Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Whatthecheep]

Welcome! So what can we talk you into?
Turkey? Mini cows? Ducks? Goats? More mini cows because they are so adorable? How about quail?
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Now I see why I never wanted to make a log in I am such a sucker! - we currently have ducks, chickens, dogs, cats - live on a bit over 20 acres, which half is hayfields - and.. mini cows! I have been looking into expanding the homesteading - I actually did estimates this year on how much hay we have to what we can keep LOL. My kids want horses, I want goats, pigs, horses and now mini cows!

 

[BullChick]

You are now my best friend.

 

[dheltzel]

Now I see why I never wanted to make a log in I am such a sucker! - we currently have ducks, chickens, dogs, cats - live on a bit over 20 acres, which half is hayfields - and.. mini cows! I have been looking into expanding the homesteading - I actually did estimates this year on how much hay we have to what we can keep LOL. My kids want horses, I want goats, pigs, horses and now mini cows!

Looks to me like you are missing guineas and turkeys! Both are great if you have some acreage for them to wander on.

 

[feliciadawn]

Does anyone want an adorable Mille Fleur D'Uccle cockerel? He is perfectly confident of his splendidness at about 3 months old. Just started to crow, but the crow sounds more like a bird "caw" than a cockle-doodle-do. Still it makes me nervous given township issues, so if I can find him a loving home I would like to give him away. Very feathery feet -- I can send a picture if there is real interest.

Editing to say no health issues in my flock, at all. Only day-olds (or slightly older from Dennis) come in.

 

[BullChick]

Guineas are as desirable as raccoons and fox.

 

[Whatthecheep]

You are now my best friend.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I’m so sorry to hear that TillyPeeps. My flock has been fighting the same respiratory illness for 3 years. It’s not from Dennis, his birds got it when they came here. It’s not Newcastle, influenza, or any of the fast killers, I’m thinking it’s some kind of Mycoplasma but they don’t respond to antibiotics at all. However, the 3rd generation chicks are doing great, and although we had a few sniffles early on they seem to have much more resistance to the disease, whatever it is. Marans seem to be particularly susceptible, which is awful because it’s one of my favorite breeds, and Tiger fought it for over a year before he died. What a sweetheart, it really hurts going out to the pen at dusk and not finding him waiting for me.

I think I have MG, but not sure. My adult birds just got it from the chicks about 2w ago. I found Blue Bear was a little off yesterday, but ok today. If she gets worse, I'll try antibiotics. For now, I just add some herbs to their food. It's hard to lose a favorite. Sorry for your loss!

 

[Whatthecheep]

Looks to me like you are missing guineas and turkeys! Both are great if you have some acreage for them to wander on.

I do not have an interest in owning turkeys or guineas, unless they are rescues and in need of some TLC to live out their lives doing whatever it is they do best - I have been looking into starting an animal sanctuary for animals who make it from the Big Ag or any place that had less than desirable conditions. I understand this can go many ways with many opinions- My dogs are all rescues from very inhumane conditions, and it put the bug into me to help out others as well. I've been bringing home strays my whole life - I should have known this would happen
But yes, plenty of space to roam, a nice creek and good size forest, they seem very happy . Unfortunately we do have a lot of predators, so the birds are only aloud free range certain times of day when the dogs and I can supervise

 

[GoodGuinea]

Unfortunately we do have a lot of predators, so the birds are only aloud free range certain times of day when the dogs and I can supervise

Same with mine. I only have a couple acres, but it borders a nature preserve on multiple sides. It's a mixed blessing. I love the privacy, but my neighbors are foxes and coyotes and owls! We learned quickly (and sadly) that the birds need supervision 100% of the time they're out free ranging.

 

[BullChick]

Unfortunately we do have a lot of predators,

Get a llama! I know they will beat the snot out of a coyote. I swear they keep everything else at bay too.