North Carolina

[crazyhen]

Have you had guineas before? Two yrs ago my neighbors bought GF, well, as usual, they came to my nice long green two acres in front of my house to hang out. They roosted in a tree about 50 ft. in front of my home. All were male but two. Bad ratio. The noise was unbearable night and day. It was the males all night long. Everything that moved set them off. During the winter something got all the males( No not me or mine) I was tempted but didn't. Now the 3 females remain with my blessings. They make their par tracking sounds during the day and are quiet at night. My wish for you is all females. They make the par-tracking, pot-raking noise not the male. He is just noisy. They are very inquisitive too.

 

[2Sesslers]

Since December we have had almost 4 FEET of rain!  We are so sick of it and the ticks are awful. Can't wait for these guineas to get big enough to go out and eat them.....

FOUR FEET?!!! IN NC?!
Thank God we haven't had that much, but the ticks are still bad here. We have seen quite a few. Wish we could have asguinea hen but we have neighbors.

In other news: I am SO thankful for our quiet little neighborhood. Our two little 4-week SLW girls were able to free range in our yard all day! We are SO BLESSED to not have preadators. {Yes, we still keep a very close eye on them} I also think that this will make the introduction to the other girls much more smooth as thy hang out around the outside of the run for the most part. Fingers crossed!

 

[atmaclean]

Have you had guineas before?  Two yrs ago my neighbors bought GF, well, as usual, they came to my nice long green two acres in front of my house to hang out.  They roosted in a tree about 50 ft. in front of my home.   All were male but two.  Bad ratio.  The noise was unbearable night and day.  It was the males all night long.  Everything that moved set them off.  During the winter something got all the males( No not me or mine) I was tempted but didn't.  Now the 3 females remain with my blessings.  They make their par tracking sounds during the day and are quiet at night.    My wish for you is all females.  They make the par-tracking, pot-raking noise not the male.  He is just noisy.   They are very inquisitive too.  

oh yes. I have had guineas for years. We keep them to help control the ticks on our property.my husband found 70 eggs in the pasture when he was bushogging. some have already hatched. And the rest are due in a few more weeks. my number of guineas had dwindled to just fourteen! I need to keep at least 30 to help control the ticks on our property. I have always trained my guinea to go up at night. This way I know they are safe and the noise doesn't bother us when we are sleeping.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good Morning, Happy Chicken People!

It's Wicked Chicken Auction Day! See some of you there!

Enjoy your day!

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

I see I get to sort out what I'm bringing tomorrow by myself. So, Cod Liver Oil it is!

You may find me weird and never speak to me again, but I absolutely LOVE fermented CLO/butter oil...I have some in Cinnamon flavor and take it daily...the kids take the flavorless kind daily (because the oldest tells me cinnamon is "too hot"...LOL) Kinda makes me wish I could go to WCA even more now...tee hee!!

I would suggest anyone NOT wanting to walk
very much avoid the zoo.......it's a beautiful zoo
that is very spacious and means LOTS of walking
to see all the exhibits. I love the zoo and it's one of
the best I have seen but it is a few miles of walking
and the center area of the zoo is uphill from both
of the entrances.....likewise for the Battleship North
Carolina in Wilmington.......great to visit and see but
lots of walking......the aquarium at Fort Fisher or Pine
Knoll would be good places to take the kids and then
have a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon on the
beach.......that always has me bringing home wore out
grandbabies and great memories

Thank you for the suggestions. Walking IS good to get back into shape post-partumn, but I do think in this heat and what not, I might not be all that THRILLED with that type of exercise. LOL. I will look into the Aquarium - DD1 LOVES looking at fish, so we might have to leave her there...LOL Somehow, I think I am going to be the one worn out, not the kids though...LOL

oh yes. I have had guineas for years. We keep them to help control the ticks on our property.my husband found 70 eggs in the pasture when he was bushogging. some have already hatched. And the rest are due in a few more weeks. my number of guineas had dwindled to just fourteen! I need to keep at least 30 to help control the ticks on our property. I have always trained my guinea to go up at night. This way I know they are safe and the noise doesn't bother us when we are sleeping.

I am envious. I had guineas and had to get rid of them because my turned into a Mafia and started attacking my chickens! Gave them to someone who had other guineas and they are perfectly fine...figure that one out?!? LOL...I will say the best part about getting rid of them...my feed bill went WAY down!! I couldn't get them to sleep up in the trees AT ALL (except the one time the cat darted outside and chased them)....usually they slept up against the coop doors! I happily replaced the guineas with ducks and while the ducks do not do bug control to the extent of guineas...my ducks sure are a whole lot cuter...and quieter!! Hehe.

