North Carolina

[ChickenLover200]

well you first pray that you can find a good pet sitter (don't laugh, been there done that and wont ever repeat!!!) I have seen people run ads on Craig's list for pet sitting. But one way to help encourage good pet sitting is by letting the pet sitter keep the eggs for themselves.

i go to a knittng group where i know someone who sits dogs but i don't know if she would take care of other animals like mine

 

[dutchbunny83]

I would ask neighbors....
We're going away for 15 days this summer and have the 10 year old next door taking care of our animals.
We only have a handful of chickens left, 2 bunnies, 2 guinea pigs, and a cat.
He just has to come over once a day and fill up everyone's food and water and water my gardens.
Then gather the eggs everyday and every other day scoop out the coop.
He really likes the animals and is over here everyday to play with them, so I think it will work out well.
Told him we'd give him $100 and it only takes maybe 20 minutes a day so he's happy with that.
I have seen ads on craigslist, but I was hesitant on having a stranger in my yard when we would be out of the country.
Plus it's over 4th of july so I was afraid they may have some plans come up then not show up or whatever.
I don't know, I'll let you know how it goes. The kid lives with his grandma who loves the chickens, so hopefully it goes as planned.
Is there anyone in your neighborhood that you think would do it for you?
Possibly another chicken person on here lives pretty close...


I didn't realize people really ate bunnies! Do you sell them or raise them all for your family? I don't think I could do it, but I think it's awesome you are being self sustaining!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Mostly hubby and I take turns going places. That means that we don't go away together anymore. But it's not because of the livestock. For me it's because of the dogs. We can't take three mastiffs and a great Dane with us everywhere we go, unfortunately. Wish I could; the Boys would Love that! However, when one of our kids is in town, I can leave the whole place with either of them with no worries.

I did try a neighbor who had livestock a few years ago. We got back from a week's trip a couple hours before she expected us. Of course, the first thing I did was check the critters. It was July and my French angora rabbits were out of water. All of them. At that time I had a pretty good herd of rabbits, too. The sitter came driving up as I was getting water, and pitched in. She explained to me that she didn't fill up their bottles yesterday "because they hadn't finished them yet."

Really? You didn't think they might just like Fresh Water? Head...meet desk

Whomever you find to sit for you, make sure you write out very detailed instructions. Very detailed. Not just "water the rabbits". "Empty, rinse, and refill rabbit bottles each day." Much better.

Edited to add, for dutchbunny: yes, there are lots of people who raise rabbits for meat, although it's not as common here as in other countries. Rabbit is more common in Europe. Domestic rabbit is all white meat, and it's the highest protein, lowest fat domestic meat as well. So we raise for the table, but I'll also sell breeding stock to others. I've considered raising commercially, but there's no large processor in NC, so I'd basically have to create my own market. I don't have the time or energy for that.

We raise the rabbits, chicken, turkey, sheep until this year, are raising beef this year, and starting quail. We have mature pears, figs, pecans, hazelnuts, blackberries and grapes, and have planted kiwi, apricots, mulberries, persimmons, apples, gooseberries and raspberries. And we plant a garden. I can what I've got the energy for (health issues) and make juice of the remaining fruits. We eat well. You can tell by looking at me. Sigh

 

[2Sesslers]

Does anyone else have white leghorns? I am wondering how old they will be when they start to lay? They are all getting red around the eyes, but their combs are still pretty fleshy/orange/yellowish colored. I think they are about 8 weeks old - give or take a few days. {I got them at TSC, no telling how old they were - but they didn't even have wing feathers so I am guessing only a few days old}

Hope everyone is enjoying their Wednesday

 

[Hatch N Eggs]

Hello everyone! I hate that I can never seem to catch up on this thread, it's very active. I hope everyone had a safe, fun filled holiday weekend.
Sorry to all those having issues with your birds.

