Texas

[RoosterCogburn7]

I have a buckeye too who is normally pretty mellow but annoy a hen and its on. When I had to treat the flock for lice I left the coop with bloody arms. As soon as the ladies are left alone he is back to being mellow. With the predators around here I actually really like his attitude. I'll put up with the occasional nip in exchange for getting an injured predator rather than a dead chicken.

I have one of the most laid back roosters you can imagine, he doesn't attack or spur, but he does get concerned when the hens throw a fit about getting their wings clipped. However, I going to eat any mean rooster that I have, and let the rest breed. So, I have two destined for dinner at the moment. My laid back rooster is good with his girls. He clucks to let them know when food or treats are, breaks up all their fights, and calls them to himself. Lucky is a good rooster. He is going to be around until old age, or something unforeseen out of my control would happen. He makes some good EE offspring. I use the girls eggs for eating, and give the neighbor a dozen every once and awhile. Most folks could care less about EE's, Buff Orps, or PBR hens, so they are my laying birds for eating eggs. The others are for breeding. I plan on getting the NPIP this spring. The Black Copper Marans, and Blue/Splash Americanas should be in full swing by then. Late spring the Chocolate/Mottled Orps should be producing.

 

[Coopmom56]

Oh my, we almost had a disaster last night. We had been working outside on our new coop (!) and I had let the hens out to range while we were out there. We were having company and were in the house getting ready. I forgot to tell Mr. Coopmom that they were still out when the guests arrived and he let our dogs out without my knowledge - much excitement ensued. When we heard the commotion, I stepped outside just in time to catch Agatha (hen) being chased around the corner of the deck by the dogs. Needless to say, dogs went inside with much scolding and Agatha went back to the coop. The other three hens were huddled up in the corner of the yard on the compost pile. Whew! That was scary. My husband felt so bad and my guests got a bit of entertainment.

In other news, 3 out of the four are laying now - 3 eggs yesterday, before the chase.

 

[bdfive]

I think I introduced myself but if not we live in Spring Branch between Bulverde and Blanco, TX. We have 2 Miniature Australian dogs, 2 outside cats and a flock of peafowl. Also Gracie & Gunther, our 2 six month old Black Australian swans I hatched.

Have any of you with waterfowl found a good water source for your birds to swim in? I'm presently using the large kiddie pool but looking for a large water trough with a drain on the bottom which I know doesn't exist. Drains are down low on a side but not low enough to hose out all the muck. Any suggestions?

I think it's stated on unitedpeafowlassociation.org there are over 160 different color variations of peafowl (peacocks). I have India Blue, Pied, Silver Pied, Cameo and White. Also have 3 of the Green species, 1 male and 2 females.

 

[needlessjunk]

I think I introduced myself but if not we live in Spring Branch between Bulverde and Blanco, TX. We have 2 Miniature Australian dogs, 2 outside cats and a flock of peafowl. Also Gracie & Gunther, our 2 six month old Black Australian swans I hatched.

Have any of you with waterfowl found a good water source for your birds to swim in? I'm presently using the large kiddie pool but looking for a large water trough with a drain on the bottom which I know doesn't exist. Drains are down low on a side but not low enough to hose out all the muck. Any suggestions?

I think it's stated on unitedpeafowlassociation.org there are over 160 different color variations of peafowl (peacocks). I have India Blue, Pied, Silver Pied, Cameo and White. Also have 3 of the Green species, 1 male and 2 females.

Welcome, I'm in Round Rock and have ducks. I use a 60 gal water trough for our pool. It does not have a drain and it is just big and sturdy enough to tip to dump it. They make really large water troughs that you would have to drain and then dump to clean out the muck. I know nothing about swans and I don't know how much water they need. I was under the impression they need lots of water and room.

 

[1FlewOver]

I think I introduced myself but if not we live in Spring Branch between Bulverde and Blanco, TX. We have 2 Miniature Australian dogs, 2 outside cats and a flock of peafowl. Also Gracie & Gunther, our 2 six month old Black Australian swans I hatched.

Have any of you with waterfowl found a good water source for your birds to swim in? I'm presently using the large kiddie pool but looking for a large water trough with a drain on the bottom which I know doesn't exist. Drains are down low on a side but not low enough to hose out all the muck. Any suggestions?

I think it's stated on unitedpeafowlassociation.org there are over 160 different color variations of peafowl (peacocks). I have India Blue, Pied, Silver Pied, Cameo and White. Also have 3 of the Green species, 1 male and 2 females.

Get one without a drain....and install your own.

Quick story....I was working in a house and heard someone tapping on a window....but I didn't see anyone around.....finally, I spotted the source. There was a moth bumping the glass inside the house....on the outside....was a frustrated peacock who couldn't figure out why this moth was so hard to catch! !!!

 

[bdfive]

Welcome, I'm in Round Rock and have ducks. I use a 60 gal water trough for our pool. It does not have a drain and it is just big and sturdy enough to tip to dump it. They make really large water troughs that you would have to drain and then dump to clean out the muck. I know nothing about swans and I don't know how much water they need. I was under the impression they need lots of water and room.

A woman in Canada that raises Blk Aussie swans shared a lot of information with me. She says botulism is a serious threat to swans. They eat their food in water therefore some left behind can spoil. They only use large kiddie pools changing water often. She's posted a bunch of pictures on backyardchickens. Her swans look healthy, happy and well cared for. I'll mostly use the large 100 gallon kiddie pools but would like something with a bottom drain. Also want a huge trough for them to use once in a while but again it needs a bottom drain. Unfortunately swans on large bodies of water are often killed by predators. Especially the females making nests on land. I know 2 people looking for females. My pair will have a large yard for day use and a large predator proof habitat to stay in nights. They are now in a 8 by 28 foot totally enclosed aviary 9 feet high. Do you worm your ducks? Thanks.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I think I introduced myself but if not we live in Spring Branch between Bulverde and Blanco, TX. We have 2 Miniature Australian dogs, 2 outside cats and a flock of peafowl. Also Gracie & Gunther, our 2 six month old Black Australian swans I hatched.

Have any of you with waterfowl found a good water source for your birds to swim in? I'm presently using the large kiddie pool but looking for a large water trough with a drain on the bottom which I know doesn't exist. Drains are down low on a side but not low enough to hose out all the muck. Any suggestions?

I think it's stated on unitedpeafowlassociation.org there are over 160 different color variations of peafowl (peacocks). I have India Blue, Pied, Silver Pied, Cameo and White. Also have 3 of the Green species, 1 male and 2 females.

I would love to have peacocks, but I can not in my neighborhood. Lucky to have chickens. You need to show us pics. We love pics.

 

[bdfive]

I would love to have peacocks, but I can not in my neighborhood. Lucky to have chickens. You need to show us pics. We love pics.

I'd love to post pictures but tried a long while back and don't have the tool bar to do it. I tried solving the problem but couldn't. We're trying to move from computer with Vista to a new one with Windows 7 but really having a hard time figuring it out.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

I would love to have peacocks, but I can not in my neighborhood. Lucky to have chickens. You need to show us pics. We love pics.

I never liked Peacocks because of their call. It always sounds like a woman yelling "Help! Help!" which could cause all sorts of confusion/problems.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I never liked Peacocks because of their call.  It always sounds like a woman yelling "Help! Help!" which could cause all sorts of confusion/problems.

That's true, but you get use to it. I remember hearing them as a child from a neighbor's. Currently live near neighbors with donkeys. At first their braying scared the crap out of me.