Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Lelanae]

Did the Unionville coop prove too hard to move, Blarney?

 

[fangedknight]

uuugghh my gander is being such a curmudgen. We keep trying to correct him but he freaking keeps picking on the chickens. Which means grabbing them by the feathers and holding them there even if they keep squawking! It's getting ridiculous. At least the Mrs. doesn't do that, Sofie is a good goose.

On the other hand, I think I finally figured out what I want to show. Hopefully I'll be able to get some of @dheltzel 's Ameraucanas, and as long as I can find a show worthy Blue Cochin Bantam Hen, I have a splash cochin roo that would make lovely little babies. (He's also got a nice temperament and loves to be handled so that's a plus). Fingers crossed we'll be able to get a second coop soon! Even if it is to just separate the waterfowl from the chickens.

This is him on my shoulder, he's a dork.

(Horrible quality I know, it was kinda windy and dark out).

 

[fangedknight]

Oh! I almost forgot (So please forgive me for the double post) but I'm trying to figure out a farm name for us and our first webpage. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[LeBlackbird]

She didn’t make it through the night. So frustrating to hatch them and have this happen right when they should be laying regularly. Sigh.

I'm so sorry for your loss, it's the hardest when you put so much work in from the absolute beginning with a bird and have something like that happen

Oh! I almost forgot (So please forgive me for the double post) but I'm trying to figure out a farm name for us and our first webpage. Anyone got any ideas?

Swamp bottom, because your property is practically a waterpark at any given moment

 

[fangedknight]

Swamp bottom, because your property is practically a waterpark at any given moment

Ha ha ha! But we don't live near a swamp!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

With silkies, it's always a tough call but generally, when they all start trying to mate the girls and when they're mature enough to tell if they're going to be decent breeding boys or not. Since we're unfortunately heading in to winter I don't want to be feeding any more extra boys than I need to so final cuts are happening now. With any other breed, I go by when they're starting to harass the girls too much. I don't typically wait until they fill out.



Honestly, I haven't tried it on a turkey yet but I have on some 6 month old Cornish cross. Do yourself a favor and make sure you have a good sturdy broomstick to use. I had a decently thick stick that I was using for extra roos but then the first CX snapped it on the first attempt. I felt so terrible for that one . I only use a sturdy broomstick now. For a turkey, I would definitely recommend stringing him up by the feet BEFORE you attempt it. Maybe have the rope extra long so his head reaches the ground. They really can whip you with those wings when the nerves are firing! Hubby and I will be doing our Thanksgiving turkey on either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. He will be strung up first but since hubby is helping, we'll be using the hatchet so we'll just move the log in to position under him.



Did you lock them in the coop for a week first so they know it's home? I had the same problem with bumblefoot on the cochin girl that I got at a swap over the summer. That poor girl HAD to be suffering! I keep checking her every now and then since she occasionally looks like she's limping but I think those feathers on her feet just keep getting in the way lol



I know you weren't talking to me but mine have been on for a while now. I've been attempting to hatch seramas but not one has made it beyond lockdown yet They grow and do really well, then they just quit on me. I guess I'll be getting some silkie/showgirl eggs in the mail soon so those will be going in and I'm getting my breeds separated right after Thanksgiving so the incubators will be loaded!

Thanks for the advice. When I have watched the broomstick method on YouTube, th head is ripped clean off, but it sounds like you just pop the spine.

Good luck with the incubators! I’m thinking of giving my broody girl a few eggs. When I have tried to give away Roosters the past two times, people always ask if I have hens available. I sold two of the young (3 month old) girls, but it would be nice to have some extras to sell. It’s so easy when she does all the work!

Oh, I hope I can get some more silkies. They are just so darn cute!

With the new birds, I didn’t lock them in the coop for a few days, but they have only ever been in a small run, so I knew they wouldn’t go far. The one must’ve gotten out, but she may still be alive! My neighbor texted me and said the chicken was hiding in her garage the one night, they found her in the morning. She said they tossed her over the property line, thinking the chicken would find here way back. I tried to look for her at night when she may have roosted close to their house, but I couldn’t find her. Then my neighbors boyfriend said he had seen the dog chase the chicken away a couple of times. Arg! Seriously? The poor chicken is probably so confused. Unfortunately, I don’t think they give a poo.

