South Carolina

[RedBugPoultry]

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!!

Sounds like a much better deal--and a really great deal at that!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

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!!

 

[Lroach711]

Well, my internet connection hasn't been working the past few days so I have been MIA on here.

Samantha: congrats on finding some birds! so exciting!

Kris/Robert: I'm so glad y'all have found you a trio! That's great news!

I'm really getting discouraged by my little d'Anvers. Maybe I'm being super paranoid since I lost my one hen, but I think something's wrong with the rooster now. I'm contemplating moving the pair I have left into another pen. I swear the tractor they are in must be the "tractor of death." My husband said he's about ready to burn the thing...but we have probably between $75 and $100 worth of materials in it. I COMPLETELY bleached the thing and cleaned it well before putting my d'Anvers in it, but I'm starting to wonder if they could have coccidia. The remaining girl is super happy and healthy. But the boy is starting to act weak. He wont get up on the roost at night now. He still struts around and crows and all. But I just have this gut feeling something's wrong. I'm going to run a fecal tomorrow at work so I can either confirm my suspicions or become even more confused. Maybe he's fine...i don't know. I love those little babies...and I really really want to get a good start with them. But so far I've had nothing but trouble. And STILL no eggs at all from them. I guess I'm just very frustrated. The thing is, all my other chickens are super healthy. Aside from getting lice once, I have had zero problems. They all lay eggs like crazy and are fat and happy. ughhh...hopefully I'll have some answers tomorrow.

 

[dixiebeast]

I went out this morn to find my white Duccle hen covered in red blood....and the white roo on roost with a nasty comb!! He must have splattered her when he decided to fight through the wire with Punkin today...Punkin has blood on his beak!! I put a board up between the 2 sides(i have never had trouble with them fighting through the wire) and as soon as it was up smart butt white roo gets down and starts smack talking at the board!! LOL

And I have to say that Beau proved himself 2 times today...my baby billy made a break for it past us out the gate today and I was worried when Beau chased and DID NOT call off...but all he did was get behind billy and ran him back in fence and laid at the gate?! Natural herding!!! Then he tried to kill the strange cat that came up today...it was a way different attitude than his play chasing of our cats who he sleeps with at night!! So I got herding and protecting out of a 18-19 week old pup!! Right now he is out under the big bush hanging with the hens!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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.

I love talking birds. Wish I could get on here more. I just shipped out a bunch of boxes again so now I have a few minutes to catch up.

Thanks, Heidi!
Neat to hear about the horns being bigger. There are a few folks that have had Guineas for years that seem unable to tell theirs apart except for the call. I am sure there are other ways and as I get to slow down some and watch my birds (that is, after all, the reason I started with them! Enjoyment, not work!) I realize I can tell them apart. It took me a while to see what Kris and Robert were telling me about their backs but now I get it.
And they have had theirs about the same amount of time I have had mine. I, unfortunately, had way too many birds last year and did not get to notice all that I would have liked about them. This year I vow to make it different and excel in the few I retain.

Now I have not noticed them walking a certain way but will try to be more observant. The Pearls that are meandering around the farm are just too difficult to tell much about. They are everywhere now that the bugs are out. One lady, probably the one from Joy, has been looking for a nesting spot.

I will study them more and see what I can notice. The ones in the pens are easier but if they see me they get excited to be fed treats and I have made them obnoxious....okay, more obnoxious (I heard that, Robert!) than they already are!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I went out this morn to find my white Duccle hen covered in red blood....and the white roo on roost with a nasty comb!! He must have splattered her when he decided to fight through the wire with Punkin today...Punkin has blood on his beak!! I put a board up between the 2 sides(i have never had trouble with them fighting through the wire) and as soon as it was up smart butt white roo gets down and starts smack talking at the board!! LOL

And I have to say that Beau proved himself 2 times today...my baby billy made a break for it past us out the gate today and I was worried when Beau chased and DID NOT call off...but all he did was get behind billy and ran him back in fence and laid at the gate?! Natural herding!!! Then he tried to kill the strange cat that came up today...it was a way different attitude than his play chasing of our cats who he sleeps with at night!! So I got herding and protecting out of a 18-19 week old pup!! Right now he is out under the big bush hanging with the hens!!

