***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Sagetown]

i heard that if guinea fowl sleep in tree owls will land next them and then kill them also.

I quit raising Guineas for that very reason. Seems to be the Owls favorite dinner just before dark.
Where I live is an Owls paradise anyway. Sometimes I wake up at night being serenaded by 6 or more owls around the house and barn.

 

[TRUE5]

@true I'm so glad your letting me have the little boy back. Sometime this morning between glancing out the window at 6 am and doing chores at 9 am my extension cord to my brooder got loosened. Lost 16 chicks, mainly isbars but also a cream legbar pair I had tagged to keep, one black copper, and one barnevelder.

at least I didn't lose any chicks marked for other people. Makes me sick. I usually check brooders first but didn't today.

Oh no! I'm so sorry Rinda! I can only imagine how you feel. I wish I had the words but I know you have to be just sick to your stomach. Hugs to you and a prayer that your day goes smoother.

Five out of 6 of my olive eggers hatched. Now waiting on my Light Sussex as they are starting to pip. Anyone know if SFH take longer to hatch or just average? None have piped just yet but I'm not giving up. I think with the CL I just tried too hard and screwed up the hatch with not enough humidity. I'm using a farmers somethingrather Styrofoam bator with this hatch so that could make a huge difference as well. The CL were in a little giant. I don't know what the difference is but so far so good. The only problem I have with this one is that the humidity spikes and stays high more than the Lgiant. After the chicks hatched it was reading in the 80s and I don't want to do anything to screw up my others but I don't want them to drown in the same token. So I left it alone... I hope I that didn't affect any others hatching out...

 

[miohippus]

I quit raising Guineas for that very reason. Seems to be the Owls favorite dinner just before dark.
Where I live is an Owls paradise anyway. Sometimes I wake up at night being serenaded by 6 or more owls around the house and barn.

i had some once too but between the coyotes, owls and dogs i lost them all i kind of miss them though, i had a ton of grasshopper last summer with out them.

 

[Kyzmette]

Quote:
Oh Rinda, what a sad, sad discovery. I have to say, this little Cream Legbar pair I hatched out and am keeping for Dusti are becoming two of my favorite chickens. The little boy is rapidly taking a "flock favorite" post in my chicken family. I named him Einstein, which makes the little girl Elsa. He's got to be one of the smartest, sweetest, most friendly chicks I've ever hatched.

 

[Sagetown]

i had some once too but between the coyotes, owls and dogs i lost them all i kind of miss them though, i had a ton of grasshopper last summer with out them.

I really like them myself. Got started when I was 14 years old. Spent a week-end with a friend who lived way out in the boonies. We spotted a wild Guinea sneaking through the underbrush, and he knew she was heading for a nest, so we laid low and waited. When we found the nest it had 50 eggs in it. We took off our shirts and put all the eggs in. His Mom candled them and I got about twenty eggs to put under a big ole white brooder hen my Mom had. We had guineas all over the farm after that. Think I've got a picture somewhere of them. I'll look for it.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I really like them myself. Got started when I was 14 years old. Spent a week-end with a friend who lived way out in the boonies. We spotted a wild Guinea sneaking through the underbrush, and he knew she was heading for a nest, so we laid low and waited. When we found the nest it had 50 eggs in it. We took off our shirts and put all the eggs in. His Mom candled them and I got about twenty eggs to put under a big ole white brooder hen my Mom had. We had guineas all over the farm after that. Think I've got a picture somewhere of them. I'll look for it.

Neat story!!

Had another close scare today- when Merlin the Aussie puppy was chewing on a coop roof today (BAD boy!) he accidentally opened the latch on the feed door (roughly 12"x18" on the side of the run). He had chased all my Exchequer Leghorns and Langshan pullets from that pen around in circles, pulling out tail feathers for fun.

I think they will all be OK but one exchequer hen might be in shock. Dumb-dumb dog has a dozen toys but HAS to chew on the coops.... luckily I decided that since the weather was warm I would take a walk out at lunchtime to check for eggs and caught him and them before he managed to injure one. I thought at first it was a hawk attack because ALL my birds were in their coops. Guess they were hiding from the potential carnage. Pins in the locks will keep it from happening again.

 

[miohippus]

I really like them myself. Got started when I was 14 years old. Spent a week-end with a friend who lived way out in the boonies. We spotted a wild Guinea sneaking through the underbrush, and he knew she was heading for a nest, so we laid low and waited. When we found the nest it had 50 eggs in it. We took off our shirts and put all the eggs in. His Mom candled them and I got about twenty eggs to put under a big ole white brooder hen my Mom had. We had guineas all over the farm after that. Think I've got a picture somewhere of them. I'll look for it.

wow what an awesome story thanks for sharing! Most of mine disappeared slowly then i had two males for a long time they were smart they slept in shed and stayed close to home, then we got a new dog and she killed one them then she got hit by a car and i got a new puppy and after he got big he started chasing the last one and i was afraid he was going to kill him we had enclosed the shed with chicken wire so i locked the guinea up in the shed i forgot it had a barrel of motor oil in it and i found him drowned in the next morning i was devastated i tried to save him and wound up killing him so now i don't have any more and i don't think my new dog would leave them alone so unless i can get him trained so no more guineas for me at least for a while.

 

[nana74331]

Last month I found out how smart my hens are.. We came home from town and had bought feed as we were out, it was still in the car. I was on the computer, it is by the back door and no one can get to the door, because of the chicken pen. All at once I heard 3 knocks at the door, I got up and looked out and there stood 3 Australorps, guess they knew there was feed in the car. Had to go out and get some feed and make them happy.

Kathryn

 

[hotcurltr]

Hi everyone. I am really sorry to read about so many losses. This is a happy and heartbreaking part of the year,when anticipation runs high, but can quickly turn in to disapointments. There was some really good info and stories on here today.
With the sun out, the chickens are happily free ranging, but unfortunately, the predators are on tne move too, after being cold and hungry. I lost 2 buff orp hens and my little one eyed game chicken. I really think it is a wild cat around here. I think he is living in our abandoned house on the other side of the fence, because all the feathers were there and it was really sloppy. Usually the chickens don't go there, but the goats have eaten most of the brush makong it more accessible for the chickens,

I'll keep my fingers crossed and everyone in my prayers that your hactches go well and u don't lose anymore.

IS THERE AN AUCTION COMING UP SOON THAT ANYONE IS GOING TO. I STILL NEED AN OTHER FEMALE GOOSE. I REALLY NEED TWO BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ALEX WILL TAKE A MATE AFTER LOSING LITTLE BRITCHES. HE'S HAD THE CHANCE, BUT HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST AND HAS LET THE OTHERS HAVE WHAT FEMALES WEREN'T SPOKEN FOR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'D LIKE TO GET THEM ALL PAIRED SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY FIGHTS.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

hotcurlr the Coweta auction will be next Friday night, the 21st. I've been told it is going to be a BIG one. If you contact Robert Crozier who runs the auction he can tell you if anyone has consigned any geese yet. Not everyone consigns of course but some do and it might give you a better idea of whether or not it is worth the trip.