Maine

[ashandvine]

Well I am mad and sad and hating on myself right now. Apparently when a jake turkey wants his hen to get her butt of the nest and serve him he will go trash the nest and smash her/their eggs. ... and any other eggs in the vicinity. He ALSO took out all but one of the duck's eggs and she was SO close to hatching them! Sebastian even found a little duck body with umbilical and all. Its my fault. I never kept turkeys before. I let him out because I was told he and she would mate again and she would build a clutch again. I figured, once she started laying again he could go to jail. I feel so bad for momma duck. She was doing such a GD good job! She has one egg and my goose egg left. IDK now if the all this trauma has ruined their chances but I am going to cross my fingers for her. I barricaded her off so she has a chance. Sometimes taking chances on new critters sucks.

Four new babies here. I have them in weekly increments now. I even priced out a second incubator. Why are the ones from TCS so cheap?

 

[MustardTiger]

Ash, sorry about the jerk turkey poor duckies.


No sooner did I say "I have had no problems with predators" than the neighbors basset hound was over INSIDE the coop harrasing the chickens. Last time that dog killed one. This time no one was hurt. the excuse is "oh her shock collar is broken". that was the same excuse last time. If this ever happens again I am calling animal control on that dog. My chickens NEVER go on her property but her dogs are always on ours. grrrrrr

 

[gracejr]

Very similar. Sister compounds. Go ahead and get it.

Well, the duramycin was an oral you mix in the water, so I didn't get it. I swear they said on the phone they had ointment! Going to check TSC and BlueSeal to see if they have ointment. If not would first aid cream be ok to use on it, or no?

I did get some more chicks while I was there though. Though of the 3 three week old orpington pullets I brought home, one is definitely a male and the other was questionable. She said all the chicks were pullets, but maybe the orps were actually straight run? They get their stock in from Cackle. Headed back to exchange them out, no more roosters here!! Did also get some more sex link and easter eggers too, hopefully they all stay female!



Sorry about the turkey Ash

Mustard, I'd be upset about the dog too! I really don't get how some people can be so careless about keeping their animals on their own property.

 

[Widget]

Well I am mad and sad and hating on myself right now. Apparently when a jake turkey wants his hen to get her butt of the nest and serve him he will go trash the nest and smash her/their eggs. ... and any other eggs in the vicinity. He ALSO took out all but one of the duck's eggs and she was SO close to hatching them! Sebastian even found a little duck body with umbilical and all. Its my fault. I never kept turkeys before. I let him out because I was told he and she would mate again and she would build a clutch again. I figured, once she started laying again he could go to jail. I feel so bad for momma duck. She was doing such a GD good job! She has one egg and my goose egg left. IDK now if the all this trauma has ruined their chances but I am going to cross my fingers for her. I barricaded her off so she has a chance. Sometimes taking chances on new critters sucks.

Four new babies here. I have them in weekly increments now. I even priced out a second incubator. Why are the ones from TCS so cheap?

Stupid turkey. Doesn't he know there are those of us waiting to take the kids off his hands so he won't have to worry about child support? Hopefully the hen will be able to lay another clutch. Poor duckie too.

The incubators from TSC are cheap for a reason. The one I bought a couple weeks ago was on sale and for the price was okay. $34 I think. I have a Hovabator 1588 with fan that I love. The temperature is preset so you don't have to fiddle with it. There is an extra plastic tray that fits in the bottom for adding water. Plus I have an egg turner for it. The one at TSC is the Little Giant still air that you can add a fan to if you want. No plastic water tray. Temperature isn't preset. And my biggest issue it that the top doesn't fit as securely as the Hovabator. But I'm using it as the lockdown incubator since I have such a staggered hatch going on right now. So for me it works.

 

[Widget]

I know some of the breeds Cackle sells are straight run. The orps shouldn't be one of them. But I'm sure that every so often males get through from the hatchery. Sneaky little critters that they are.

I have some easter eggers due to come in on April 12th. I know I ordered something else too but can't remember what. Unfortunately I won't be able to pick them up on that Friday night since I work until 8 pm. That means going in Saturday am and paying the extra $0.25 per chick. They are also having a chick seminar that Saturday so the place will be busy. Very basic information but I did find it interesting when I went a couple years ago. Not that I really mind the extra charge. Better they are there than stuck overnight at the post office.

I did get some more chicks while I was there though.

Though of the 3 three week old orpington pullets I brought home, one is definitely a male and the other was questionable.

She said all the chicks were pullets, but maybe the orps were actually straight run? They get their stock in from Cackle. Headed back to exchange them out, no more roosters here!! Did also get some more sex link and easter eggers too, hopefully they all stay female!

 

[gracejr]

I suppose it's possible the questionable was female, but red wattles at 3 weeks? My money was on a boy! The definite girl was yellow wattles, barely there comb.

I was confused at first, all the EE chicks I've seen always looked like chipmunks. These ones have barred wings like my partridge rocks. But they do seem to have itty bitty beards, so I'm going to assume they really are EEs. Have you had good luck with their EE before, as far as winding up with colored eggs? I only got them to add some more color to the egg baskets, only one one blue and one green layer right now, everyone else lays brown or cream.

 

[Widget]

I suppose it's possible the questionable was female, but red wattles at 3 weeks? My money was on a boy! The definite girl was yellow wattles, barely there comb.

I was confused at first, all the EE chicks I've seen always looked like chipmunks. These ones have barred wings like my partridge rocks. But they do seem to have itty bitty beards, so I'm going to assume they really are EEs. Have you had good luck with their EE before, as far as winding up with colored eggs? I only got them to add some more color to the egg baskets, only one one blue and one green layer right now, everyone else lays brown or cream.

I haven't had any of Cackle's EE before so it will be interesting to see what I end up with as far as egg color goes. If they end up not laying colored eggs than I won't be upset. At least I will still be getting eggs.

 

[Widget]

I went to see if I could get new tailgate hinges for my truck since the old ones rusted out. Not an uncommon thing to happen. Since I don't get a discount on parts at work for another two months I stopped at a competitor to see if they had what I needed. The clerk did not seem to know what I was talking about. He looked it up in the computer and had no luck. He did suggest that I go to a salvage yard to get the part since it wasn't something they would normally carry. Really? Not common? Don't think so. I just order a new set from Amazon for less than $20. And if I was really in a hurry I could go to another parts store that stated that they had the part in stock in three stores within 30 miles of my house.

And my friend the fox is back. Beautiful but hungry. Must have a litter to feed. She grabbed one of the chickens the other day since they were free ranging. Now all but four are back in the pen and secure. The four that are out refuse to cooperate. One is a rooster who seems to think he can take care of his three girls. We'll see. I doubt it but catching them has so far been impossible. I'll try again after sunset when they settle down for the night.

 

[hoppy]

it was great to see everyone today at the swap, sorry about your turkey stomper Ash.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Well, the duramycin was an oral you mix in the water, so I didn't get it. I swear they said on the phone they had ointment! Going to check TSC and BlueSeal to see if they have ointment. If not would first aid cream be ok to use on it, or no?

No, you want it to be formulated for the eye, otherwise it can damage it.