North Carolina

[gamache07]

Hello, I am Katie and I am in between Raleigh and Fayette-nam. I have my husband about 50% convinced that chickens would be an excellent investment. He doesn't like eggs, which makes my job that much harder. Any advice? Or is there a Are-You-Thinking-About-Getting-Chickens?-Start-Here thread?

 

[atmaclean]

We're not positive on the colors but the keets have the tiger stripe head, and according to the guinea color website that could indicate Pearl Gray, Lavender, Slate or Brown. http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/colors/

For price, we're asking $4/each (minimum of 3); $15 for 5; $25 for 10, and any more than 10 we can negotiate a price.

They were hatched yesterday and they are doing great! Mama guinea brought them from their nest in the woods to her guinea run. Despite all the posts I've read about guineas being unreliable mothers, I'm very impressed with not only what a fantastic mother she is but also how well my 4 males are protecting her and the babies! It's truly amazing!

Wish I was closer! I've got 23 growing out now to add to the flock.... 9 of them are bonded to my little tolbunt polish pullet and think she is their mother (she is older and bigger). They scream and carry on if she gets out of sight. Just crazy. I guess they will eventually figure things out.



Hollow - sounds like a scary morning! Glad everyone is alright!!

 

[ramirezframing]

Hello, I am Katie and I am in between Raleigh and Fayette-nam. I have my husband about 50% convinced that chickens would be an excellent investment. He doesn't like eggs, which makes my job that much harder. Any advice? Or is there a Are-You-Thinking-About-Getting-Chickens?-Start-Here thread?

if you free range them they do bug control. Besides home grown eggs and meat taste wayyyyy different than store bought

 

[NCgirl21]

Hello, I am Katie and I am in between Raleigh and Fayette-nam. I have my husband about 50% convinced that chickens would be an excellent investment. He doesn't like eggs, which makes my job that much harder. Any advice? Or is there a Are-You-Thinking-About-Getting-Chickens?-Start-Here thread?

We've had chickens and guineas for a year on Wednesday! Oh boy, have we come a long way in a year learning about chickens. It's definitely a learning process and BYC is a great place to be! I'll be honest, we rarely eat the eggs but we never get to the point where we are overwhelmed by them because there are a lot more things you'll need eggs for than just a scrambled egg breakfast. If you're doing any baking- eggs, meatloaf- eggs, so I think that's a good argument unless he dislikes eggs so much he won't even eat those things, then well I guess that point won't work well! The next great thing- people LOVE them. We give them away all the time if we go to visit anyone and people will even ask for them because they all say how much you can tell the difference of our fresh eggs versus the ones bought in the grocery store. (Did you know the ones you buy in the grocery store have already been sitting for about 100 days?! No wonder they don't taste as good as the ones you collect that morning!) Fresh eggs from the backyard taste so much better and they last for months, and they don't have to be refrigerated immediately either. It's great to give them away to neighbors, to co-workers, to the mailman, anyone and everyone. It's even better if you can charge just $2/dozen and not only is that so much cheaper than the grocery store, it also will help pay for the food you're giving to the chickens! I hope this helps you convince your husband another 25% at least

 

[dutchbunny83]

How easily can you sex golden laced wyandottes at hatching?
I know sex links you can obviously tell without a doubt, barred rocks and some other breeds have markings that make it easier to tell.
Wasn't sure about the wyandottes, debating order a day old pullet from a hatchery or trying to hatch my own.
We're going wayyyy smaller on this new flock, I'm thinking 6-7 chickens maximum, definitely no space for a rooster.

The new coop is almost build and we just bought all the stuff to build a run this weekend. Should be all ready by the end of the week, I'm going crazy without chickens!!!

 

[2Sesslers]

Thanks for your input about my wild watermelin. I suppose I will just let it go and watch for melons to grow and just prop them up off the ground so they don't rot. Rookie mistake

These are the mistakes I don't mind making, I am already writing down things to remember for next year, and things I want to do differently. Big plans, but DEFINITELY enjoying the garden this year!

On the chicken front, our girls are getting along great! My husb noticed tonight that they are getting into the strawberries. Duh! And I couldn't figure out what was happening to them! I seriously haven't even eaten a handful yet. Chalk it up for next year: A barrier to keep the girls out of the strawberries!

Hope everyone had a blessed Monday!

 

[ramirezframing]

Dutch Bunny- I thought you had them chicks you hatched out in your first go with a bator?? Wyandottes are a wait and watch breed, hows it going with the lav orp eggs??

 

[dutchbunny83]

Dutch Bunny- I thought you had them chicks you hatched out in your first go with a bator?? Wyandottes are a wait and watch breed, hows it going with the lav orp eggs??

No chickens at all right now, thought I had to have everything gone for awhile. I'm almost done building my new chicken coop and we bought all the stuff we need this weekend for a new run.
Fingers crossed I get a decent hatch from the lav orps and some girls. I messed up on my date putting them in though, for some reason I was thinking I had more time when I ordered them, and the day after they are set to hatch I am leaving for 16 days. I have the boy next door coming to water my gardens and take care of the cat & bunnies & guinea pigs, but I don't know how new chicks are going to fare, and I've never done an outdoor brooder. Hopefully it being July the temp will be around what chicks need. Hope not too hot!

I was afraid the wyandottes be like that. Problem with these hatcheries are they want me to order A LOT of chicks and I don't think many people are going to be looking for my extras come August because that's an odd time to start chicks I think, I only see them advertised in the spring.
We're only doing a really small flock this time, it got way out of control for my backyard I think. We want a barred rock, golden laced wyandotte, a lavender orpington, a blue marans, a lavender americauna, an easter egger, and my husband needs his RIR!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Good Morning, Happy Chicken People!

Took pictures of the calf's headgear last night, so thought I'd share. The turkey nest box involved is an old dog house. Hubby added the small side door to make it easier to get eggs. The side door is what he stuck his head through. Pictures show the box with that door on the ground. The cover is on top, as I had to rip it off. My stick is there for size reference. The calf is a six month old Holstein bull calf.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Hollow - sure glad your "little guy" is doing okay. I am also grateful that you had help when this fiasco happened!!

I never thought that cows could be THAT curious!! Hope he is recovering well (and you too)...lol

HAHA, yesterday we found the TINEST egg in the coop. If I didn't know it was a chicken egg, I'd have sworn a bird flew in and deposited it!!

QUESTION: Okay, I need help here....I have a broody duck that is STEALING eggs from the coop and hiding them somewhere. I have the culprit narrowed down to two ducks (both my lighter chocolates) and I'm not sure if BOTH of them are guilty of it, or just the one. Still, yesterday I had 1 egg (plus one "egg") in the coop out of a minimum of 10 that I am suppose to be getting. I do have a few chickens molting (GRR...one went straight from chick to molter without laying...bum) but the egg count would take that into consideration. I know the ducks are stealing them because I have seen the girls go back and forth into the coop quite a lot lately (during the day, not staying long enough to lay or do much of anything else really). Is there anything I can do to discourage this? I'd HATE to have to lock them up just so I can keep the eggs coming?!?

On another note...hehe, mama broody who is on 7 duck eggs is doing well...she is laying FLAT to cover them all

or so she looks to be!!

Have a great day!!