Official Squatch Watchers

PBM, I got lucky last night. We went from 55* to 25* in a little over an hour. After dumping 2.25" of rain through out the day. Then snow and then ice. All the kids were soaked, so we put them in early hoping they would dry off before the temp dropped.

I was terrified to go out and look this morning (after all, how do you dry a couple hundred birds?). In the end I only lost one duck, who chose not to cuddle with the group. I had nightmares of frozen dead chickens. Even though I really can't afford to lose any ducks, I'll still consider this a win.

:hugs

I am sorry you lost the duck.

I am however very glad you didn't lose more. I can understand how worried you were. :hugs
 
Ok, folks.... I need advice.....

I just got an email from the lady who has the goose eggs I want. She's just begun getting fertile eggs (way too early for me). Wants $25 per egg. I haven't asked her how late I can get them as getting them now would be a certain death sentence for them. With that said, how do I sell DW on a couple three hundred dollars worth of eggs with money as tight as it is? This particular breed is critically endangered. When I first signed up on the waiting list, it was 18 months long. Then when my number came up, the girls quit laying. There are three other breeders out there that I haven't contacted yet. Our cold months really generally start in feb and go through first week of April. During that time, primary heat source is the wood stove so wild temp swings. Way more than my incubator can handle. I'll be ordering 20 jumbo pekins for early to mid-April arrival and I could back into that date for the geese. As the geese could share the brooder with the ducks. But smart money says don't get hatching eggs until the first week of April. The ducks are a custom order from a customer who has been patiently waiting for his 10 ducks.

:hugs

I am sorry you lost the duck.

I am however very glad you didn't lose more. I can understand how worried you were. :hugs
Thanks. This crazy weather is driving me nuts. My BBW turkeys should be at about 50# now and if they dress to six I'd be surprised. This fall weather was crazy hot/crazy cold Grass couldn't figure out what to do and everything I tried to grow out was smaller than expected. I'm not willing to blame the hatchery stock as two different hatcheries involved and same results. My winter grasses and legumes didn't grow cause it was too hot, and my summer grasses and legumes died off cause it was too cold.
 
Tough spot RJ.......

What breed of goose?

At $25 per egg and just now showing fertile......I would be inclined to hold off if possible.....

Combining the incubator needs/radical temp swings and price of eggs I would hold off.
Taking the time to find additional breeders is a good idea too. Genetic diversity and all that.
 
Ok, folks.... I need advice.....

I just got an email from the lady who has the goose eggs I want. She's just begun getting fertile eggs (way too early for me). Wants $25 per egg. I haven't asked her how late I can get them as getting them now would be a certain death sentence for them. With that said, how do I sell DW on a couple three hundred dollars worth of eggs with money as tight as it is? This particular breed is critically endangered. When I first signed up on the waiting list, it was 18 months long. Then when my number came up, the girls quit laying. There are three other breeders out there that I haven't contacted yet. Our cold months really generally start in feb and go through first week of April. During that time, primary heat source is the wood stove so wild temp swings. Way more than my incubator can handle. I'll be ordering 20 jumbo pekins for early to mid-April arrival and I could back into that date for the geese. As the geese could share the brooder with the ducks. But smart money says don't get hatching eggs until the first week of April. The ducks are a custom order from a customer who has been patiently waiting for his 10 ducks.


Thanks. This crazy weather is driving me nuts. My BBW turkeys should be at about 50# now and if they dress to six I'd be surprised. This fall weather was crazy hot/crazy cold Grass couldn't figure out what to do and everything I tried to grow out was smaller than expected. I'm not willing to blame the hatchery stock as two different hatcheries involved and same results. My winter grasses and legumes didn't grow cause it was too hot, and my summer grasses and legumes died off cause it was too cold.
I would ask the egg lady if you can hold off but stay at the top of the list. Explain the situation with the weather and when it would be better to take them. I can't imagine she wants to sell you eggs with the high chance of them not surviving.
As for the money and DW start saving now and then the blow won't be so bad.
 
For any of you in crazy cold or windy conditions
20190120_191033.jpg

I use this on my face before I go out. It's a solid bar of salve consistency. It's meant for wounds and such but is so great for so many things! I've used it on the pets and chickens.

Today I rubbed it all over my face including my lips before I went outside. No chapped lips and no wind burn.

Please let me know if you want some!

They have lots of great natural products.
 
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Well, I don't know much about geese but if you want them ideas for getting DW's blessing.
Tell her they are your birthday and Christmas present this year.
See if there is anything she wants and if so try to make it happen.
Beg, and start giving foot massages.
Just ask her, she loves you! :)
Ok, folks.... I need advice.....

I just got an email from the lady who has the goose eggs I want. She's just begun getting fertile eggs (way too early for me). Wants $25 per egg. I haven't asked her how late I can get them as getting them now would be a certain death sentence for them. With that said, how do I sell DW on a couple three hundred dollars worth of eggs with money as tight as it is? This particular breed is critically endangered. When I first signed up on the waiting list, it was 18 months long. Then when my number came up, the girls quit laying. There are three other breeders out there that I haven't contacted yet. Our cold months really generally start in feb and go through first week of April. During that time, primary heat source is the wood stove so wild temp swings. Way more than my incubator can handle. I'll be ordering 20 jumbo pekins for early to mid-April arrival and I could back into that date for the geese. As the geese could share the brooder with the ducks. But smart money says don't get hatching eggs until the first week of April. The ducks are a custom order from a customer who has been patiently waiting for his 10 ducks.


Thanks. This crazy weather is driving me nuts. My BBW turkeys should be at about 50# now and if they dress to six I'd be surprised. This fall weather was crazy hot/crazy cold Grass couldn't figure out what to do and everything I tried to grow out was smaller than expected. I'm not willing to blame the hatchery stock as two different hatcheries involved and same results. My winter grasses and legumes didn't grow cause it was too hot, and my summer grasses and legumes died off cause it was too cold.
 
For any of you in crazy cold or windy conditions
View attachment 1647865
I use this on my face before I go out. It's a solid bar of salve consistency. It's meant for wounds and such but is so great for so many things! I've used it on the pets and chickens.

Today I rubbed it all over my face including my lips before I went outside. No chapped lips and no wind burn.

Please let me know if you want some!

They have lots of great natural products.
you could get BEES from them
https://www.midgardfarms.com/collections/all
 

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