Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[wingstone]

question for this group---------------how much of a problem do people have with flies around their coop and run............

I would not like to have a lot of flies...............yuck!

If you do have flies--------------what have people found that is helpful way to reduce or eliminate them?

I have many birds but no fly problem,,,,you need to keep things as dry as possible....I am surrouned by fields and when those fields are spread with fertilizer it all comes from the local production houses,,at that time the flies for about 2 weeks are horrible (do not open your mouth horrible) stay on top of the cleaning and also hang some fly strips or something and you should be fine...

I've learned if you have poop, you'll have flies. I picked up some fly catchers at TSC that use a liquid attractant. A cheaper way to go it take a 2 liter bottle, cut the top off and invert it, poke holes in it to hang, and place some sugar water inside.

We use the ones from TSC, hubby hangs them every year right before the fertilizer is spread in the field..buy the refill attractant online...it is much cheaper.

 

[wingstone]

Heather...please let me know how breaking broodies works out for you...I have some really stubborn ones this year...thinking about giving in and just letting them have eggs...

Blarney...Where's those updated pics of the babies...

Chiques.......father in law hates it when we shoot things at the farm,,,we are looking for someone to come in and set traps that would then want to take the foxes (I think there's a couple of them)..we used to have a guy that did this, he would also shoot groundhogs for us when the father in law was not home,,,,this man was retired and could not get around real well to go hunting anymore, so keeping us critter free was good for him.


In brooders are''
2 EE...6 weeks
3 white bresse...7 weeks
7 dominique...10 days
2 bronze turkey...4 days
10 cot quail...4 days

in incubator..
8 pekin duck
6 alaskan pheasant
6 rhodebar
14 mexican speckled bobwhite
4 valley quail

in the mail now

24 white bresse eggs

always looking to sell or trade...if nearby and interested give a holler...looking for a few more heritage breed turkey within the same age range as what I got.

also working on a project with my large meat bird cross roo, he will be given his own pen today with a few larger ladies, will start collecting eggs in 2 weeks and see what I get...the project roo is from a cross of delaware roo and freedom ranger hen...the hens he will will put with are all crosses also, so anything could show up...I will be picking the hen's by size and how fast they grew and matured..

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

This may be a silly question, but what are the red or iridescent patches of skin just behind the ear called? I've called them cheeks but I was wondering if there's a proper term. I just noticed they're much more notable on the girls have larger and redder wattles and combs. Are they a indicator of maturity/eggs?

 

[sharron]

Heather...please let me know how breaking broodies works out for you...I have some really stubborn ones this year...thinking about giving in and just letting them have eggs...

Blarney...Where's those updated pics of the babies...

Chiques.......father in law hates it when we shoot things at the farm,,,we are looking for someone to come in and set traps that would then want to take the foxes (I think there's a couple of them)..we used to have a guy that did this, he would also shoot groundhogs for us when the father in law was not home,,,,this man was retired and could not get around real well to go hunting anymore, so keeping us critter free was good for him.


In brooders are''
2 EE...6 weeks
3 white bresse...7 weeks
7 dominique...10 days
2 bronze turkey...4 days
10 cot quail...4 days

in incubator..
8 pekin duck
6 alaskan pheasant
6 rhodebar
14 mexican speckled bobwhite
4 valley quail

in the mail now

24 white bresse eggs

always looking to sell or trade...if nearby and interested give a holler...looking for a few more heritage breed turkey within the same age range as what I got.

also working on a project with my large meat bird cross roo, he will be given his own pen today with a few larger ladies, will start collecting eggs in 2 weeks and see what I get...the project roo is from a cross of delaware roo and freedom ranger hen...the hens he will will put with are all crosses also, so anything could show up...I will be picking the hen's by size and how fast they grew and matured..

curious, have you eaten the bresse and if so, how are they?

 

[wingstone]

bresse are one of my projects,,,the 3 chicks i have are about 9 weeks, so just getting started.....looking to keep breeders with the eggs that are coming and the 3 that i have 1 roo 2 hens...even if they do not work out as meat breeders so far these 3 chicks are doing great and some of the friendliest chicks, so far all the eggs I have gotten for hatching have been nice big tanish colored eggs, so either way this breed will stay.

 

[sharron]

was just wondering if they were as good eating as they say they are, at least what greenfire farms says anyway, suppose i will have to find someone who has eaten them to find out for sure , i could try them myself i guess but easier to find out from someone else for right now

 

[wingstone]

was just wondering if they were as good eating as they say they are, at least what greenfire farms says anyway, suppose i will have to find someone who has eaten them to find out for sure , i could try them myself i guess but easier to find out from someone else for right now

will keep ou posted,,I can give you a holler when i am ready to cull thru what hatches...

 

[sharron]

thank you,i would appreciate it. i only have egg chickens, unless you count the brahma's as a meat chicken, and i don't, count them as eye candy to be honest, altho they lay a pretty decent egg, but so far i haven't found a chicken that i like to butcher for meat in the so called dual purpose, i would like a chicken with a little more breast to it than most of the dual's have, (my husband is a breast man) i like the legs and thighs. would like something i can live with when i have to process the extra roosters when i hatch.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Wing. Sounds like you're really making some progress on your meaties. I'll have to pay you a visit when we're ready to go down that road.

Sharron, I've heard that the Marans meat is tastier too.

Lisa, I read on the Orpington thread, where a lot of breeders are down south and battling major bugs this season with all the moisture to hang a dryer sheet in the coops. They are especially wary of mosquitoes spreading disease. I routinely sprinkle muddy runs, and spent nasty hog areas with lime to combat the flies. DE too. We are rubbing the goats down with dryer sheets to ward off the horse flies. Not sure if it works, but I figure it can't hurt, and they do smell better

Goat pics? Of course!

 

[Blarneyeggs]