Michigan

[theron]

Quote:
SOLD! When would you like to pick them up?

and was surprized that my lav x buff cross produced blues. Even the Toulouse cross seems to have got that shade on them. Do you know the genetics behind it?

I don't. I really only meant to have the buffs (and we separated the two types during breeding season) so I haven't paid much attention to the blue genetics. When/if I get a little extra time I'll see if I can dig something up though. I can see getting the blue sheen with the toulouse cross, because you're starting with a grey base anyway, but a buff/lav cross does seem odd to have produced blues. Unless your buff is actually a cross? The blues were originally Vicki's and I think she had them all running together. I'll have to look it up to be sure, but I think buff may be dominant to blue. So if one of her buffs crossed with a blue it may have hatched a goose that would be buff in appearance but that carried the blue gene. Since lav is simply double recessive blue if your "buff" threw dominant blue and Homer gave a recessive blue you would end up with a blue goose. If that's the case if you were to breed it back to Homer you should end up getting both blues and lavs from the breeding. All theoretical, of course, as I'm not positive on that dominant/recessive thing as it pertains to the buff and the blue, but I'll do some digging on that and let you know what I find.

So, you still have your pair of american blues? I am super interested in getting them, but I have to get rid of some of our sebastopol geese first.

 

[theron]

Quote:
Those are DEFINITELY monarch butterfly caterpillars. I have to raise them for my AP bio class. Whoever raises the most gets extra credit for the class.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Picked my daughter up from Band Camp. Yay!! I missed her so much.
I made a stop at Destiny Farms- I try to never say anything bad about something. Really, I do. However I have had two negative experiences with them and won't try again.

The first time was when i was looking for a single duckling. They had them but the only day i had available was on Sunday to drive out there. He told me that they wouldnt take money on Sundays.
This time, i called looking for baby chicks. he told me that they had them hatching every day. I was very clear that I would be coming out there approximately 11 on Saturday. yes yes yes, that was fine. I told him that I would be getting about nine or twelve chicks to stick under my three broodies. Yep yep yep, hatching every day. 11 would be fine.

We got there at 12. He told my husband that they didnt have any chickens for sale. No chicks. I told him that I had called ahead- and he said, yes he knows but someone came yesterday and bought all their chicks....however, they have some that will be hatching soon- that they put eggs under their broody silkies yesterday. So, how about some of the quail or even the pheasants that they have on their website? Anything that I can put under the broodies? Nope, nothing. Not even older chicks for sale.

Okay, thats fine. But I won't try again.
I think i will just go clean out my coop and throw away all the eggs the girls have been sitting on for over a month and be done with it all.

 

[KrisRose]

Quote:
SOLD! When would you like to pick them up?

and was surprized that my lav x buff cross produced blues. Even the Toulouse cross seems to have got that shade on them. Do you know the genetics behind it?

I don't. I really only meant to have the buffs (and we separated the two types during breeding season) so I haven't paid much attention to the blue genetics. When/if I get a little extra time I'll see if I can dig something up though. I can see getting the blue sheen with the toulouse cross, because you're starting with a grey base anyway, but a buff/lav cross does seem odd to have produced blues. Unless your buff is actually a cross? The blues were originally Vicki's and I think she had them all running together. I'll have to look it up to be sure, but I think buff may be dominant to blue. So if one of her buffs crossed with a blue it may have hatched a goose that would be buff in appearance but that carried the blue gene. Since lav is simply double recessive blue if your "buff" threw dominant blue and Homer gave a recessive blue you would end up with a blue goose. If that's the case if you were to breed it back to Homer you should end up getting both blues and lavs from the breeding. All theoretical, of course, as I'm not positive on that dominant/recessive thing as it pertains to the buff and the blue, but I'll do some digging on that and let you know what I find.

No more geese!!! Sad but back yard should really only have two on it. The poop produced is amazing!!
I got information about the blues from pete55. He is goose breeder on BYC from UK. Says the cross produces blue females and blue males with a buff gene. Forget the exact wording. I will go look it up.

 

[RaZ]

Yep, you have monarch caterpillars there and they look like they are near to go into chrysalis. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a host plant.
The monarchs have been very scarce around my area this year. I don't know why, I've had tons of other types. Especially black swallowtails laying eggs in my fennel.

Currently raising some cecropia moth caterpillars right now.

 

[keyt1969]

Quote:
If you can't find them homes on CL, or eat them- take them to the auction in Williamston. It runs each Sat- you don't get much for them for the most part (well chicks you don't- roos maybe because of the hair feathers kids want right now) But they will be gone, not bothering your hens or eatting food.

Where is the auction and what time? I've had the drakes and roosters on CL for weeks! I have even offered up females to go with either the roosters or drakes just to get them out of here but haven't had a bite! I've gone from selling them cheap to offering them for free. Nothing.


