Illinois...

[addctd2plnts]

I'm originally from Northern Illinois, Lake Bluff, but have lived in West Suburbs of St. Louis for last 30 years. I;m new to poultry but started this year with Penciled Indian Runner Ducklings and Call Ducks. Tempted to see if I can get some Welsh Harlequins and Dutch Hookbills before the end of the summer. I just LOVE the ducks! We have a disabled daughter living at home that I think would find the Silkies comical and enjoyable, so may try them too... OK, I'm officially addicted and have 24 acres to fill... Also have horses and a huge pack of rescue dogs

 

[cavemanrich]

I'm originally from Northern Illinois, Lake Bluff, but have lived in West Suburbs of St. Louis for last 30 years. I;m new to poultry but started this year with Penciled Indian Runner Ducklings and Call Ducks. Tempted to see if I can get some Welsh Harlequins and Dutch Hookbills before the end of the summer. I just LOVE the ducks! We have a disabled daughter living at home that I think would find the Silkies comical and enjoyable, so may try them too... OK, I'm officially addicted and have 24 acres to fill... Also have horses and a huge pack of rescue dogs

Welcome to our Illinois thread and willing to overlook that you are on the other side of the riverJK
Does your 24 acres have a pond by chance???

Post some pictures of your flock

 

[Molpet]

I'm originally from Northern Illinois, Lake Bluff, but have lived in West Suburbs of St. Louis for last 30 years. I;m new to poultry but started this year with Penciled Indian Runner Ducklings and Call Ducks. Tempted to see if I can get some Welsh Harlequins and Dutch Hookbills before the end of the summer. I just LOVE the ducks! We have a disabled daughter living at home that I think would find the Silkies comical and enjoyable, so may try them too... OK, I'm officially addicted and have 24 acres to fill... Also have horses and a huge pack of rescue dogs

Welcome to the IL thread.
How's the humidity down there compared to lake bluff?

 

[Molpet]

@Justso Annie sure doesn't like this weather. She will not even go on a perimeter sweep with me. She wants to go to the house right after she relieves herself. Can't say I blame her.

 

[Justso]

@Molpet I'm with her! My dog still hasn't blown his full coat. He's carrying around a lot of flooff still.
Not looking forward to the next few days, I'm seeing a lot of '90s. I hope that we are graced with rain!
My garden seems to be doing okay. Was able to successfully hatch out a nest of baby bunnies in there, I think they're all chased out now. It truly started out as a community garden. The chickens loved it, mama bunny loved it, now the dog loves it because the baby bunnies were in there.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Did you use the hot water method for plucking? If so did you maintain a high enough temp the entire time? @Faraday40 and I use this method when we process a bunch. The feathers just swipe right off.


I REALLY want peafowl. But with how close my neighbors are, I don't want to cause any strife.

Yes I used hot water. It was about 150° for 30 seconds or so, just till wing feathers pull out. They come out, its just so tedious and time consuming to pull all feathers. Especially if you have to process 25+ birds.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I'm originally from Northern Illinois, Lake Bluff, but have lived in West Suburbs of St. Louis for last 30 years. I;m new to poultry but started this year with Penciled Indian Runner Ducklings and Call Ducks. Tempted to see if I can get some Welsh Harlequins and Dutch Hookbills before the end of the summer. I just LOVE the ducks! We have a disabled daughter living at home that I think would find the Silkies comical and enjoyable, so may try them too... OK, I'm officially addicted and have 24 acres to fill... Also have horses and a huge pack of rescue dogs

Welcome to the thread

 

[BReeder!]

I forgot to mention yesterday we made a trip to Farm and Fleet in Lockport. They have lavender guineas!!! I never knew there was such a color in guineas. I was so tempted! I resisted though. They are just too loud. Not sure if the hens and roos are both loud though - I should check into that. They had turkey poults too. A bit pricy on those though at nearly $12 each. I think the guineas were around $5, which isn't bad. They also had several types of chicks in, but no labels on the pens. I was shocked at the inventory of live birds in June. In the Spring they seemed to have hardly any live birds at all with most of their pens empty. Now all the pens are full and they relocated them closer to the entry to attract customers.

 

[cavemanrich]

Farm and Fleet in Lockport.

I didn't know of that location, Is it new??

 

[BReeder!]

I didn't know of that location, Is it new??

It's been there for at least the 4 years I've been going there. It's right at Weber and Airport if you are familiar with the area.