We had our first guineas hatch out, along with 9 pekin ducks (which I now need to get rid of), and some long awaited chicks. We're trying our hand at quail, so we'll see how this goes. I'm on the hunt for some turkey poults, blue, bourbon, and royals. Wish me luck with that. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

 

[ChickenLover200]

Does anyone else have white leghorns? I am wondering how old they will be when they start to lay? They are all getting red around the eyes, but their combs are still pretty fleshy/orange/yellowish colored. I think they are about 8 weeks old - give or take a few days. {I got them at TSC, no telling how old they were - but they didn't even have wing feathers so I am guessing only a few days old}

Hope everyone is enjoying their Wednesday

i am enjoying my Wednesday i have white leghorns i am thinking they were like 5 months old when they started t lay i did not raise them so i don't know all i know is my other hens started laying when their combs were like your chickens combs but they weren't white leghorns ;D good luck

 

[2Sesslers]

i am enjoying my Wednesday i have white leghorns i am thinking they were like 5 months old when they started t lay i did not raise them so i don't know all i know is my other hens started laying when their combs were like your chickens combs but they weren't white leghorns ;D good luck

Thanks!

I think they must be about half way to laying. 8-9 weeks -- I think with most breeds, it is 18-22 weeks. Here we are in this gratification society of our beautiful America - always looking ahead, wanting more!

 

[2Sesslers]

Egg layers in August. After that, I don't know that we will have to buy eggs for a long, long time with our 6 Leghorns and 2 SLWs!

 

[LukesCityHens]

Mostly hubby and I take turns going places. That means that we don't go away together anymore. But it's not because of the livestock. For me it's because of the dogs. We can't take three mastiffs and a great Dane with us everywhere we go, unfortunately. Wish I could; the Boys would Love that! However, when one of our kids is in town, I can leave the whole place with either of them with no worries.

I did try a neighbor who had livestock a few years ago. We got back from a week's trip a couple hours before she expected us. Of course, the first thing I did was check the critters. It was July and my French angora rabbits were out of water. All of them. At that time I had a pretty good herd of rabbits, too. The sitter came driving up as I was getting water, and pitched in. She explained to me that she didn't fill up their bottles yesterday "because they hadn't finished them yet."

Really? You didn't think they might just like Fresh Water? Head...meet desk

Whomever you find to sit for you, make sure you write out very detailed instructions. Very detailed. Not just "water the rabbits". "Empty, rinse, and refill rabbit bottles each day." Much better.

Edited to add, for dutchbunny: yes, there are lots of people who raise rabbits for meat, although it's not as common here as in other countries. Rabbit is more common in Europe. Domestic rabbit is all white meat, and it's the highest protein, lowest fat domestic meat as well. So we raise for the table, but I'll also sell breeding stock to others. I've considered raising commercially, but there's no large processor in NC, so I'd basically have to create my own market. I don't have the time or energy for that.

We raise the rabbits, chicken, turkey, sheep until this year, are raising beef this year, and starting quail. We have mature pears, figs, pecans, hazelnuts, blackberries and grapes, and have planted kiwi, apricots, mulberries, persimmons, apples, gooseberries and raspberries. And we plant a garden. I can what I've got the energy for (health issues) and make juice of the remaining fruits. We eat well.

You can tell by looking at me. Sigh

The raspberries I got from you are flowering and have a few berries on them! I think my strawberries are done, for now, I think they're too big for my hanging bag and need more room to grow. Zucchini, green and purple green beans, and peas, tomatoes, peppers and all the outside stuff is in full bloom!

Does anyone around me eat squirrel? I've been decreasing the population in my yard with my pellet gun and cleaning them but it's just more than I can eat alone.....everyone seems to be reluctant to eat them?!?!?!?!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Does anyone around me eat squirrel? I've been decreasing the population in my yard with my pellet gun and cleaning them but it's just more than I can eat alone.....everyone seems to be reluctant to eat them?!?!?!?!

We...of course...eat squirrel, although not our own yard occupants. It tenderizes well in a pressure cooker or crock pot. However, we've got two stuffed freezers, so don't need them.