Texas

[sm2teach]

Looks like one of my Easter Eggers joined in the fun!

Those are some pretty eggs!

 

[back2simplelife]

Sorry I have been away for this board what feels like forever and struggling to catch back up! Lots of new faces.. a lil late but welcome! Hope all is well with everyone!

 

[LBejaran]

There were a lot of Hispanic girls at my daughter's high school, and she got to where she was very down on the whole idea. She said the parents spent a fortune on the parties that the girls didn't really appreciate. She felt the money would have been better spent on their education instead. Hardly any of the girls were virgins anymore, anyway, she said, and the parents really couldn't afford the lavish amounts they spent. They got really out of hand.

It always seemed very overblown and the girls who had the parties were snooty little brats who didn't appreciate the time and money that went into making this celebration happen. Your daughter must have a good head on her shoulders.

 

[Brookshire11]

Anyone near Waxahachie to Dallas have any day old chicks for sale? My first time broody has hatched 1 out of 2 chicks so far (still sitting on 2nd egg). I am new to this as is the momma. She is doing great but worried about 1 lonely little chick when they go in to the flock. Heard mom will eventually roost and chick will sleep on floor..so I was think the chick needs a couple of friends lol.

Thanks
~ Nicole

Check Out the Ellis County Poultry Buy Sell Swap page on Facebook!
There are a decent amount of breeders on there. I think Neely Ranch is in Waxahachie and I've heard good things

Hey everyone! I just keep on disappearing from this thread, haha! Here's an update on what's been going on:

Ever since I came home from Austin, I've been on a roll. First, we started with the broodies and gave them Muscovy eggs, mystery duck eggs, and any hidden nests we came across. I also was given a Dutch Bantam duo (I was prepared for pay for them, but the lady was actually just wanting them to go to a good home because her hometown was just barely enforcing the laws banning backyard chickens) that have been taking care of a 3 feed store chicks.

We hatched out about 11 chicks but we've lost several. Several of the eggs were from pullets, so I'm pretty sure that they just weren't strong enough. The other chicks came from some of my older hens and they have been flourishing. Of course, the one time I actively try and avoid Naked Neck eggs is the time we end up with more than half of the chicks being NN, haha!

Out of the dozen duck eggs we had, only seven hatched. Unfortunately, we lost two of the mystery breeds to weakness (they weren't very strong from the get-go), one to the neighbor's young puppy, and another one disappeared out of it's pen. I don't know how (that thing is everything-proof. A mouse couldn't even find a way in there, so I don't know how that baby got out!), but we ended up with only 3 ducklings. One is a mystery duckling (I have no idea what it is) and the other two are muscovy ducklings with tuxedo coloring.

When I came back from Austin, Dad took me to my favorite chick guy and he sold me a "muscovy" duckling. I'm pretty sure he was mistaken because this male muscovy duckling is starting to look a heck of a lot like a female mallard.

The last time Nivia and I went duckling hunting, we bought three ducklings, thinking we'd be getting at least one male because that is how it always goes when we buy chickens. Well, we ended up with 3 females (one Blue Swedish and two mallards). I swear, this is either a miracle or a curse. I kinda need a male mallard-breed duck, haha! All I have is Che and he's a gimpy Indian Runner who can barely walk straight. He can only breed properly in a pool.

Earlier this week, Mom and I went to one of our favorite farm and feed stores in Donna. There, for the first time ever, I saw that they had two muscovy males! For $15, we picked up the bigger male and he has been sweet on my female muscovy ever since.

Mom just bought me an incubator this week, too, so we have been collecting Australorp eggs for the past couple days. Hopefully they'll be only Australorp chicks and not a weird mix, haha! We also made an investment and bought seven eggs from a local rancher and friend of mine: 3 Silkie eggs and 4 Class A Silkie Serama eggs. These Silkie Serama eggs were $5 apiece and though it was pricey, the breeding stock was beautiful and I know that they are one of those breeds that you should invest in if you hope to have them in the future. The Silkie eggs were significantly cheaper ($1 apiece) and I'm hoping to be able to hatch them out successfully. We'll see what happens after that.

