"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[TerriLaChicks]

OK, this is a crazy question, but looking at the foto, I wondered, do peas fan while they are...errr...you know?

No, they don't, lol. It would be like walking & chewing gum at the same time, ya know?

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. Lockdown starts tonight. The sky will fall out for 10 minutes and then stop and be sunny for a while. I guess that's Louisiana.

Tips for imprinting birds? I know to handle them in short rounds so they don't get cold, but I'm going on a trip a few days after hatch.

You want to pick them up & handle them several times a day, as much as you can, before you go out of town -- feed them from your hand, that sort of thing. The more you handle them, the gentler they will become. If you can convince somebody else to pick them up & handle them while you're gone, that will continue the imprinting process. Not hard to do at all!

Mine always seem to go through what I call the "shrieking teenager phase" at about a month of age when they are suddenly horrified & scream & jump at anything -- but they outgrow that in a week or two- in the meantime, I bring out my 'secret weapon' -- oatmeal - they go crazy for it -- I'm sure other La-yers have their favorite treats too -- I make them come up & eat the oatmeal out of my hand. I always make the same "call" to them, so they associate that sound w/treats, and me. Be sure & give them some grit when you start feeding treats - I just use parakeet grit for the hatchlings.

Good luck & sending positive hatching vibes!

 

[PSJ]

I won't be bringing anything, but I may stop by just to take a look at things. And I'm not really sure when I will be heading that way. I got rid of a bunch of birds due to their poor laying. I spent all this money buying these good quality birds that wouldn't produce worth a darn! So, I just got rid of them! I got tired of paying the food bill for a bunch of freeloaders! I was so frustrated with having birds that are too valuable to eat, but didn't produce any eggs. NO FREELOADERS ALLOWED

I had gotten rid of my Black Minorcas to make room for all the other stuff I bought, and regretted it ever since. They were the only ones who pulled their weight. The only think I kept were my geese, sizzles, and silkies. I found someone local that had some nice Welsummers, so I bought 4 dozen eggs from him and have them in the incubator. For $10 per dozen I couldn't pass them up! I really like how you can sex them when they hatch by their down color. The eggs aren't as dark as a Maran, but his lay like crazy and they are still a nice terracotta color. Once those hatch, I will be hatching as many sizzle eggs as I can. By the fall I should have enough extras to bring to your neck of the woods! I have some more Black Minorcas on the way, and will keep a small flock of culls/mutts for egg purposes. I'm just ready to be able to walk into my coop and actually be able to pick some eggs!

Beautiful eggs!! I would LOVE to get some welsummer chicks!

 

[LeJeune1]

Hello Louisiannians, I've been thinking about starting with a few Guinea Fowl. . . .. But Right Now I am in need of some. We moved two weeks ago to our new place in the middle of the woods, 6 acres, a small creek, we love it with the kids, dogs, cats and chickens. . . . but there are ticks EVERYWHERE! We use spray, and treat the kids like little mionkeys, preening them everytime they come in.. . Anyone know where we can get some adult Guinea or some teenagers? Probably 8 or so would do the trick. .
Thanks, Scott LeJeune

 

[sawyerashton]

Hello Louisiannians, I've been thinking about starting with a few Guinea Fowl. . . ..  But Right Now I am in need of some.  We moved two weeks ago to our new place in the middle of the woods, 6 acres, a small creek, we love it with the kids, dogs, cats and chickens. . . . but there are ticks EVERYWHERE! We use spray, and treat the kids like little mionkeys, preening them everytime they come in.. . Anyone know where we can get some adult Guinea or some teenagers?  Probably 8 or so would do the trick. .
Thanks, Scott LeJeune 

I can't answer your question about the guineas but I too have been battling a tick problem. I had a yard infestation of the American Dog Tick. The biggest help was to use this Virbac Dip on my dog.

http://www.amazon.com/Virbac-Pyreth...TF8&qid=1361862583&sr=8-1&keywords=Virbac+dip

I had tried numerous poisons prechickens and not much worked. This dip prevented the dog from brining any ticks into the house. I would dip him ever weekend. I know you can't dip your kids but it could be a huge help. Even though my 6 month battle is still going on, blocking the feed source has reduced the population enough that it seems that my 4 chickens are able to keep them at bay.

I have tried the Virbac Tick Collar but all it seemed to do was let the dog bring them in then force the ticks off of the dog into the house.

I have gone from finding about 50 a week to now finding one every three weeks or so. All the other poisons seemed to do was just wipe out the entire bug populations of every other species but did nothing on the ticks. The poisons at the big box stores are a joke when it comes to ticks. I had to use the good stuff. I don't spray anymore since I have the chickens but since it seems to finally be under control I don't need to.

Also, I am not in a wooded area. I'm certain that my infestation came from a neglected dog next door and the ticks migrated over when the owners moved their dog to another location in their yard.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Hello Louisiannians, I've been thinking about starting with a few Guinea Fowl. . . .. But Right Now I am in need of some. We moved two weeks ago to our new place in the middle of the woods, 6 acres, a small creek, we love it with the kids, dogs, cats and chickens. . . . but there are ticks EVERYWHERE! We use spray, and treat the kids like little mionkeys, preening them everytime they come in.. . Anyone know where we can get some adult Guinea or some teenagers? Probably 8 or so would do the trick. .
Thanks, Scott LeJeune

Kuntrygirl (Julie) is getting eggs from her guineas now so she should be able to help you out. We never had a tick problem here but I can tell you they are also great as snake control.

 

[kuntrygirl]

OK, this is a crazy question, but looking at the foto, I wondered, do peas fan while they are...errr...you know? 

No, they don't, lol. It would be like walking & chewing gum at the same time, ya know?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Hello Louisiannians, I've been thinking about starting with a few Guinea Fowl. . . ..  But Right Now I am in need of some.  We moved two weeks ago to our new place in the middle of the woods, 6 acres, a small creek, we love it with the kids, dogs, cats and chickens. . . . but there are ticks EVERYWHERE! We use spray, and treat the kids like little mionkeys, preening them everytime they come in.. . Anyone know where we can get some adult Guinea or some teenagers?  Probably 8 or so would do the trick. .
Thanks, Scott LeJeune 

Hey Scott. Sorry to hear about your guinea problem. There is a man in Eunice that raises hundreds of guineas. He always has some for sale. He started me with my guineas about 10 years ago. If you want his name and number, let me know and I will PM you his information. You will have to give him a few days to round up some for you. They have to catch them first.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Hello Louisiannians, I've been thinking about starting with a few Guinea Fowl. . . ..  But Right Now I am in need of some.  We moved two weeks ago to our new place in the middle of the woods, 6 acres, a small creek, we love it with the kids, dogs, cats and chickens. . . . but there are ticks EVERYWHERE! We use spray, and treat the kids like little mionkeys, preening them everytime they come in.. . Anyone know where we can get some adult Guinea or some teenagers?  Probably 8 or so would do the trick. .
Thanks, Scott LeJeune 

Kuntrygirl (Julie) is getting eggs from her guineas now so she should be able to help you out. We never had a tick problem here but I can tell you they are also great as snake control.

Terri, I finally caught all but 3 of them and put them in their pen and now I'm seeing eggs, eggs, eggs.

 

[Mickiesmadhouse]

Hi all! I am brand new to BYC! I was raised with chickens and am excited to start my own coop! I live in Baton Rouge and am looking for local silkie breeders. If anyone has recommendations I would greatly appreciate it!!

I am excited to get to know all you LA chicken lovers!!

!!!!!!