that has any.

Do you think that 4 or 6 of them would create a huge problem with my neighbors? My neighbors like my chickens and I have 42 or those. If all goes well with my hatching, I will have 12 turkeys and 2 peafowl. I know that peafowl are loud too...they are great "watchdogs" and that is a side benefot of having them. I have 4 dogs of my own also, but they are not outside all of the time. I have many plans and things I want to try. I am just trying to find out what I can about these birds from people who have them and learn "second-hand" things that I would want and need to know before I get into them.

 

[kstaven]

1 guinea equels about 4 peafowl for noise. That is the best reference I can think of considering you are acquainted with peafowl.