I hope those of you who needed rain were able to get some. I made sure to do diapers for you Hollow - since you were looking for rain!! I wanted it to rain so I wouldn't have to water the garden and of course, it POURS 4 miles down the road on either side of us and completely passes us by. We had a sprinkle - not even enough to make us stop weeding (at first I thought a bird had piddled on me or something...). I'm happy to report that I am having (thus far) some MINOR success in the garden this year. Our corn, beans, sunflowers, pumpkin, squash and watermelon are all doing well...my best crop so far is the pumpkin (the eating kind, not a Jack-o-Lantern kind). My tomatoes DIED on me...so I need to go buy some plants, but I might not because there's an organic greenhouse about 10 minutes down the road and all she sells are tomatoes!! I am feeling the need to cheat and let her do all the hard work and just reap her deeds...LOL I can try again next year, right?!?

OOHH!! HOLLOW - you'd be SO PROUD of me...we were weeding, found a hole in the bed...upon closer inspection, it was a HUGE (DH said the size of a quarter and he's better with measurements than I am, so I GUESS I'll believe him...I'd say that thing was the size of my head!!) SPIDER!! She (I'm making a guess here...LOL) was COVERED with baby spiders and (here's the part that should make you proud) I neither ran, nor screamed NOR did I allow DH to kill it!! I told him that a spider in the garden will help to keep the other pests down and I couldn't see that she'd do much damage to the crops...BUT if she makes a web out there...someone else is weeding and watering and harvesting, oh and going out there!! LOL... See...I can be taught that ALL things (even nasty spiders) are beneficial... <still shuddering from the encounter>

Those of you heading out to the Auction today, I hope you have a GREAT day!! Those of you who aren't...I hope you have a fabulous day doing whatever it is that you want/need to do today!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

And dutchbunny, how is your flock fairing? How many newly hatched chicks? Are the rest of them coming through the ick?

Thanks for thinking of me!!!
The flock is actually looking REALLY good, knock on wood!
Still have some runny noses and a few rattling, but everyone up running around, mouths not hanging open, all have their color back.
A good portion (and all the young ones around 12 weeks) never really got sick, just the runny nose, so I'm concerned they may get it later. But I didn't lose anybody!!!
I'm just happy my barred rocks are back to their old selves because they are my favorite. Yesterday morning they came running for treats and it made my day!

First hatching is complete, and I have 11 chicks! 5 olive eggers and 6 from the barnyard mystery pack we ordered. Though half hatched at night so I really don't know who is who.
Besides tail feathers and then once they're older comb/wattles any tips on telling gender???
All but one stand up straight all the time and always have their necks stretched up looking around. I think I may have somehow managed to hatch all roos!!! Wasn't sure if this was a new chick thing or they're males....

 

[ramirezframing]

She (I'm making a guess here...LOL) was COVERED with baby spiders

sounds like a wolf spider

 

[jandsblack49]

Hi- I'm new to backyard chickens, and to owning chickens. We live in Union County/Wesley Chapel area.
4 weeks ago we got our first set of chicks (1 golden sex linked and 2 Buff opringtons) and a week later got 3 Barred Rocks and 3 Americaun's. We love them and they are so much fun.
Currently they are in the house in our brooder (55gallon rubber tub), and starting to feather out well. Trying to figure out when the best time to move them to the Coop. Thoughts? I have heard they need to be fully feathered, and then i have heard they don't need to be.
The coop is almost done, just have some painting left and need to close off the roof, hopefully by next week it will be done. The run is in the works too. Is it too early to put them in the coop?

Thanks! -SB

 

[scottcaddy]

Hi- I'm new to backyard chickens, and to owning chickens. We live in Union County/Wesley Chapel area.
4 weeks ago we got our first set of chicks (1 golden sex linked and 2 Buff opringtons) and a week later got 3 Barred Rocks and 3 Americaun's. We love them and they are so much fun.
Currently they are in the house in our brooder (55gallon rubber tub), and starting to feather out well. Trying to figure out when the best time to move them to the Coop. Thoughts? I have heard they need to be fully feathered, and then i have heard they don't need to be.
The coop is almost done, just have some painting left and need to close off the roof, hopefully by next week it will be done. The run is in the works too. Is it too early to put them in the coop?

Thanks! -SB

I looked at your other posts and just wondering if you redid the mini stable? As far as putting your chicks out, that would depend on how much heat they are getting now.

Scott

 

[2Sesslers]

Happy Sunday y'all!

The past few days, I have been noticing that my pretty little SLW pullet Louise is getting some red on her beak. Well... more than her counterpart, Miss Millie. Today, i picked her up for closer examination - I am going to be DEVISTATED if she is a he. I live in a neighborhood where I don't think the neighbors will appreciate a roo. Before I offer her {him} up - what do you think?

And noooooo!!! Little waddles at 4-5 weeks