South Carolina

[dixiebeast]

LOUISVILLE!!! That will be a fun trip though!! Have you considered shipping...I fear it but everyone says its no problem...I personally would make the drive but if the logistics and timing isn't working then it would be worth it to have your babies!!!

Amy, no doubt I cant go on wattles either. And the backs are only so far an observation, so I really think the only way is to hear that noise, buck wheat, buck wheat.

Samantha, sounds like you have found your WHeaten's. If Amy says they are worth the drive, well I think a road trip is in order.

At least it isnt Louisville, KY

 

[Moonchild]

Tolbunt Polish!!!!! Did I read that! Post Pics and keep us updated. I love Polish and Tolbunt and Silver-Laced are my fave, but of course I really love the white ones reminds me of PumPum.

Samantha, I'm sorry about your friend! She's lucky to have you in her life. I have several EE's that have laid blue eggs but they might be Wheatens. I do have a Wheaten girl that has a little black in her wing.

I need to go check out that video. Haven't tried it. We did get our Tolbunt Polish last week and did hold them upside down by the legs to test that theory. According to that, I have 5 boys and 4 girls. We'll see! They are little cuties.

House build is going well so far. They brought a big ole truck full of cement blocks early this morning for the foundation which is already dug and inspected. They broke ground for the garage. The angle of the house is not exactly what we had hoped for but it's not bad. My little lambs are doing well. One loves being with the sheep but the other still loves me. He follows me around all day long. Yesterday he helped me plant herbs. He even goes in the chicken coops with me and just stands and watches until I leave. He is so cute!

Is it time to start complaining about the weather because I'm ready!

 

[KrisH]

Louisville is a doable trip, I actually was going last week to a dog show there, but decided not to.. I think if I get these guys I will have them shipped. Its a trio and I only need a hen, but hey I can always sale a pair down the road if I decide, otherwise, I will have a nice trio.

 

[phoneman]

thanks amy

I can vouch for Gary Ramsey's stock being very nice! Samantha, you better jump on that one! If I could drive all that way I would be sorely tempted as I know those are awesome birds. Phoneman has always been pleased with them. Wish I had grabbed some when I was down there years ago visiting Gary.

 

[dixiebeast]

I am stuck doing the non stop happy dance!!

thanks amy

 

[Patsy29332]

I am stuck doing the non stop happy dance!!

Congrats!!! I know how long and hard you have been looking! Great of Phoneman to help out a fellow fowl lover...LOL

 

[RedBugPoultry]

I was told in the Amer thread they should be treated as EE...no one can tell me how dominate the Wheaten gene is...one looks like mine but more tan...and I have seen this in others but the smoke colored muffs get me and the one with black is more than a little in the wings...I find more when I look at her. Now I have to decide what to do with them...I can breed and sell a few EE chicks while I continue to hunt a good hen but I have to separate them from my gal because the eggs are IDENTICAL! I won't know which my one pure egg is!! That problem got in my head at 1am and worried me all night!! I do think after talking to a few people with cackle experience that they may be mixed color Amers but I cant risk selling eggs and the Wheaten gene not show so EE eggs and chicks for now

Atleast I will have some pretty eggs for my eating dozens!!

Hmmm...I may see if Gus would like a couple more ladies?!

Samantha, Gary Ramey started out with EE's when he developed his Wheatens. He told me he picked the best he could find and hatched a lot of chicks and culled heavy and went from there. If you have a good rooster you could separate the hens you just got in to another pen and put the rooster in with the every few days and see what you get from chicks. You would have to cull you old hens and breed the new ones back but it might not take that long to get some decent birds. Might be worth a try if you are having a hard time find hens--just a thought....

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Well, finally!
My Guineas have to be some of the orneriest creatures but I am glad they have done me well. I have 6 lavender hens and one male. Yippee! The chocolate pen is also great with 2 girls and a boy but I threw my buff dundotte girl in there since she is a lot the same color, just dotty!

I am thinking my blue slate (sooooo pretty!) is a boy as it has not said a word in my presence but is still so sweet to come up to the feeder while I am adding food every day. And though those 2 Coral Blues look like they could be a boy and a girl, I hear nothing but yelling from them. (Geez! No wonder Robert wants to smack them if it is a color related thing!)

In the lavenders I see the difference in the backs, however, the wattles are all different. I have girls with cupped wattles, as Kris and Robert saw when they were here. And some have flat wattles so I do not depend on wattles to tell me the difference. I do believe though, that I can see some difference in the horn on top of the head. My boys have larger, more brown horns than the girls. Could be my imagination though. I have noticed it in my free ranging Pearls. I have only 2 girls and 4 boys in that bunch. Poor girls, the boys have been mating them quite often. NOT something I care to see every time I walk out the door.

So, finally, I know what is going on in my Guineas. I just wish I had another free pen for the slate and blues. Maybe....eventually.....

Here is a photo before I moved them that shows my grown slate blue. Notice the flat wattles whereas the female chocolate girl in the photo has cupped wattles. This photo was taken last month.

You are right about the "horn" Amy. As they get older it will get even bigger on the males. In general the females will have that small wattle but as you have seen not always. The male walk more up right also and are rounder than the females. Females walk flatter to the ground(does that make since?) than the males. I am so wishing my DH would finish this porch so I could turn my out. They are having a fit with breeding season here and they can't get away from each other.

 

[dixiebeast]

Oh but when I asked about Wheaten gen dominace on the Amer thread it was no no no!! They will always be EEs....I think these 2 are Amers...just mixed color and will prob move over to the laying flock...Mr. Super Hero Phoneman is selling me some of his famous Ramsey line hens!!! YAY ME!!!!!!! And I got 2 pretty and sweeet gals to add color back to my eating egg dozens I sell!!

Samantha, Gary Ramey started out with EE's when he developed his Wheatens. He told me he picked the best he could find and hatched a lot of chicks and culled heavy and went from there. If you have a good rooster you could separate the hens you just got in to another pen and put the rooster in with the every few days and see what you get from chicks. You would have to cull you old hens and breed the new ones back but it might not take that long to get some decent birds. Might be worth a try if you are having a hard time find hens--just a thought....

 

[dixiebeast]

Oh and I am going to use a similar method to develope a new color I have in my head....it will take a couple years but if I achieve it...YEAH BABY!!! Its a secret though becasue I don't want the idea to be stolen!! I seriously developed the new camaro in 1995...wanted something very very similar to be the 30th anniversary car....now I keep my mouth shut!! I wanted an old 60"s look with the new interior and I told EVERYONE my idea!! Bam...2006...concept pics were on my fridge where it was being done...as not my idea!! LOL Everytime we see one Johns says I need to learn to shut up and get a patent!!

BTW: I am a big muscle car geek!! When we first got married and had Dixie I was sent out to find a family car because my big truck was too tall and I had trouble putting the car seat in and out...came home with a PINK 1967 firebird that I paid for and had John take me back to get before he ever saw it!! I had went to look at a 69 camaro that day!!

Samantha, Gary Ramey started out with EE's when he developed his Wheatens. He told me he picked the best he could find and hatched a lot of chicks and culled heavy and went from there. If you have a good rooster you could separate the hens you just got in to another pen and put the rooster in with the every few days and see what you get from chicks. You would have to cull you old hens and breed the new ones back but it might not take that long to get some decent birds. Might be worth a try if you are having a hard time find hens--just a thought....