Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

i am so having egg envy right now

...I know it's not attractive, but..I think I jinxed myself by bragging-on the "new" eggs....haven had another in the coop since last Thursday

....
I really do think if made-fixed the nest boxes they might be a little more inclined...the birds are just too big for those boxes...DH & I are thinking they are too narrow(boxes..not birds)..
I had the girls out in the yard doing calisthenics...

... .maybe that will spur them on to drop a few(eggs) for us!

I started making my nest boxes 16 inches cubed (instead of 12) and they like them much better, haven't found any eggs in the old boxes since the new ones went in. Anyone know the best dimension for turkey nest boxes? I'm thinking 24" would work. Will turkey hens use the higher one if I stack 2 on top of each other, or do they only lay at ground level?

 

[dheltzel]

Since my asparagus bed is well established, I want to do something else that is gonna produce yearly...is it possible to grow artichoke around here. I never hear about these... we really like them but they are pricey to buy.

Regular chokes are not hardy here, they grow them in California mostly. Jerusalem Artichokes might be worth trying, not related at all and grow as underground tubers. Other ideas:
Rhubarb
Garlic
Shallots
Egyption or Walking Onions
Herbs (chives, oregano, mints, etc)

 

[dheltzel]

I am really liking the rhodebars too, they are good layers, from what people say...man..i need help..

Not gonna get much help of that sort here. I think you may need more chickens instead . . .

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

well, you know what you want & most interested in.  The wyandottes are great winter hardy/friendly birds..BUT..they shut -OFF in the winter..mine being a good example & they have a more natural tendency to go "broody"....if that is not a worry, then go for them! Oh, the pencil & partridge are beautiful!!   I do love my BLR thought too

I really like wyandotes, but..with the way things have gone this year with all the broodiness & no eggs...well, I still "think" the rooster/cockeral we get in the spring will be wyandotte,

BUT..wondering if going with a total different breed would be better...then have him mix with the wyandotte & marans girls....I am not sure what i would end up with or if the egg laying would improve at all .....

maybe i should just stick to a wyandoote rooster to continue to produce pure wyandootes and still mix him over the marans....,so much to think about, glad we have some time.

I am really liking the rhodebars too, they are good layers, from what people say...man..i need help..:/

this is great info *FL!!  If you have a tackle shop or some such near, you could maybe make a few $$ by providing feathers (whole saddles etc.)..just a thought..
We used Borax to help preserve the trophy fish DH had taken...it really does keep the colors and skin in-tacked. 

What are your feelings about wyandotte personalities? I only have one, so I certainly can't offer any useful information. My one wyandotte has been skittish and very hard to catch and/or hold. She has been like that since she was a chick. Even though she was hand raised and pampered she is very standoffish. Just curious if this is more typical of wyandottes, or if I just got a Diva.

Since my asparagus bed is well established, I want to do something else that is gonna produce yearly...is it possible to grow artichoke around here. I never hear about these... we really like them but they are pricey to buy.

I think they can be grown, but they are treated as annuals up here. Have you ever tried Jerusalem Artichokes, also called Sunchokes. They look like a cross between a potato and ginger. They have a water chestnut texture and can be eaten raw, fried, mashed, baked etc. they are are a perennial closely related to sunflowers. They grow just about anywhere, but can become invasive because they grow so well.

Edited to add: Dhetzel beat me to it!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

What are your feelings about wyandotte personalities? I only have one, so I certainly can't offer any useful information. My one wyandotte has been skittish and very hard to catch and/or hold. She has been like that since she was a chick. Even though she was hand raised and pampered she is very standoffish. Just curious if this is more typical of wyandottes, or if I just got a Diva.

my two wyandottes are very standoff-ish also. I know that they're hatchery stock so maybe that makes a difference but I've had them since they were two weeks old. Always pampered and hand raised but still won't come willingly except for a treat and you beget not try to touch them, they panic.