I have a Porcelain that was fighting with another in the pen but that has stopped now that she shipped out. Breeding season brings out all those hormonal tendencies.

Yay on your Pup!!!! Beau sounds awesome!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Well, my internet connection hasn't been working the past few days so I have been MIA on here.

Samantha: congrats on finding some birds! so exciting!

Kris/Robert: I'm so glad y'all have found you a trio! That's great news!

I'm really getting discouraged by my little d'Anvers. Maybe I'm being super paranoid since I lost my one hen, but I think something's wrong with the rooster now. I'm contemplating moving the pair I have left into another pen. I swear the tractor they are in must be the "tractor of death." My husband said he's about ready to burn the thing...but we have probably between $75 and $100 worth of materials in it. I COMPLETELY bleached the thing and cleaned it well before putting my d'Anvers in it, but I'm starting to wonder if they could have coccidia. The remaining girl is super happy and healthy. But the boy is starting to act weak. He wont get up on the roost at night now. He still struts around and crows and all. But I just have this gut feeling something's wrong. I'm going to run a fecal tomorrow at work so I can either confirm my suspicions or become even more confused. Maybe he's fine...i don't know. I love those little babies...and I really really want to get a good start with them. But so far I've had nothing but trouble. And STILL no eggs at all from them. I guess I'm just very frustrated. The thing is, all my other chickens are super healthy. Aside from getting lice once, I have had zero problems. They all lay eggs like crazy and are fat and happy. ughhh...hopefully I'll have some answers tomorrow.

I so hope this is not an ongoing thing and you can get it squared away quickly! I know how much you love those birds and Had hoped to see you and Kris be able to share some later on!

 

[Joycats]

I love talking birds. Wish I could get on here more. I just shipped out a bunch of boxes again so now I have a few minutes to catch up.

Thanks, Heidi!
Neat to hear about the horns being bigger. There are a few folks that have had Guineas for years that seem unable to tell theirs apart except for the call. I am sure there are other ways and as I get to slow down some and watch my birds (that is, after all, the reason I started with them! Enjoyment, not work!) I realize I can tell them apart. It took me a while to see what Kris and Robert were telling me about their backs but now I get it.
And they have had theirs about the same amount of time I have had mine. I, unfortunately, had way too many birds last year and did not get to notice all that I would have liked about them. This year I vow to make it different and excel in the few I retain.

Now I have not noticed them walking a certain way but will try to be more observant. The Pearls that are meandering around the farm are just too difficult to tell much about. They are everywhere now that the bugs are out. One lady, probably the one from Joy, has been looking for a nesting spot.

I will study them more and see what I can notice. The ones in the pens are easier but if they see me they get excited to be fed treats and I have made them obnoxious....okay, more obnoxious (I heard that, Robert!) than they already are!

Sometimes I can tell the gender of guineas by the size of the horn or wattles and the body shape. It's easier with the older birds (at least for me) but it's not a sure thing by any means and sometimes impossible with juveniles. The call is the only "for sure" way other than seeing eggs. I like to put different colored bands on all of them and then watch and see who is doing what. If I see a hen calling, I can make a note of her band color and then I know I can find her again. Guineas are different for sure, but I LOVE mine! Still getting a few eggs daily but I see them looking for nests so it's almost time to start hatching keets. Spring is here, the wysteria smells heavenly and we've seen fireflies already. Crazy weather.

 

[dixiebeast]

I have eggs due to hatch sunday...I set the day after the Morganton show...I was workinh on moving some juvies around this weekend AFTER I finish the new grow out...well I go to start lockdown(up humidity) and all 5 of the Self Blue eggs are pipped and 3 are started zipping!!

I am not ready...all my lighted brooders are full!!!!!

 

[Patsy29332]

I have eggs due to hatch sunday...I set the day after the Morganton show...I was workinh on moving some juvies around this weekend AFTER I finish the new grow out...well I go to start lockdown(up humidity) and all 5 of the Self Blue eggs are pipped and 3 are started zipping!!

I am not ready...all my lighted brooders are full!!!!!

WOW! Fast little fuzzies...but soo pretty too! Good luck with the hatch!