South Carolina

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Thanks, Patsy but with not knowing how we will proceed with DH being in such bad shape I am not going to add anything this year. Even if he gets on Disability that is not as much as he can make at a job.
My job is plenty busy and I could have the income if the birds would cooperate, not to mention getting the mealies to grow faster. In this economy I am thrilled that I have all the orders but my problem is getting the product out!
I think I will focus on ducks since they have proven to be much better layers than chickens and my sales are pretty equal on eggs and offspring. Not to mention they are better foragers and have a lot less health issues than chickens.

I love all my birds but looking over my numbers from last year my accountant pointed out areas that I could certainly work to make more money and get rid of the ones that aren't helping to feed themselves. It sure makes you look at farming differently when you keep records and don't let your heart rule. Kinda a pain......

I do that....I went through DH's birds and pointed out which ones he needed to get rid of... his barreds need to go into breeding one more season...this year they are three I think...and make him more sex links. If he does not add new BSL chicks each year, they will all age out of laying around the same time.

I think he is to the point of only wanting to raise meaties.

I am down to 10-12 layers, ducks, silkies & cochins & oegs.

Been trying to get the goat numbers down.......for a few years........since we are not sole owners of the goats, the other half mentions it then does not want to go through with it. We sell some when someone asks, but not on a regular basis. Something needs to be done, we have too many, too many are getting too old, and goats do not always recoup their feed costs, especially if kept too long!

They pick on me and tell me I get too attached to the animals...yeah I do a lot of them...we have several bottle babies...but not all of them...AND I can still sell them. It is a business after all

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
LOL I know what you mean when you say "alpha dog"! Same here in this house.
When Samantha put up the game on FB about the 3rd letter in your name I did say Yawning but DD said it should have been Yelling!

I would not have a dog if it killed my chickens either or a cat. I have gotten rid of a few cats that thought they were hungry enough to go after chicks. They weren't my cats but the neighbor has some real problems in that area. I am sure there are plenty of rats around my place that cats could deal with if they so wanted.

I am so happy that Roxy has been good with the chickens, though she likes to cold nose them.
I am about to get rid of some Guineas if they do not stop harassing my chickens though. I caught the free range flock of Guineas chasing my big blue Marans roo around. Before I got to them they had penned him against the tractor and were tearing at him. I won;t tolerate that nonsense when there is plenty of room for them to raom and there are plenty of girls to breed but even after getting them off that huge sweet roo they went after the hens in a hateful way.
We may be getting a chance to taste that Guinea meat that Heidie described!

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

LOL I know what you mean when you say "alpha dog"! Same here in this house.
When Samantha put up the game on FB about the 3rd letter in your name I did say Yawning but DD said it should have been Yelling!

I would not have a dog if it killed my chickens either or a cat. I have gotten rid of a few cats that thought they were hungry enough to go after chicks. They weren't my cats but the neighbor has some real problems in that area. I am sure there are plenty of rats around my place that cats could deal with if they so wanted.

I am so happy that Roxy has been good with the chickens, though she likes to cold nose them.
I am about to get rid of some Guineas if they do not stop harassing my chickens though. I caught the free range flock of Guineas chasing my big blue Marans roo around. Before I got to them they had penned him against the tractor and were tearing at him. I won;t tolerate that nonsense when there is plenty of room for them to raom and there are plenty of girls to breed but even after getting them off that huge sweet roo they went after the hens in a hateful way.
We may be getting a chance to taste that Guinea meat that Heidie described!

LOL Mine were doing that. They seem to be territorial birds. They had chased my three EE roos out of the yard...to the woods! would not let them in the yard at all. Nicole couldn't even get those boys to come back.

They have their own territory now. I feed the guineas & turkeys...and the roos in a different place. Sometimes I have to stand guard cause the guineas will try to run them off and eat that too!

Neighbors coonhound was loose this morning. Just a little bit ago.....

I was "napping" on the couch....I wondered why my dog was growling and barking....she rarely does it.....and I noticed the guineas weren't just calling,,,,they were in an uproar....

Guess who was trying to run neighbor's dog off..........the guineas!
They were running in a circle...one would break loose and run at the dog...then join the circle again... and another would do it. It was hilarious.

Luckily, she doesn't bother anything...just likes to chase the birds and "tree" them. She has been seeing them wander all over both our yards since she was a pup

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have a big jar of real honey I got in Nov hid back...but not from Mary...I am hoping she will have me a jar of creamed to try in Newnan! Amy was going to tell her today for me!! LOl BUT HEY MARY...I WANT SOME HONEY ON THE 18TH!! LOVE YA!!!!

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I did tell Mary for you and Heidi. I take care of my friends!

And as you can see I am still catching up in between chores!
Patsy, please do try both. Store bought honey is nothing like local honey and Mary's is the first that hasn't given me headaches but I have been getting the creamed honey. I have not had her regular honey yet since the creamed honey is so good.

Thank you, Mary! I love you and your good honey giving bees!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Except the chickens! LOL Those are for sale.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

ALSO.... DH has been wanting a Great Pyr for years.....

I don't.... you guys have me worried about getting one that may be difficult!

Don't get a Pyr, get a Anatolian! Less hair and possibly less of a wanderer. That is the part I hate ....the constant wandering off if they get a chance. I do not leave the gate open unless the dog is chained up.
I believe Pyrs are great LGDs and are easily trained to do their job but they just think 200 acres is what they have to guard! Kidding! But you get the idea.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Don't get a Pyr, get a Anatolian! Less hair and possibly less of a wanderer. That is the part I hate ....the constant wandering off if they get a chance. I do not leave the gate open unless the dog is chained up.
I believe Pyrs are great LGDs and are easily trained to do their job but they just think 200 acres is what they have to guard! Kidding! But you get the idea.

I am in NO RUSH to add another dog. ... We have enough!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
We had some Boston Terriers that would kill my cats and I got rid of them. No use keeping a dog tied up all it's life or penned when it wanted to be out running and playing. I sold several nice Boston Terriers to homes (some were Champions we had shown to victory) that did not have cats so they had a family to love and nothing to break someone's heart.
I also had a Doberman that was a rescue from several abusive homes and she was a cat killer so she also was placed in a home that had no cats or small furry friends.
Some rescues are great, others are rescues for a reason.

But I know what you mean about dogs knowing what you say. I had one Doberman that I rescued from the pound that was superb! He didn't know how to even walk on a leash when I got him but a few months afterwards I trained him and took him on to get his CDX. He was super smart and wanted to please me. I miss the old fella. Another cancer victim.

It is not a good idea that I know Kris. It has put thoughts into my head!

Again.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I will confess I cannot get DD's boxer to stop CHASING everything that moves in the back yard!

But....but....he just wants to lick them! Just like his mommy! Catch them, hold them, love them! He just hasn't figured out how to do it yet! At least he doesn't kill them.
Ooooohhhhh, Nicole....teach Seeley how to be gentle. You teach all the other animals everything.
Even Gil knows how to read! Geez!

 

[dixiebeast]

Thanks Amy and Mary...I cant wait to try the creamed honey and it looks like I will be picking mom up some too!!

I did tell Mary for you and Heidi. I take care of my friends!

And as you can see I am still catching up in between chores!
Patsy, please do try both. Store bought honey is nothing like local honey and Mary's is the first that hasn't given me headaches but I have been getting the creamed honey. I have not had her regular honey yet since the creamed honey is so good.

Thank you, Mary! I love you and your good honey giving bees!