Annie Blair
In the Brooder
- Aug 17, 2017
- 2
- 5
- 24
Hello, My name is Annie and I am from NC originally. I live in a rural area of Texas about 1 hour southwest of Dallas. I love birds and had cockatiels until I started having health problems due to their dust. A lot of folks have chickens, ducks, turkeys and guineas in this area and I would very much like to have a flock. I am retired from an academic library; I love to garden though I found out chickens are hard on my beds 
My dad had his PhD in Poultry Science and sadly, he is gone now. I know he would have been able to help me so much.
My top priority is to provide the safest possible coop for any birds I get.
A hen showed up at our house a few weeks ago; she looked to be a Rhode Island Red. She was missing feathers but otherwise ok. She took up residence with us and started laying eggs. She followed us around and let the visiting ducks and guineas know she was boss. We had enclosed an area of the porch for her but i do not think it was enough. As of this a.m. she has disappeared and I fear the worst.
Also, the neighbors' guineas laid eggs in my honeysuckle plant. She sat on them until something attacked the nest; she survived but several eggs did not. A day after that, my husband noticed an egg opening; the keet was covered with ants. He brought it in and got them off and I started googling what to do and found this site. The keet seemed not to have any ill effects from his harsh hatching until now, he is a bit wobbly. There were 3 eggs intact, 2 more hatched, one died almost immediately. The 2nd keet is wobbly and lies on his side. I am going to try some Nutri drench for poultry. They are on medicated chick starter but neither of them have strong appetites yet. They are in a box with a lamp; I have a thermometer and am trying to keep it as close to 95 degrees F as I can. I give them luke warm water in a shallow dish with green marbles in it. I have paper towels, shelf liner and baby washclothes in the box to keep them from slipping
I have learned a lot through Google; especially about guinea hens and what a bad idea it is to let them have nests in the open
I told the neighbors she was here nesting but they seemed to have known as little as I did.
I have seen how helpful people are on this forum and look forward to learning a lot. Thanks for reading this lengthy intro
My dad had his PhD in Poultry Science and sadly, he is gone now. I know he would have been able to help me so much.My top priority is to provide the safest possible coop for any birds I get.
A hen showed up at our house a few weeks ago; she looked to be a Rhode Island Red. She was missing feathers but otherwise ok. She took up residence with us and started laying eggs. She followed us around and let the visiting ducks and guineas know she was boss. We had enclosed an area of the porch for her but i do not think it was enough. As of this a.m. she has disappeared and I fear the worst.
Also, the neighbors' guineas laid eggs in my honeysuckle plant. She sat on them until something attacked the nest; she survived but several eggs did not. A day after that, my husband noticed an egg opening; the keet was covered with ants. He brought it in and got them off and I started googling what to do and found this site. The keet seemed not to have any ill effects from his harsh hatching until now, he is a bit wobbly. There were 3 eggs intact, 2 more hatched, one died almost immediately. The 2nd keet is wobbly and lies on his side. I am going to try some Nutri drench for poultry. They are on medicated chick starter but neither of them have strong appetites yet. They are in a box with a lamp; I have a thermometer and am trying to keep it as close to 95 degrees F as I can. I give them luke warm water in a shallow dish with green marbles in it. I have paper towels, shelf liner and baby washclothes in the box to keep them from slipping
I have learned a lot through Google; especially about guinea hens and what a bad idea it is to let them have nests in the open
I told the neighbors she was here nesting but they seemed to have known as little as I did. I have seen how helpful people are on this forum and look forward to learning a lot. Thanks for reading this lengthy intro
. She needs to turn in her 'traveling shoes," for a coop and covered run to keep her safe.
