Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[annie82005]

Welcome! The map in my signature will tell you where most people are located.
Awesomeness!
Mine lay all day long (I have one I swear waits till 5 pm to lay her egg!) Mine are in a cinderblock garage, so it's always about 20 degrees cooler inside than out, and I often wait till the evening to collect.
It means it's not getting to high temp, therefore slower compost....though your girls will love the added protein!
LMAO now there's a dangerous question around here!

how do I get it to a higher temp? It is a compost tumbler. I turn it often and add water if it feels too dry. The tumbler is black and in direct sunlight all day. I'm up for any suggestions. And, the girls did enjoy the snacks! Lol!

 

[SilkieSensation]

Quote: Try adding wood chips from your bedding when you clean brooders or coops. That tends to raise temps quite a bit.

 

[missydcpc]

Heat has to do with the ratio you have in there...Carbon (green) versus Nitrogen (poop, shavings etc). I don't remember what the ratio you need is...but I think it's 60/40 carbon/nitrogen, don't quote me though. And water lowers the temp...but it does need to be wet...just not soaked....

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

I know I saw a few people on here have Khaki Campbells. I'm looking at getting some, but I wanted to check about a few things first. What do you do with your ducks in the winter (guess I should know this anyway since we have the mallards)? I mean are the cooped all winter, or do they go out in the snow? I have read that they are good layers, and that would be my reason for getting any. Will they lay in a box or will I need to send Gavin on an egg hunt everyday? How are their personalities, are they nice enough or are they on the nasty side? I know some wild ducks will roost at night, do the mallards or the campbells need a roost? If I only have hens will they be ok with my chickens (I know drakes can be a bit nasty come spring)? Will I need to worry about clipping wings or are they less likely to fly compared to the mallards?
I also wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience with the American Bresse or Sulmtaler? I'm thinking of getting some, but I'm not sure I want to put that much into chickens (yet). All the places I'm looking at for these birds are (supposedly) from imported true breed parentage. These are just two we're doing our research on for when we move and have a lot more room for free ranging. Plus the in-laws are going to open a farmer's market type store, and we figure if we get a good foundation stock of these rarer (and supposedly tastier) breeds we can try selling them at the store, along with eggs from our layers.
Sorry for all the questions (and probably over explaining stuff), and thanks in advance. I'm sure I could look all this up, but I prefer first hand experiences over "research/studies" when it comes to animals/pets.

I ended up processing all 4 cornish x yesterday, and it was a good thing I did. 3 of them had wounds down to the muscle, and all had more than enough fat. I'll be looking into a plucker before I process the extra cockerels. As well as something for shade, I am redder than a boiled lobster today. Good news is I won't have tan-lines from straps to mess up the wedding pictures.

As long as I remember to only wear strapless tops/dresses when I spend a lot of time outside the rest of this year. Provided I'm not around the one niece's horse, I'll leave it at if that gelding had been a human he'd be hurting when my fiance gets home...

 

[wingstone]

A few questions..

What do all of you use to catch chickens, I find it harder than it used to be to go chasing them around,,,,anyone use a net if so what kind.??

Those that go to the swaps, what do you do with the ones that end up coming back home with you,,,are they put in quarintine?

What is the preferred age to process ducks, does it really matter with ducks ?

 

[wlrabbitry]

A few questions..

What do all of you use to catch chickens, I find it harder than it used to be to go chasing them around,,,,anyone use a net if so what kind.??

Those that go to the swaps, what do you do with the ones that end up coming back home with you,,,are they put in quarintine?

What is the preferred age to process ducks,  does it really matter with ducks ? 

i normally wait for them to roost at night grab them off the roost. i would quarantine from a swap.

 

[wingstone]

Quote: I often work from 6pm till 6am,,,so that is not an option,,,can not always wait for a day off so I really need a better way to catch them in te daytime,,,,


Happy Note....there's a chick in the bator playing kickball, I think it's one of Sally's serama eggs that hatched .

 

[SilkieSensation]

I know I saw a few people on here have Khaki Campbells. I'm looking at getting some, but I wanted to check about a few things first. What do you do with your ducks in the winter (guess I should know this anyway since we have the mallards)? I mean are the cooped all winter, or do they go out in the snow? I have read that they are good layers, and that would be my reason for getting any. Will they lay in a box or will I need to send Gavin on an egg hunt everyday? How are their personalities, are they nice enough or are they on the nasty side? I know some wild ducks will roost at night, do the mallards or the campbells need a roost? If I only have hens will they be ok with my chickens (I know drakes can be a bit nasty come spring)? Will I need to worry about clipping wings or are they less likely to fly compared to the mallards?
I also wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience with the American Bresse or Sulmtaler? I'm thinking of getting some, but I'm not sure I want to put that much into chickens (yet). All the places I'm looking at for these birds are (supposedly) from imported true breed parentage. These are just two we're doing our research on for when we move and have a lot more room for free ranging. Plus the in-laws are going to open a farmer's market type store, and we figure if we get a good foundation stock of these rarer (and supposedly tastier) breeds we can try selling them at the store, along with eggs from our layers.
Sorry for all the questions (and probably over explaining stuff), and thanks in advance. I'm sure I could look all this up, but I prefer first hand experiences over "research/studies" when it comes to animals/pets.

