The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Penny Hen]

Hubby was asking me the other day "would a hen raise keets better?" Not that I use broodies but was an interesting question. I know guinea are not the best moms..... I would never let them brood keets.

I have lost 4 big guinea this year.... didn't lose any last year except to the dog. They fought and I lost 2, one we found the other day in the middle of the drive and had a cut on the back of its neck and gut was cut open and some organs missing.

I hope the guinea keep snakes down. Look what my son found while he was cutting trees the other day. It was near his foot and he dropped the HOT chainsaw on its head. It was still alive but the head was not moving. He finally got his lawn mover working and is clearing the hill so he can get through there with the mower to try to keep these kinda thinks at bay. That is the same area he ran over a Rattler last year. I need to buy about 400 of those snakes that eat these and let them lose all over the farm where we live and work.

Or get a pair of mini pigs. They will eat them right up and not grow monstrous like regular pigs.

 

[Penny Hen]

Hum that is not good. Maybe we need a fence. We have stuff for an electric fence but no electricity near the garden.

Premier makes a really good solar charger.

 

[DMRippy]

Me too! I have never wanted guineas before, but already the ticks are making me crazy! I found two on my Saturday after working in my flower beds. Arg. I hate the little suckers.

So I live close to the road. Across from me is a park/baseball field. Will the guineas get in the road and will they mess up the ball field? I don't want to annoy the neighbors. We have coyotes and assorted predators as well. Do your guineas go back into a coop at night or do they roost in the trees?

For a LONG time mine would go back in the run at night. I have 5 dom older males that started bulling the younger ones and NOBODY could get past the boys to get in the run so they started roosting in trees. If you train them to where home is they will go back usually. They are starting to go in now that the bullies are gone.

Set 48 guinea eggs YESTERDAY! 25 days they should be out..... I think that is right... they hatch early if I remember correctly.

 

[Penny Hen]

Well the chicken train leaves tonight meeting Donna Amanda dmrippy on the way back home.. lots of chickens. If you would like to purchase any of our chicks or chickens and would want to meet us on our way we would be glad to bring some more. Also some hatching eggs available to.

What is the route the chicken train taking?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
She/He maybe on the road already. They are in Johnson city and Driving up through KY, OH and then to IN. Same route on the way back but they are stopping in Knoxville to meet me.

I am going to Chattanooga to pick up some SPECIAL CHICKS and then we will head over to knoxville, then I will stop near livingston/sparta area to deliver eggs (SHHHHHHH don't tell that!!!!! I don't USUALLY deliver eggs like that, just trying to save her a trip to Nashville if I can). I am in for a surprise when I meet TNBC because I don't really know what I am getting LOL.

Y'all have fun at the show..... I hope you guys can find each other ok. I have not seen anyone mention a meeting place..... sorry I can't go but I didn't have many choices on what day I could pick up the chicks and then TNBC is helping me out too so CHICKENS CALLED.

 

[Raven1]

Or get a pair of mini pigs. They will eat them right up and not grow monstrous like regular pigs.

That is a great idea! Of course I have baby mini piggies for sale right now too! Should only be about 35-40 lbs. when fully grown.

 

[Penny Hen]

She/He maybe on the road already. They are in Johnson city and Driving up through KY, OH and then to IN. Same route on the way back but they are stopping in Knoxville to meet me.

I am going to Chattanooga to pick up some SPECIAL CHICKS and then we will head over to knoxville, then I will stop near livingston/sparta area to deliver eggs (SHHHHHHH don't tell that!!!!! I don't USUALLY deliver eggs like that, just trying to save her a trip to Nashville if I can). I am in for a surprise when I meet TNBC because I don't really know what I am getting LOL.

Y'all have fun at the show..... I hope you guys can find each other ok. I have not seen anyone mention a meeting place..... sorry I can't go but I didn't have many choices on what day I could pick up the chicks and then TNBC is helping me out too so CHICKENS CALLED.

Well we all know about heeding the call of the chickens.

It looks like I am not making it. The lady that planned to go with me (and be the driver) didn't get back to me. She was moving up from Florida to a farm on the other side of Millersville from me. It was supposed to be 100% done in March but we all know that moves never go as planned. I was to be her navigator since she doesn't know the area. She does want to come an see your chickens though so when she finally gets settled we may be making a run your way.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:

NO! lol

 

[Penny Hen]

That is a great idea! Of course I have baby mini piggies for sale right now too! Should only be about 35-40 lbs. when fully grown.

About 12 years ago someone dumped a pair of juvenal mini pigs in our area. They made there way to our farm. I saw them walking down the street and turn into my drive. They looked the place over and decided to stay. Now I am just in the city limits but because of hilly fragile terrain (not city limits) am zoned against pigs. Well I was also run over with poisonous snake. It doesn't have venom but it's bite infects with a bacteria. Looks like you crossed a garter snake with a water moccasin. The yellow and black pattern are similar but like it was drawn in colored chalk and then smudged. The head is triangular but not as broad as a venom snake. So I was happy to see the pigs.

They turned my compost heap for me! They ate the japenese beetle grubs that I was overrun with! So it wasn't long before the codes man came out to tell me to get rid of the pigs. I explained they weren't mine but had been dumped. He said, "Well you can't feed them!" "I don't I replied." "Well what do they eat then?" "Snakes, grubs, the hickory nuts from seven trees on the hill, acorns from the oaks." I didn't mention that they raided my compost heap. That might be considered feeding them. "Well you have to get rid of them!" "Hey, I tried to catch them. The female had been bitten by a dog and I was going to doctor her. No good. I can't catch them." So he calls the dog catcher to see if they will come and catch them. I couldn't hear what was said on the other side of his cell phone but I got them impression that it was laughter and a "No!" So they got to stay for a couple of years until the old man who was a tenant on our land felt sorry for them one winter and tamed them and got them to let him lock them in his shed. I told him don't do it. The city will just come and make you get rid of them but he wouldn't listen. So that spring they did just as I told him they would.

But If I ever move to a place that doesn't have the restrictions I will get a pair of mini pigs again. There are so many tasks that are labor intensive (like turning the compost heap) that they are so good at. There small size keeps them from being a danger to people and from overgrowing their resources. They are intellogent and amusing (ask me about the flying pig story). You will have to use electricity or a very structural fence to keep them out of the garden. But when you are done for the season you can turn them into it and they will dig through turning it over, aerating the soil and eating the harmful grubs. Throw down some straw and your compost before turning them in and they will thoroughly mix it up turning it into light fluffy planting soil. The same can be done in a coop if you are wanting the soil turned. Throw some corn down first before putting the straw in and they will mix it up. I would leave a coops door open though because little as they are they are powerful enough to damage most coop structures. The will need the door open so they can leave when they want to or they may make a door. They can be a very valuable farm partner. I do miss the guys I used to have even though they were not hand raised or tame like mini pigs can be.

 

[JW12]

If the chicken train comes through Knoxville and you want to kill a little time, stop by turkey creek and say hi ( long shot I know ).i am a manager of a store there. I will be working seems like I am always working lol. I would love to meet some of the people on this board and put faces with names.