Incubators are staying off for a few more weeks. Might do a New Year's Day hatch, but egg production has been dismal the last week or 2, like 2 or 3 eggs a day from over 100 hens. I like them to have a rest, so the lights are not getting turned on until December. I was going to hatch December eggs, on the theory that the hens laying those have genetics that favor winter layers. Turns out *none* are winter layers. Even the CG's and Legbars have stopped laying. Trying to remember that I want them to have a break . . .

I have a CG roo and will be hatching some next year if I can make a pen for that. Or I might just buy a box of pullet chicks from Privett Hatchery. Money-wise, it makes more sense to buy those chicks and put my CG's with the Ameraucanas and Legbars to make blue egg hybrids to sell. But I fancy the idea of keeping my own line going on the farm. I guess if my only roo doesn't make it for some reason, then the decision is easier.

So, I might have CG's, or maybe not, but if you want some, I can either hatch my own or buy extra for you.

Thanks! We’ll have to see what you come up with this year. I got 8 eggs today from 31 chickens, including 6 Roosters. I know a couple of my Ameracaunas and CCLs have just come into lay. Perfect timing! I am hoping to build a separate coop for the Bielefelders, so hopefully I can breed them. I will probably add a few females from a different flock.

So far the new Hoop Coop looks like this:

View attachment 1188990

Not much progress since Spring time, but a far cry from what my poor babies are living in now...I’m naming the below coop “Raccoon Motel”. We havent been hit yet...but it’s only a matter of time before the coons find the holes between the tarp and the hardware cloth.


View attachment 1188991


I’m not proud, but this is indeed the eye sore in my yard currently.

View attachment 1188992

Looking great so far! It’s okay to have an eye sore for a while. I think we all do it. Some of us do it all the time. Haha!

Today I butchered 2 turkeys (one is 30lbs! Worried its to big to roast) 2 Muscovy ducks (wax was amazing), and kill 8 meat birds. Only get to eat 6. Somehow two had broken wings that were infected. Apparently the little hop down in meatlocker is too high? Lesson learned I guess. Im worried about how many have it. Going thru them tomorrow.

Good job! I imagine it’s tougher to do the turkeys, I think I would ask for assistance with that for sure.

I considered to build one like these, but don't think they are sturdy enough. My current plan is having a plastic shed with lots of windows added. Unfortunately, I just decide to quit my job and move back to PA on January, so I will not build a coop in our current NY home. Hopefully, we can find our new house in PA by summer time, so my son can get his chickens. I will get the same types of chickens from Dennis again, especially those Pennsylvania blacks.

Welcome back to PA!

View attachment 1190458

Yesterday’s sunrise. Headed in to the Italian Market on 9th Street in Philly today -lots of specialty items we get there in time for the holiday, I’m stoked!

Gorgeous! Enjoy the market! Is that Reading Terminal Market, or a different one?

She didn’t make it through the night. So frustrating to hatch them and have this happen right when they should be laying regularly. Sigh.

So sorry. I hate to see one suffer and not pull through.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

When I have watched the broomstick method on YouTube, th head is ripped clean off, but it sounds like you just pop the spine

Yeah, I just pop the spine. I guess some people like to just pull the head right off but I'm not comfortable with that. You can feel when the spine pops.

She said they tossed her over the property line, thinking the chicken would find here way back.

Seriously? Why would they think that she would "find her way back" if she used to love over there? People don't make any sense. I hope you manage to find the poor girl!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Tonight, I'm taking Romeo down to the park in town to meet the girl scouts and whoever else comes along. I thought it would be neat to "meet a turkey" before Thanksgiving I'm going to see if I can fit a harness on him so I can really bring him out and let them see/pet him. We'll see how it goes!

 

[chickachickayea]

Tonight, I'm taking Romeo down to the park in town to meet the girl scouts and whoever else comes along. I thought it would be neat to "meet a turkey" before Thanksgiving I'm going to see if I can fit a harness on him so I can really bring him out and let them see/pet him. We'll see how it goes!

Pictures please!

 

[fisherlady]

Tonight, I'm taking Romeo down to the park in town to meet the girl scouts and whoever else comes along. I thought it would be neat to "meet a turkey" before Thanksgiving I'm going to see if I can fit a harness on him so I can really bring him out and let them see/pet him. We'll see how it goes!

Sounds like fun, I hope it doesn't backfire though...There could be kids refusing to eat turkey dinner come Thursday if they like him too much! LOL