Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

You need a guard goose! or even better a swan.

If someone looks up and sees a hissing goose bearing down on them, that will help their cardiovascular workout considerably!

 

[dheltzel]

just thought I would share with you..............that is NEXT WEEK !!! that my baby chicks are coming!

NEXT WEEK!!

That's very very soon!

still cant set up the brooder until the coast is clear...........

want my family's first impressions to include cute chicks in it-------------not an empty crate INDOORS!

I don't even know which day next week..............wish I knew....................so excited!

I'm excited for you Lisa!
I've got about 30 eggs due to hatch Monday. Next week is exciting for sure.

Be sure to take pictures.

 

[LisaYolkUm]

I'm excited for you Lisa!
I've got about 30 eggs due to hatch Monday. Next week is exciting for sure.

Be sure to take pictures.

thanks dheltzel! wow 30 eggs is quite a large number! I hope you also share pictures.

I will have to find a way to contain this hobby. I am just getting 5 chicks next week. I have then gone over my limit as I live in a suburban area with a smallish yard

I think it would be cool to do the incubator thing with eggs. I

I cant have a rooster............so to further this developing addiction I am already thinking that maybe 2015 will be the year of male and female quail ...........since I could raise them without much space and they could produce fertile eggs etc!

But one thing at a time............

2014 is the year of 5 chicks and new raised veggie garden beds, maybe even a "fruit cocktail tree" , and a new coop!
2015 year of quail..........likely coturnix if I had to decide right now.

Plus what I have reading about quail eggs is that they are more nutritious than chicken eggs.............small but quite healthy.

I have in mind enjoying the decorative eggs too............in small craft activities for myself and some friends...................

This type of hobby does not seem to be boring to me! Always something more to read and learn about and enjoy!

Last year when I was tired and relaxing I got a lot of enjoyment out of just sitting in the yard and watching the chickens funny antics...........
Once its warm enough , I sure look forward to that too!

 

[sharron]

I find rats take awhile to catch, they are very aware of their environment and avoid anything new.

my new predator is people, how do I get rid of them??? really it is a country road just outside of town, and as the weather is starting to break, people seem to be parking at the end of the road and walking the loop, (we are on a bike route that forms a loop of a couple miles)....wouldn't mind so much but they seem to think it is ok to take a break and sit by the tree's in the front yard......I have a rooster that thinks he is a guard dog and will jump the fences if he see's them out there....

maybe a sign that says, caution, attack rooster, he hates strangers

 

[chiques chicks]

maybe a sign that says, caution,  attack rooster, he hates strangers

Plant poison Ivy

 

[dheltzel]

Plant poison Ivy

Or a sign that says "Warning: sprayed for ticks -- keep off for 30 days"

Still seems like a good excuse to get a goose.

 

[Reyvaughn]

You need a guard goose! or even better a swan.

If someone looks up and sees a hissing goose bearing down on them, that will help their cardiovascular workout considerably!

I have a pair of production Toulouse for sale... My gander is not mean, but he will hiss at you until you walk towards him. Then he runs like a little wuss.

 

[wingstone]

You need a guard goose! or even better a swan.

If someone looks up and sees a hissing goose bearing down on them, that will help their cardiovascular workout considerably!

Quote: I ;like the way you guys think..

remind me to check for booby traps when you are around,,,

 

[sharron]

I ;like the way you guys think..

remind me to check for booby traps when you are around,,,

i would love to have a rooster like that, would keep strangers from nosing around, I do have a gander now that I think will turn out nasty, now that he's settled in

 

[dheltzel]

thanks dheltzel! wow 30 eggs is quite a large number! I hope you also share pictures.

I will have to find a way to contain this hobby. I am just getting 5 chicks next week. I have then gone over my limit as I live in a suburban area with a smallish yard

I think it would be cool to do the incubator thing with eggs. I

I cant have a rooster............so to further this developing addiction I am already thinking that maybe 2015 will be the year of male and female quail ...........since I could raise them without much space and they could produce fertile eggs etc!

But one thing at a time............

2014 is the year of 5 chicks and new raised veggie garden beds, maybe even a "fruit cocktail tree" , and a new coop!
2015 year of quail..........likely coturnix if I had to decide right now.

Plus what I have reading about quail eggs is that they are more nutritious than chicken eggs.............small but quite healthy.

I have in mind enjoying the decorative eggs too............in small craft activities for myself and some friends...................

This type of hobby does not seem to be boring to me! Always something more to read and learn about and enjoy!

Last year when I was tired and relaxing I got a lot of enjoyment out of just sitting in the yard and watching the chickens funny antics...........
Once its warm enough , I sure look forward to that too!

I just did the "lockdown", moved them off the turner so they can settle into their hatching position. There are really 26, 15 of which are mixed breeds, the last of my "test hatches". My first 2 hatches were interrupted by a power failure, so I set these thinking the others were a lost cause. Some of them will be the "olive eggers" that are all the rage now. Personally, I prefer bright blue or dark brown, but the more different colors the better for egg sales, so these will join the laying flock if they hatch (and are hens). The other 11 are the special ones, 5 of the German New Hampshires and 6 Blue Bredas (rare and very odd looking chickens, but lay kinda small white eggs).

I thought I heard a peep, but it's probably the power of suggestion, I'm really willing these guys to hatch well.

This is the first batch I tracked the weights on, and the amount of weight they lost was all over the place, 8 - 15%. Some of that is due to the scale only having a resolution of 1 gram, so rounding errors play a part. If I sum the weights, the average loss was 11.6%.

Does anyone know what a really worrisome percentage would be? I think that since they are all in a range on both sides of the ideal 13%, that my humidity is probably OK, but does anyone know if I'm right about this or if I should adjust the humidity?