Opa - I'm well aware they stress the hens out. I've seen it! They're doing better since I managed to separate the troublemakers, but I can only do that for so long. As far as the bantam's combs, they're gone. They're not infected, I am sure of that. What makes me made is Aric and I had this agreement...he works with the chickens, I work with the ducks. I hadn't really looked at the bantams for a couple of weeks because I didn't go outside that much due to cracked ribs. Yesterday I go out there and the 3 hens that just had tips missing on their combs now have NONE. It took all I had not to really blow! THAT should be a very sure sign these roos need to GO!

Olive - I'm ready to cull them. I swore I wouldn't say that, but I'm too frustrated at this point. I guess if I liked chicken and dumplings (or even chicken period...well, I do, but I'm picky about it) I'd be more anxious!! LOL

NovaAman - That's the problem, we've used all the wood we had or we could purchase. It's so frustrating how when we don't need it, we see free wood or pallets on craigslist all the time. Now that we desperately need it, we can't find any or if we do it's too far away!

Sigh. Ok, take a deep breath and re-group. Ok....so for good news, the ducks are looking so much better! I had someone call yesterday afternoon and leave a msg sounding really anxious for my Swedish drakes and hen. I called her back but she has yet to call me back. These drakes are the worst I've ever had, and that's saying a lot considering all the ducks I've had since I was a child! They're not so bad when they're in the yard, but I can't leave them out there by themselves because we live too close to the road.

Today is pond cleaning day. One pond and two pools. I wish we could get our hands on some mortar or something to make one big pond!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Quote:
SOLD! When would you like to pick them up?

and was surprized that my lav x buff cross produced blues. Even the Toulouse cross seems to have got that shade on them. Do you know the genetics behind it?

I don't. I really only meant to have the buffs (and we separated the two types during breeding season) so I haven't paid much attention to the blue genetics. When/if I get a little extra time I'll see if I can dig something up though. I can see getting the blue sheen with the toulouse cross, because you're starting with a grey base anyway, but a buff/lav cross does seem odd to have produced blues. Unless your buff is actually a cross? The blues were originally Vicki's and I think she had them all running together. I'll have to look it up to be sure, but I think buff may be dominant to blue. So if one of her buffs crossed with a blue it may have hatched a goose that would be buff in appearance but that carried the blue gene. Since lav is simply double recessive blue if your "buff" threw dominant blue and Homer gave a recessive blue you would end up with a blue goose. If that's the case if you were to breed it back to Homer you should end up getting both blues and lavs from the breeding. All theoretical, of course, as I'm not positive on that dominant/recessive thing as it pertains to the buff and the blue, but I'll do some digging on that and let you know what I find.

No more geese!!! Sad but back yard should really only have two on it. The poop produced is amazing!!
I got information about the blues from pete55. He is goose breeder on BYC from UK. Says the cross produces blue females and blue males with a buff gene. Forget the exact wording. I will go look it up.

are you talking about too much goose poop? Try mine. And tell me why why why why why why whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy *insert some more whining* do they think it is better to poop on the driveway and the deck? The yard is small enough, but now- they much prefer the driveway and deck to the grass. In fact, just ask Penelope- she will tell you all about it.

 

[Mom 2em All]

oh before I forget...
does anyone want my Turken cockerel?
My daughter named him "Stu".
I will end up taking him over to my brother-in-laws if nobody takes him. However, it is so sad over there compared to here.

My neighbor came over to tell my husband that the geese are much better yard protectors than the dogs are. She said the geese went nuts in the middle of the night and woke her up- and it sounded like someone was out back. She said she thought she could hear someone scraping on the window screen. But then the sound went away.

I asked my husband if she was complaining about the geese- because if she does, I will have to rehome my illegal goosers. He said, no not at all- quite the opposite.
She is going through a nasty divorce from my nasty nasty neighbor(her husband)- and she also suffers from panic attacks. She was grateful the geese woke her up and 'chased away her husband' who didnt know that I have geese.....

 

[Riverdale]

We are having some serious troubles.

The younger hens and roster (3 of them, about 3 months old now)
are being run roughshod over by the hens.

What can we do?

How long will the pecking and bullying go on for?

AAARRRRGGHHHH!

fwiw, the flock is
4 RIR
2BR
2 ISA Browns
2 Buff Orps
2 Austrolopes
1 Brahma

the 'weee' ones
2 BR
1 Buff Orp

 

[tsparrow]

Quote:
I'm glad I seen you before you left. I was pretty late, but still ended selling everything, but my Bantam Cochins, which I could care less if I sold them. I only went down on my price on my baby guineas and I have a lot of them.

I wish I would have gotten there earlier. It was nice to see someone from BYC even if it was only for a min.

Everyone was very nice there. Thank you for the address.