Maine

[yankeehill]

Have you had keets before? I only ask because my husband HATES them...though I adore them! He grew up in MS and there were some keets near him which were always in the road and apparently make alot of noise. I'd like some, but, I'm content with my hens, ducks, and geese. Besides, I doubt I'd ever get him on board with Guineas, given he dislikes them so much!

 

[The100AcreWood]

I haven't but I actually like the noises they make. Odd, I know. I also think grown and as a keet they are beautiful! I just adore them and I am hoping to help with any tick issues we may have up here too! We just here moved here (Mainers our whole life,just new area) so not sure on how ticks yet.

 

[yankeehill]

While on the topic of ticks, do geese and ducks eat them? How about chickens?

I noticed an odd thing about my broody goose today. She came out for some fresh air, and my son says "Hey mom, why is that broody goose so much darker than the others?" Sure enough, she is MUCH darker than the other hens. She's a Toulouse, and her head is almost black, with all her feathers being noticeably darker than the other hens and the gander. I supposed that maybe she was dirty, since she hasn't been out for very long in a week, and hasn't bathed? We don't recall noticing a darkness to her prior to her going broody. Has anyone else ever noticed this?

 

[lazy gardener]

On the topic of ticks... my cat left a huge mouse present on the front steps this morning. The chickens were checking it out, and I confiscated it before they actually got ahold of it. It had at least 6 engorged ticks on it's face. How to get rid of it without allowing the ticks to carry on with their life cycle. I opted to bury it in a bucket of ashes to allow things to dessicate for a while. Then perhaps a cremation ceremony the next time the stove is good and hot!

I'd love some Guineas. But know that the noise would not be well tolerated by myself and my family.

 

[dowgirl71]

The feed store gives me trouble every time I ask for non-medicated multi-flock (tells me my girls should be on layer-plus) and they also tell me that my girls should be eating pellets instead of crumble. No and no. For some reason they just do better on the multi-flock and they refuse to eat pellets! I suppose the workers are trying to help, but enough is enough.

Oh man-people like that! I just smile and say thank you. I don't even bother to engage with them-it's not worth it! Whatever happened to "the customer's always right?" I love it when they think they know more than you and you know for a fact that they are wrong. This spring, a lady from Blue Seal tried to tell me that Columbian Wyandottes and Silver Laced Wyandottes are the same thing. I didn't even try to tell her she was wrong. I even gave her the benefit of the doubt and googled it. The Columbian Wyandotte looked NOTHING like the kind I was looking for.

 

[dowgirl71]

I haven't but I actually like the noises they make. Odd, I know. I also think grown and as a keet they are beautiful! I just adore them and I am hoping to help with any tick issues we may have up here too! We just here moved here (Mainers our whole life,just new area) so not sure on how ticks yet.

We had some lavender Guinea hens when I was a kid. I loved them-they were so funny!! We had a long driveway and they would see people coming, sometimes before our dogs would. They were a great security system! I like the noise they make, too, especially the girls, "Buckwheat, buckwheat!" I'd love to have some again, but I KNOW they aren't allowed in Brewer-no matter how tolerant my neighbors are.

 

[The100AcreWood]

They seem so fun! We basically are waiting to see if there is a demand for some before we place an order. We definitely don't need 30. We would have 20 to sell. Not sure if that woukd be an easy feat or not!

 

[Branch Chickens]

They seem so fun! We basically are waiting to see if there is a demand for some before we place an order. We definitely don't need 30. We would have 20 to sell. Not sure if that woukd be an easy feat or not!

I know that my mother, sister, and I have all talked about getting them at one time or another, so I think you'd find some interest!

 

[lazy gardener]

I had a moment of brilliance or perhaps lunacy at 0:dark-thirty this morning. Rolling around the ways to easily come up with a chicken tractor... after spending many hours working on the panels of my newest creation. And I came up with an idea that would be easy, great at re-purposing materials, and provide a one-of-a-kind chicken tractor. The frame would be an old bed frame. The legs could be put on 2 x 4 skids, it could be painted for weather proofing. Add a bit of framing for the roof and doors, wrap in chicken wire, and it would be good to go. The angle iron side supports would be perfect for supporting a couple of 2 x 4 roosts. You could even name it "The Bed and Breakfast"!

 

[lazy gardener]

100 Acre: Just this morning, my 12 y.o. suggested that we get some guinea hens.... this coming from the boy who wants nothing to do with the chickens. I'm not sure where that idea came from. They are definitely not in our plans this year, as I'm up to my neck in chicks, and right now, don't even have housing for them. (that's a work in progress). But, perhaps, next spring, I'll be ready to add a couple of Guineas to my flock. I do think they're awesome birds... but the noise... AUGH! Of course with the new coop design in the works... I've also been thinking it would be fun to add some K. Campbell ducks... but the mess.... AUGH!

Every body have a great day. The sun is trying to shine... feebly, but, at least it's trying!