Mom also expressed to me the desire to start a business. We have no experience, but she wants to sell plus size clothing because of how hard it is to find clothing that fits me and girls my size. Oh, and plus size prom dresses! Loads of girls here can't go to prom because they can't afford an appropriate dress for prom that will fit them. So now I'm gonna plaster myself up and make a dress form to work with. We just bought an old wedding dress today that we are going to try and revamp. Surprising, for such a beautiful dress, it only cost us $5 at the Salvation Army. I don't think it'll take much to make it prettier, though, haha! Between sharpening up my sewing skills and learning how to reupholster chairs and raising chicks/ducklings/goslings and trying to get some yard work done and planning for my little brother's late graduation party and trying to make grass grow faster in the dirt-spots all over the yard, there is a lot going on here.
So yeah, that's the story! As you can see, I've been lazing around.

Busy Busy!

I had a very bad day yesterday. When I went out in the morning I found one of my original Welsh Harlequin ducks with a prolapsed vent. She was my only golden phase Welshie. I know she was fine the night before. I brought her in and put her in a warm bath to clean her off, and she was bleeding from her vent. I called every vet in three counties trying to find one who might treat her, and finally found one in Lufkin. My daughter took her but the news was not good. The vet said it might be possible to save her, but the cost would be astronomical and she was not even a show quality duck. I thought I was going to have to put her down, but she died on the way home. So, RIP Joy.

I'm so sorry....I know that's hard. I'm sure she was a wonderful girl. RIP Joy

I have seen some of the eggs you paint so I know you are an artist. Just the other day I saw a story on Yahoo about a girl who bought a wedding dress at a thrift store and painted it herself for her prom dress. She painted a version of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" on the whole dress. Here's the pictures. I bet you could do something similar either to dresses you find at thrift stores or ones you and your mom make. They would be totally original works of art that girls would be happy to pay for. I know what some of those quincenera dresses go for, so I know they will spend the money.

You are a go-getter, so go for it!

That's such a creative idea! Good for her!!!
It's beautiful...

 

[mi2bugz]

Check Out the Ellis County Poultry Buy Sell Swap page on Facebook!
There are a decent amount of breeders on there. I think Neely Ranch is in Waxahachie and I've heard good things

Thank you! Never knew it was even there! Request sent to join group!

 

[Brookshire11]

Thank you! Never knew it was even there! Request sent to join group!

It's the only way I rehomed 2 roos! lol
I'm a little north, but since it IS an Ellis County group, I drive a bit.
There may also be a farm & garden page.
I know there's one for Collin County, but I'm not sure about Ellis

 

[wday]

They are fairly loud...unless your neighbors are a couple acres, or more, away from you, they will hear them.  They are messy, which means you to need to clean up after them often, and clean their swimming pools daily/weekly (depending on how many you have).  I only had mine 3 weeks before I sold them to @Starfire669
...I don't know much beyond what I've written here.

I believe Muscovy ducks are quack less aren't they??? But yes all ducks very messy..

 

[RustedOak]

Would you leave it? I would lol (not my image btw)

 

[LightningTFarm]

It always seemed very overblown and the girls who had the parties were snooty little brats who didn't appreciate the time and money that went into making this celebration happen. Your daughter must have a good head on her shoulders.

My daughter has always had a good head on her shoulders, and I'm very proud of her. She has never wanted clothes just because of the label on them, as so many of her high-school classmates did. She loves to shop and thrift stores and is very proud to score a great bargain. I taught her that!

 

[Brookshire11]

Would you leave it? I would lol (not my image btw)

Totally! lol

My daughter has always had a good head on her shoulders, and I'm very proud of her. She has never wanted clothes just because of the label on them, as so many of her high-school classmates did. She loves to shop and thrift stores and is very proud to score a great bargain. I taught her that!

Smart girl! I'm like that myself! Lol. Good life lesson, plus how could someone NOT love saving money AND still look cute?