Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

I consulted a breeder friend who has raised lots of both chickens and quail and he was adamant that they stay separated. Part of the reasoning is, why take that chance and wipe out a flock? Same with the wild waterfowl joining a flock. For me the stakes are too high to go against the advice of those with experience on that. However, I did go against that advice to separate turkeys at first. Now, they do get raised separate if for no other reason than that they have different feed requirements.

 

[lalaland]

Yes, with your size operation you would be risking more than me...and I'm guessing the quail are more at risk than the chickens, but who knows. I haven't heard any chicken owners with bad results from quail, but do know some quail folk who feel their quail became ill because of their chickens.....

I will have to investigate how to determine where to release them, perhaps I could drive them south and let them go somewhere safe. Mind you, I am not sure what that would be!

 

[scandiafowl]

I saw trumpeter swans in the cornfields last night, and a couple more on the river this morning.  

We had swans fly over last night as well. So beautiful.

 

[NathanZee]

I saw four canadian geese flying the other day. Idk why they r coming back in February... Spring is coming early I guess... Maybe its good your gander scares them away. Then u have a less likely chance at diseases.

Spring is coming early, for one thing. I would consider it a good thing if you boy is chasing them off. If you start inviting wild waterfowl to your flock, you may end up regretting it since they may be carrying something that can wipe out your domestic flock. Especially with AI being around again this year, and the fact that wild waterfowl will carry NewCastle's to a flock, I would not be open to that invitation if I had waterfowl on my property. Just my 2 cents worth on that.

Holm, Minnie: I guess it is good he chases them off for health reasons, but I just REALLY want Canada geese. I'm hoping my gander will chase off stray mallards too, I don't want a pretty mallard hen to come and lure one of my drakes.

We had swans fly over last night as well. So beautiful.

I saw 10 trumpeter swans last fall altogether flying really low. It's amazing how huge they are.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Yes, with your size operation you would be risking more than me...and I'm guessing the quail are more at risk than the chickens, but who knows. I haven't heard any chicken owners with bad results from quail, but do know some quail folk who feel their quail became ill because of their chickens.....

I will have to investigate how to determine where to release them, perhaps I could drive them south and let them go somewhere safe. Mind you, I am not sure what that would be!

If all the tree lines and scrub weren't tore up to make more corn and soy fields, there would be a place for them around here. There is a pond in the middle of the field and sever run-off areas from the surrounding fields feeding into it, so there is a lot of willows and scrub in those areas that the quail can hide. There is a flock of about 20 turkeys in that same field that I see every day as well. I have seen other little coveys of quail around but not on a regular basis like I have been seeing the ones here in the last year.
Somewhere in the bluff region, I would think there would be good habitat. Or just along the west of the bluffs.

 

[NathanZee]

Yes, with your size operation you would be risking more than me...and I'm guessing the quail are more at risk than the chickens, but who knows. I haven't heard any chicken owners with bad results from quail, but do know some quail folk who feel their quail became ill because of their chickens.....

I will have to investigate how to determine where to release them, perhaps I could drive them south and let them go somewhere safe. Mind you, I am not sure what that would be!

Hmm, maybe drive south to me! It's safe here!

 

[KlopKlop]

Our kitties are loving this warm weather! the snow has since melted since this first photo of socks was taken a couple days ago


The kittens have taken to climbing trees and onto the roof of my sheds



My pups are loving it to. they love carrying sticks around earning them the title of "Assistant Branch Managers" around here hehehehe

 

[Minniechickmama]

My kitties are loving this too, although, they were enjoying getting over the fence with ease where the drifts were high enough they could just hop over, and chasing each other all over the place. You would think both of mine were still kittens. I need to deworm them again, Jerome is feeling too heavy in the belly these days. Mila is still a petite enough girl though. I felt bad when one jumped through the steps to the brooder house the other day and I stepped on its paw. It should teach them to stay out from under my feet, I guess. I am sure he forgave me though, he still insists I pick him up and give him a snuggle every day when I go out.

My hatcher is making a lot of peep peeping sounds tonight. The last I checked, about a third of them were out and just about everyone else was pipped. My workload is increasing. I am setting more eggs tonight, just waiting for a few to dry off first before they go in. Yes, I wash my eggs before setting. I have heard all that about washing off the bloom. I have been doing it this way for 6 years and even used to dip in a bleach solution as per the State recommendation, and I found out it doesn't matter as far as hatching goes. What I don't like is the smell of moist chicken poop in my house, so I wash them. Most just need a quick rinse, but others need a good washing where another egg got broken in the nest or someone decided to roost on the edge of the nest box. Right now need to clean from where this damp and thawing has caused things to get messy again, so some of the eggs that get laid in corners instead of the box are getting a bit dirty too. I wish I could use the lawn tractor and wagon for the cleaning, but it is too wet and mushy so a wheelbarrow it is. Yuck.

 

[lalaland]

If all the tree lines and scrub weren't tore up to make more corn and soy fields, there would be a place for them around here. There is a pond in the middle of the field and sever run-off areas from the surrounding fields feeding into it, so there is a lot of willows and scrub in those areas that the quail can hide. There is a flock of about 20 turkeys in that same field that I see every day as well. I have seen other little coveys of quail around but not on a regular basis like I have been seeing the ones here in the last year.
Somewhere in the bluff region, I would think there would be good habitat. Or just along the west of the bluffs.

I know, I hate the destroying of the fence line growth. For some reason around here, the township guy has been playing with new equipment - some kind of giant grinding/cutting disk that goes on the end of the tractor and chews everything up. follows all the roadside and clears it to the ground. pointless, and destroys alot of good habitat. And I've noticed some of the farmers taking out their fence lines, etc to accommodate the big equipment and to make use of every square foot. There are lots of wooded areas, and plenty of wild areas, but those fence rows are kind of paths for wildlife.

Hmm, maybe drive south to me! It's safe here!

might have to happen! been pondering how to get the little buggers into a carrying cage. think would have to get the cage inside the run and surprise trap them after they are in it to investigate.

 

[lalaland]

yup, its time for muddy eggs!