I ended up processing all 4 cornish x yesterday, and it was a good thing I did. 3 of them had wounds down to the muscle, and all had more than enough fat. I'll be looking into a plucker before I process the extra cockerels. As well as something for shade, I am redder than a boiled lobster today. Good news is I won't have tan-lines from straps to mess up the wedding pictures.

As long as I remember to only wear strapless tops/dresses when I spend a lot of time outside the rest of this year. Provided I'm not around the one niece's horse, I'll leave it at if that gelding had been a human he'd be hurting when my fiance gets home...

Khakis can't fly, Mallards can. Clip Mallards' wings if you want them to stay. If you lock them down at night, both will lay wherever they are penned for the night (usually) if you give them a nest to lay in. Occasionally you may find a few eggs elsewhere. A nest box will help give them a place to lay. I found an old tire filled half way with bedding makes an excellent nest box if you are not inclined to build 1. Just make sure to check under the rim as well because eggs tend to get pushed out of the way by the next hen. You only need drakes if you want babies. The only roosting ducks I know of are Muscovies. Khakis & Mallard will sleep on the ground. Try to give them an area with dry bedding & depending on how wet the ground is or how close to the water source the bed is you may need to change bedding frequently.

A few questions..

What do all of you use to catch chickens, I find it harder than it used to be to go chasing them around,,,,anyone use a net if so what kind.??

Those that go to the swaps, what do you do with the ones that end up coming back home with you,,,are they put in quarintine?

What is the preferred age to process ducks, does it really matter with ducks ?

If you don't need them caught right that instant then wait until evening & they will often come back to the coop wanting in to roost. You can open the door & let them walk right in like I do or pull them off of where ever they decided looked like a good roost for the night & plop them on the roost they belong on instead. If you need them right away, a nice big fishing net works well as long as it has a nice long handle & no holes in the net big enough for the bird to slip through. Butterfly nets work well for chicks & bantams that slip through the holes on the bigger fish nets.

I never go to shows where my birds get caged directly beside other birds. I keep them as separated from other birds as possible & do not allow people to reach into my cages. When they come home they get penned separate for at least a week or 2 so I can observe & make sure no one is sick before returning to the flock. Usually they don't return to the flock at all because I try to keep my sale birds separated from my flocks so I don't have to go chase down birds out of my pens every time someone wants to buy 1.

Process ducks when they are as big as you like for your dinner table.

 

[BorderBrigade]

A few questions..

What do all of you use to catch chickens, I find it harder than it used to be to go chasing them around,,,,anyone use a net if so what kind.??

Those that go to the swaps, what do you do with the ones that end up coming back home with you,,,are they put in quarintine?

What is the preferred age to process ducks,  does it really matter with ducks ? 

Just call them over with some snacks and pick them up when they get close to you.

 

[Reyvaughn]

I know I saw a few people on here have Khaki Campbells. I'm looking at getting some, but I wanted to check about a few things first. What do you do with your ducks in the winter (guess I should know this anyway since we have the mallards)? I mean are the cooped all winter, or do they go out in the snow? I have read that they are good layers, and that would be my reason for getting any. Will they lay in a box or will I need to send Gavin on an egg hunt everyday? How are their personalities, are they nice enough or are they on the nasty side? I know some wild ducks will roost at night, do the mallards or the campbells need a roost? If I only have hens will they be ok with my chickens (I know drakes can be a bit nasty come spring)? Will I need to worry about clipping wings or are they less likely to fly compared to the mallards?

I didn't let my KCs get to laying age, but my Blue x and Pekins lay where ever they want. My ducks don't use the shed I have out there for them at all, and stay outside all the time. They have an awning I put their feed in and they will go under that if they have to to get out of the weather. I do not pen my ducks & geese at night. Considering how messy ducks are, I wouldn't house ducks and chickens together.

A few questions..

What do all of you use to catch chickens, I find it harder than it used to be to go chasing them around,,,,anyone use a net if so what kind.??

Those that go to the swaps, what do you do with the ones that end up coming back home with you,,,are they put in quarintine?

What is the preferred age to process ducks, does it really matter with ducks ?

1) I have kids - 9 & 11. That's my catching method.
2) All birds I buy go into quarantine. I have never brought any back, but I think quarantine would be a good idea if I did.
3) No idea for sure. I believe I could have processed mine around 16wks and had a nice sized meal with my Pekins.