 

[chippysmom327]

Will they ship eggs? I want to hatch mine, but people tell me that their hatch rate is bad as it is so they won't ship because it's almost not worth it. Just wondering if any of you guys had any experience with it

I expect her experience with the calls is about the same. She doesn't raise many babies each year because she lets the ducks go broody to get them to hatch.

Most people I know just let their broody calls hatch. Hm, interesting. Looks like I'll be ordering ducklings in the spring.

 

[dheltzel]

Most people I know just let their broody calls hatch. Hm, interesting. Looks like I'll be ordering ducklings in the spring.

I hope you find a good source. Holderhead won't ship call duckings because of their size/fragility, and shipped call eggs are notoriously hard to hatch. Even incubating your own can be a challenge, which is why most people let the mothers hatch them. The theory I've heard is that their short bills put them at a disadvantage when trying to break out of the shells, but hte mothers know how to help them out.

Maybe you should get the Black East Indies that wing is offering - before I succumb to that temptation . . .

 

[chippysmom327]

Most people I know just let their broody calls hatch. Hm, interesting. Looks like I'll be ordering ducklings in the spring.

I hope you find a good source. Holderhead won't ship call duckings because of their size/fragility, and shipped call eggs are notoriously hard to hatch. Even incubating your own can be a challenge, which is why most people let the mothers hatch them. The theory I've heard is that their short bills put them at a disadvantage when trying to break out of the shells, but hte mothers know how to help them out.

Maybe you should get the Black East Indies that wing is offering - before I succumb to that temptation . . .

I know someone locally with calls, but not the colors I need. I'm really looking for white and grey.

I would take the East Indies, but I'm really in love with calls...

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

We donate the feathers to the Project Healing Waters. We are involved with them through our Erie friends. They use them for teaching the disabled vets how to tie flies.

that is great... I am not sure if there is anything around here like that..this area does have a large "service" population..active & retired, very proud about it too.

Look at what I found in the run this morning! Is this a fart egg or a pullet egg? My oldest pullets are about 12 weeks old so it seems so crazy to think it could be one of them. It looks like a regular brown egg just miniaturized. I cracked it open and this is what was in it.

weird stuff..just all goo...

Not looking to sell them either, the subject of Fisher Lady keeping them came up at the VFW Saturday night and lots of the guys ask for some. Just figure we will give it a try. One less thing wasted

that's great you have an outlet for the feathers..DH does tie his own flies and I have done a few...not near as good as his though

. We just hang on to ours for the time being, they last a long time if stored properly...maybe the subject of "feathers" will come up somewhere along the way & will be able to do something else with them.
Talking about less wasted..
I was making biscotti , dog treats & caramel popcorn today

... & thought about how much more use of the items we use, get used....like the eggs & the shells, citrus fruits..cleaners from the peelings/ freeze zest for baking-cooking/ just about anything extra goes to the animals...we throw away very little anymore. I have been keeping glass containers and using them for storing herbs/seeds..etc..& plastic bottles for seed starting, natural-cleaners...
I get this from people who don't understand

...don't really care though..I make it all look good if that means anything..print out lables and decorate the containers.

It is funny how we have made this change, more out of saving every $$ we can from everything we can...

"use it up..
wear it out-
make it do
or do without"

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Since my asparagus bed is well established, I want to do something else that is gonna produce yearly...is it possible to grow artichoke around here. I never hear about these... we really like them but they are pricey to buy.

you can grow artichokes in PA, but..it would most likely be an annual. You can start them from seed indoors late winter, then transplant in spring.
The roots are what need to protected when growing them..if you want to try overwintering them(per annual)..then they would have to be protected..mulch/container, that sort of thing.
If we have milder winters, they would probably be okay, but anything like last winter and they are goners.
You can plant in spring (seed or plant) and they will be ready late summer early fall.
**this site might help...
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/4796/how-to-grow-artichokes/page/all