***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

I love the pictures of Rudy in his sweater!
No wonder Rudy picked a Silkie for a mate...his little elbow fluff just can't keep him warm.
Great looking rabbits, broody and the little family.

 

[SharkmanDan]

I got my first ever guinea egg today.
We had to go to Muskogee, for an appointment, and make a few other stops, being gone most of the day. So, we kept the chickens locked up, in their huge coop. The only birds out, were the four remaining guineas (there MAY be a fifth one that is nested up in the forest, that disappeared last week, but we keep thinking we see her, now and again) and our tom, Lefty. When we got home, and I went out to give them their late food, and top off water, what was laying in the main pen, where only the guineas, tom turkey and wild birds had access? A very triangular shaped egg, like a miniature turkey egg. I expect it will be one of the first eggs to get incubated in the new incubator.
Woo-Hoo!!!!!

 

[Kyzmette]

Me too Dan! I went out to the coop and Curly, my "special" guinea (who thinks she's a chicken), was sitting inside it. It was unusual because I can't get that girl to go to bed when the others do for anything, and she looked ... calm (unheard of!) Took a closer look and there's eggs in there! I'm half-tempted to hatch a couple, because she really does think she's a chicken, which means her BF may be my rooster.

 

[ashtree]

@Kassaundra that naked neck chick is the cutest thing ever. I'm just smitten. And it's good to see Rudy again.

My favorite baby duck died last night we had 29, I fell in love with 1 and my 3 year old decided (without my knowledge) to take it for a swim in the cold/wind yesterday. I'm a little embarrassed by how much I cried. I don't get easily attached but when I do Im a mess.

My broody goose is going strong on some duck eggs. I need to lock her out and candle again when she steps off the nest. Im hoping she bonds with the babies because she's sort of a loner here and while I intend to move the big ducks in a month or so I will leave her babies and maybe keep a girl (or 2) that can always stay with her. Would that work or will the baby duck eventually leave her to be with the other ducks? I have 3 other geese but mama goose (Angel) is not interested in them. I just hate seeing her wandering the yard alone.

And just cause it's soooo cute:

 

[NanaKat]

Ashtree...sorry to hear about your duckie. Love the picture of the others.

Dan and Kyzmette...congrats on the guinea eggs.

Kyzmette, Will the offspring of a chicken/guinea cross be able to reproduce or will they be sterile? If you get keets to hatch from her it will be interesting to see that cross looks like.

Did anyone participate in the Easter Hatch-a-long?

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thanks. The sad part is, that we lost a guinea, last night, to a predator. I'm guessing raccoon. The dogs were in most of the night, because one is injured, and my wife doesn't want the other out alone. This morning, I was letting the chickens loose, and there were guinea feathers in clumps, all over the yard. No carcass, no entrails, but one missing male guinea. He was the youngest of the bunch. We are now down to 3.
But, I spent a couple of hours, yesterday, with our turkey breeder, who also raises guineas, as meat birds. He's going to set aside a bunch for me. It sucks, because they are just now a year old, and were FINALLY beginning to range out into the woods and pasture. We are still hoping that there is one, nested in the woods, on some eggs. But, if there's a crafty coon around, that's likely not the case.
If I could just afford that night vision scope for my varmint rifle, those coons would run off, in terror!

 

[erinszoo]

Hoping all the fruit trees made through the cold last night. I wish, just once, we wouldn't have a freeze after being 80° for a week.

 

[Loriemarler]

I had a terrible day yesterday!! As I was in the big coop spraying all the chickens with Adams spray for mites my female boxer got into the silkie coop and slaughtered all but 3 of my silkies. It was awful!!! I honestly would have put her down that moment but she has 3 week old puppies. I am still devastated about it all. She has never given the chickens a second glance.

 

[mjgigax]

I had a terrible day yesterday!! As I was in the big coop spraying all the chickens with Adams spray for mites my female boxer got into the silkie coop and slaughtered all but 3 of my silkies. It was awful!!! I honestly would have put her down that moment but she has 3 week old puppies. I am still devastated about it all. She has never given the chickens a second glance.

Oh, sooooo sorry. I know how that hurts.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Update, on the old cabinet incubator.
It is 100% functional, as of tonight.

I am so excited. I can hardly wait......
More details to come.

Congrats on your cabinet incubator. We're all living vicariously through your experiences, so keep posting. Your painting task will become a labor of love. I have a few balsa wood sculptures from Oaxaca that resemble the weasel below. I love the bright colors the artists in Mexico enjoy. Have your wife describe what she sees, and be assured that letting her pick your pallet is going to make her one happy lady.

A few pics from today




And of course there is Rudy the rudester, it was really windy today w/ a cold wind so he got his sweater back today, he isn't happy about it either.

I love that sweater on your special boy : ) Yesterday, I set a dozen eggs that were fertilized over the previous week by Hercule. I'll let you know if any hatch with the scaleless gene, or some manifestation of it. I'm already watching the calendar.

I had a terrible day yesterday!! As I was in the big coop spraying all the chickens with Adams spray for mites my female boxer got into the silkie coop and slaughtered all but 3 of my silkies. It was awful!!! I honestly would have put her down that moment but she has 3 week old puppies. I am still devastated about it all. She has never given the chickens a second glance.

All my dog issues have been caused by roaming dogs rather than the dogs we own. Older dogs can learn to respect chickens, but you may have some intensive training time ahead of you. I hope she can change the way she acts around your birds.