North Carolina

[Miss Lydia]

very good advise GGCM, The gun and the roos.. most of my chickens free range all day, my bantams only when i am out side, they don't fly over the fence as well. so to have 2 roos gives me more peace of mind, some will say don't free range because you take the risk of predation, well I take the risk and my chickens are very happy. Thank goodness I have only lost 2 to predators and both went into the woods and hide out to hatch babies one made it back with her brood the other didn't.. so these are chances you take and decisions you will have to make, I have game and game mix and they would not be happy birds inside an encloser 24/7 so you deff. need to take that into consideration when choosing your breeds. We are in a big rabies part of the country, and my dh has had to kill 1 raccoon on our property and a sheriff deputy killed another one so these are things you have to think about, you want to keep your animals and yourselves safe.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Wow ladies, I hadn't even thought about whether or not we are in a rabies area, or rabies at all for that matter. I have only seen a few critters (aside from the birds & crows...haha) and naturally they have been at dusk or at night when I am coming home from church or from a quick errand. How does one find out if you're in a rabies area? Scary stuff. Thank you GGCM...I had been hesitant to have a gun (mainly because the only thing more dangerous than a person with a gun is a person with a gun they don't know how to use!!) but I can see how that would be beneficial. Hmm...so does anyone want some deer meat?? HAHA, JK! I am SO thankful I found BYC...you all have been a TREMENDOUS help!! BYC is the BEST!!

Edited to ask: Does anyone know if there is ever a swap/meet-up/chickenshow/etc... further east? The closest I have found on the forum is in Winston-Salem (2+ hours away)...just curious. One of these days I'd like to meet a few of you who have been so wonderful in helping me.

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

I'm less than ten miles from the NC line (that's why I lurk on this state thread).

I've got bad news for you: you live in the South. There are rabid animals near you.

Look up the number for your Animal Control department. Get the names of a couple of officers. Ask them how bad the rabies are in your area. Also memorizing the NON-emergency number for your local police is a good thing. Police have more patience for a "stupid question" when you are not tying up the 911 line. In Portsmouth, Virginia, the police non-emergency was also the animal control number. It's still answered by a 911 operator, but obviously the 911 calls take precedence.

Ask your neighbors about good vetrinarians in your area before you are in a panic during an emergency.

Oh, and that whole being pregnant thing: purchase an OB kit at a medical supply store. This is the disposable kit that a paramedic would use to deliver a baby. I purchased one when I was pregnant with DD#1. As long as the OB kit was close at hand (in the hall closet) there was no way I'd end up delivering at home! LOL! At least once each pregnancy Hubby and I would pull out the kit and familiarize ourselves with its contents. I even loaned it to a lady who was terrified she would deliver in one of the tunnels between Portsmouth and Norfolk on her way to the hospital. Worked for her too! Besides, first aid supplies are usually a blessing when medical help is more than a couple of minutes away.

Wait a minute! I could have used that scapel for chicken surgery...

 

[BHep]

NH I am glad you sent your DH the website info.. He will be addicted in no time.

Just so you know.... I use 10x10x6 dog kennels as well.. I think I told you that in the pm. I have netting on top. They freerange all day and all my birds are locked up at night. 1 pen has chickens wire around the bottom to keep in the chicks, as SBL said. They of course have grown huge and can't get out now.

Is your head spinning !

Mine is !

I have 2 unused commericial coops out back and will be converting one into a super coop, with seperate breeding pens, brooder room etc. They are being cleaned out now, well waiting for the farmer to come back and finish. So I have been designing (in my mind) over & over etc.... Then my BF will come in and ruin all my big ideas with reality!

I hope to have it done by summer. Yeah right! hahahaaaa

My main goal is to get my peacocks in there. They are in a 20x15 pen, way too small for 4 peacock. I do not let them freerange, I don't want them to take off, they were running loose at the prior owner and were getting killed off by predators (dogs). I can't imagine I could catch them. I would like to hand raise some of their babies to freerange and look beautiful out back. I want to give them the back 200ft or so. The coops are 40x500 each. So I have more then plenty for some big breeding coop.

 

[Southern Bee Lady]

NH

I know exactly what you mean about the electric fence. Mine is set up to keep bears out of my beeyard so the charger is very "hot".
I run a strand off it to my chicken lot. I accidently hit it a couple of times and believe me, I turn it off now anytime I am around the chickens.

I just make sure it is on if I am gone incase a stray dog tries to dig into the lot and it is always on at night.
I still close my chickens up in the coop at night. You can never have too many ways to keep the chickens safe.

Mary

 

[Miss Lydia]

BHep, Why haven't we seen any new hatchling in the last couple of days, thinking about going into retirement?

always look forward to seeing your babies..

 

[BHep]

Quote:
Oooo Miss Lydia.... we are having hatch withdrawals here. Nothing due until march 17th !

Poor planning on my part, Shame on me!

I have Cucko Marans, Black Jersey Giants & Blue Laced Red Wyandottes due the 17th.
Some Seramas and mixed bantams due the 18th.
Some more Seramas and mixed bantams due the 25th.
I have some Sebastopol goose eggs due the 21st....but I do not think they are fertile.

We will be rolling in chicks & pics, don't you worry!


Then 2 weeks off and I will be setting for the Easter Hatch...

 

[HenThymes]

Wasn't some one looking for call ducks recently??

 

[BHep]

Quote:
Meeeeeeeee !!!!!!!

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
Meeeeeeeee !!!!!!!

Found this on CL this morning, not sure if they are what you are looking for??

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/2251742951.html