Okies in the BYC The Original

[okiemommy]

surely you could celebrate by going to a livestock auction!

Sounds like a plan to me!! Got to ask my husband and all and we'll see what we can do. Sounds like fun! Where can I get directions? If we can go I will let you know as soon as possible.

okcarla what kind of guineas do you have for sale? I need some gunieas.​

 

[okcarla]

okiemommy, I only raise the pure white guineas. I don't know why, but they are my favorite color of guinea, although I'm leaning toward getting some lavendar and royal purple guineas. I've got some chicks that are about 3-4 weeks old, that I sell for $4 ea., more $ when they get older. If you're looking for other colors ... I'd recommend checking out the Maud auction. There were over a hundred guinea chicks sold there on Thursday, and they went for less than $2 each ... although no pure white ones there

The bad thing about white guineas is that hawks and owls can see them better at night, so if they roost in trees ... well, they are easy targets. I keep mine in a pen for breeding purposes, but I think that if you teach them to roost in the barn or inside a safe enclosure at night, they'll be protected enough.

For directions to the Maud auction, which is actually called Watson's Livestock Auction,
The ad on craigslist says: "5 miles east of Tecumseh on hwy 9 to hwy9a then south 9 miles, for info call Bobby @ 405 374-2868". We found the auction is not exactly on Hwy 9A, but just off to the left of it, just about when you get 9 miles from the Hwy 9 turnoff. The road that you turn off at is just past a small trucking company lot. And you'll see quite a few trucks & trailers around the sale barn.

 

[okiemommy]

Thanks! I think we can go by that.

I think maybe white guineas are not the best option for me right now. I am new to guinea ownership. But I do like the prospect of buying some other colors at the auction. I would like to get some to control the tick population. It is really bad on our property, and I was told that guineas would take care of them well. My neighbors who have not yet moved in also want to get guineas, so that's good. Between the two of us, we have 8 acres. They have 3 and we have 5. How many do you think we'll need?


ETA: what time does the auction start? Never mind! Read the link!! Sorry!!

 

[okiemommy]

Country Hatchery down by Wewoka has Buff Orps, and quite a few other breeds. I'm going to try them in the spring for Buff Orps and some Polish.

Thank you DutchChic for the name of the hatchery! do you have any experience with them? I bookmarked 'em.

 

[DutchChic]

Quote:
Thank you DutchChic for the name of the hatchery! do you have any experience with them? I bookmarked 'em.

Not personally, but they have been in business for a very, very long time. I do plan on driving down there next spring for some chicks.

 

[nnbreeder]

Sounds like a plan to me! Yes bring a couple of the roos with you, but not ones that you are fond of cause chances are they will be relocated!

Let's see why does the wife keep goats? The answer is simple, to keep me fixin' things they tear up so I stay out of trouble.

Oh and I hear they give milk or something too but actually I could live off of goat cheese it is so good. But as far as them eating anything as people claim that is not true. They can be standing in knee high Bermuda and bawl cause they are hungry but if you toss dry, baled bermuda to them they eat it like candy. In late fall I use them to defoliate shrubbery so I can pick out the Yellowjacket nests and they are just good all around buddies.

 

[DutchChic]

Quote:
LOL...sounds like my herd. What I like about having the goats is, coupled with the chickens, I never have to buy milk or eggs at the grocery store. And, I can sell my extra eggs and milk, as well. I get $8 a gallon for milk, and 2.50 a dozen on the eggs at the moment.

 

[okcarla]

Wow, goats milk for $8 a gallon!

That's awesome! I think I'd better wait to get milk goats when I have more time. It would be nice to not have to go buy milk every week!

I need to do some serious thinking about goats now .... hmmmm

This is tough on me ... born and raised a city girl, and Gerald never lived in the country either growing up. I wonder if my german shepherd, australian shepherd and 2 little mix breed dogs would try to attack them? How old do the babies need to be before they stop needing to be bottle fed or nursed by their mothers? Most of those poor little goat babies at the auction looked like they needed to be bottle fed. Oh ... and I kept hearing people comment about some of the bigger, not so desirable goats ... "well, that one's going South and gonna be chili soon". So do any of y'all eat them?

nnbreeder, I'll bring you some roos to Maud!

 

[DutchChic]

Quote:
I've been to the goat auction in Collinsville, and those poor things looked pitiful. I'd never buy goats from an auction...too much of a chance of getting one carrying a disease. I test my herd for several diseases and maintain a closed herd so as not to bring anything in. I've only purchased my stock from reputable breeders that test and raise their babies on prevention...ie, bottle raised on pastuerized milk. It's a lot of work, but pays off in the end when your tests come back all negative..

I wean at 12 weeks, and no, I don't eat my own goats. A lot of folks like to put excess bucks in the freezer, but I can't bring myself to do that...lol.
If you are interested, I do have some for sale at reasonable prices at the moment....registered too, and free of disease. I also trade for the right things..

I've heard of some folks charging as much as $10 a gallon since feed prices have gone up....ouch!

 

[PrincessMomma]

Sorry to hijack, but I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to make my pen and coop work. Is it possible to have an open coop design in Oklahoma? Right now I'm thinking about building the coop and either leaving the front off, or just a door opening with no door.

I've been watching our backyard for predators and haven't noticed anything except a couple of stray cats and our neighbors' dogs that haven't actually come into our yard since last year.

I'm assuming that when we go through the worst of the ice and wind I would want to move them inside, and I do have a shed I can use for temporary housing.