North Carolina

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Good morning folks

NH......the only thing I can think of is to give the ducks a small
coop of their own and let them have some eggs to hatch.........
you could always sell any unwanted chicks....or grow and eat them

Hollow......glad you and calf are going to be okay and only a bit banged up

I am enjoying the summer days so far and getting some things done.
Going to mow the yard today IF the weather co-operates.

hope everyone has a good day

 

[BHep]

I doubt the ducks are stealing eggs. They may cover them...but why would they take them? and do what with them?
I would bank on an egg eater( another chicken) or rats/mice eating the eggs.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

Hi Everyone!

I'm by Concord but I have lived all around NC.

If anyone, or anyone you know, is interested in Guinea Keets (my mama guinea just hatched 18 keets yesterday) let me know!

You won't have any problem getting rid of keets!!

 

[TarheelBirdy]

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!

Looks like you've got a bunch of little Pearl cuties! What a good Mama - this is unusual to be sure!

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

I doubt the ducks are stealing eggs. They may cover them...but why would they take them? and do what with them?
I would bank on an egg eater( another chicken) or rats/mice eating the eggs.

I agree.....egg eater or snake. I do like the idea of a
dog house as a coop for duck to have a dry place.

 

[TarheelBirdy]

I'm pretty sure this is the guy in charge of handling the packages marked "hatching eggs."

 

[dutchbunny83]

 

[tammyfarms]

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!

It seemed to me that a lot of people wanted laying hens at off times last year. I know I could have sold hens all year... now roos are a different story. If you don't mind selling them for food, there is a guy who comes to the Sanford flock swaps and will pay $5 for roos. I think he usually buys about 4 each time.

Hollow - Glad that everyone is ok.. that is a pretty big necklace! Wow!

Have a happy day everyone!

 

[tammyfarms]

I have bio-security questions. As I read other's posts it really has hit me that bio-security is critical. So, what do you do to protect your flock? I am starting over with just chicks that have not had any contact with the adult birds I had before - even though they were healthy. I want to do everything I can to ensure that I don't expose them to anything dangerous. So far, I know this means not bringing home anything other than day old chicks or hatching eggs. Any day old chicks will be quarantined in the garage (how long?).

I have taken birds to flock swaps and bring my crate home. Honestly I have been lax about disinfecting it since it stays in the truck, what should I use? If I take a bird that doesn't sell, what do I do with it? Of course I will wash my clothes immediately. What else is recommended?

I keep reading about a product called oxine. What is it? Is it good and if so, where do I get it? Or is bleach sufficient? Is there something else you recommend?

Anything else you can recommend would be appreciated!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

I doubt the ducks are stealing eggs. They may cover them...but why would they take them? and do what with them?  
  I would bank on an egg eater( another chicken)  or rats/mice eating the eggs.

Or snake or squirrels or other egg eaters.

Oh...and cows are extraordinarily curious about everything! But this wasn't curiosity. He simply wanted the hay in the nest box. He thought it tasted better than his round bale. When we got him out, he still had a mouth full of hay!

I have bio-security questions.  As I read other's posts it really has hit me that bio-security is critical. So, what do you do to protect your flock?  I am starting over with just chicks that have not had any contact with the adult birds I had before - even though they were healthy.  I want to do everything I can to ensure that I don't expose them to anything dangerous.  So far, I know this means not bringing home anything other than day old chicks or hatching eggs.  Any day old chicks will be [SIZE=10pt][COLOR=000000]quarantined[/COLOR][/SIZE] in the garage (how long?). 

I have taken birds to flock swaps and bring my crate home. Honestly I have been lax about disinfecting it since it stays in the truck, what should I use?  If I take a bird that doesn't sell, what do I do with it?  Of course I will wash my clothes immediately. What else is recommended?

I keep reading about a product called oxine.  What is it?  Is it good and if so, where do I get it?  Or is bleach sufficient?  Is there something else you recommend?

Anything else you can recommend would be appreciated!

Bleach works!

After losing my flock to MG last year, I set up a quarantine house, using an existing building in a pasture my birds don't use. I keep shoes and gloves there, and brought my lab coat home from work to keep there, too. (It's ten years old! I figure I'm due another one). Perfect world would have quarantine with full clothing change and even enclosed for no air exchange. Obviously, it's not practical, so we do the best we can do, and hope! I put one of my existing birds in with the quarantine birds, in case they are carrying something they are not affected by. And although I used to consider a month good, if I brought a bird onto my property now, it would be in quarantine for four months. Obviously, I'm only bringing in chicks and eggs, which have a reduced chance of having anything. And soon, I'll have all the breeds and bloodlines I want and will only do outgoing birds.

As far as swaps go, any bird that does not sell goes into quarantine for the night and to the auction the next day.

And I keep my eyes open. I see people asking advice for sick birds in one group, but selling or trading on another! They go on my "want nothing to do with" list. I could have put down my sick birds last year, and continued to sell birds. But those asymptomatic birds would have been carriers. So I could have made a few bucks off them....but lost all potential customers for later, because word does get around!

However, I admit to being overly paranoid, perhaps. Losing my flock, plus having a biology background makes me doubly so.