The Old Folks Home

[perchie.girl]

Deb, our landraces would work for you too from the predator aspect, although I don't know if their small combs are too well suited for the heat.

Small combs are fine... We do get cold enough to freeze combs. My Wellie Roos lost at least three points each their first winter.

Sumatras are surprisingly adaptable. Even thought they originate in the Islands of Sumatra There is a fellow here on BYC that has them in New Jersey. He rescued a whole flock that had gone feral. They had invaded his small town and the town council had decided to hunt them down and kill them. He got permission and swoooped in and caught them all and relocated them to his farm which is about sixty acres.

Those guys were living and foraging in a very cold winter climate. Roosting in trees for protection at night. They had newly hatched chicks out and scratching in the yard with snow on the ground. But What me impressed is when he brought them in he never tried to breed them to any kind of SOP. So they remained as Sumatras should be.... Semi Feral. Incredible fliers and foragers and breeding super chicks that are super hearty.

deb

 

[Cynthia12]

Bwahahahah.... Like em both and where did you find them?

deb

deb

I google, scratching head smiley photos.
You can google anything, including high fives. If you want this type, make sure you type in smiley..or you will get people scratching their heads, people giving high fives..........

 

[Cynthia12]

Happy for Maddy and the family. There's No Place Like Home!

 

[vehve]

Deb, that sounds like a cool flock. Our Finnish landraces are pretty god flyers too, they easily fly up on the coop, and I've seen them cover 50 feet in the air, taking more air in the middle of flight. Only downside is that so far the egg size is a bit on the small side (approaching 40g at 8 months of age), but they are pretty active layers, about 6-7 eggs per week. Pretty birds too. These are probably not easily found on that side of the pond, but I'm thinking Swedish Flower hens are pretty close to these.

 

[tnspursfan09]

Well, no home yet. Dr. Kelly wants to see her Wednesday so we'll stay in the hotel till then. Right now we are going to Ihop.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: That is good that some people can use them, I sure wanted to. I even tried making more and larger holes but the water still was to hot.
I know the heat can kill them and it is horrible! I had a pullet hollering and groaning in the coop so loud one day last week that I knew when I saw her she was to hot to move. So I opened the door and hosed them all down to cool them off! I felt she would have died if I hadn't.
Man if it were be I would try to use a hose with the sprinkler holes in it or make on and put a fan behind it! That would mist all the birds and keep them cool! Or make one of those ice chest coolers with a fan. (the red neck a/c). lol But what ever works!

 

[chickadoodles]

Happy for Maddy and the family. There's No Place Like Home!

x2

 

[perchie.girl]

Deb, that sounds like a cool flock. Our Finnish landraces are pretty god flyers too, they easily fly up on the coop, and I've seen them cover 50 feet in the air, taking more air in the middle of flight. Only downside is that so far the egg size is a bit on the small side (approaching 40g at 8 months of age), but they are pretty active layers, about 6-7 eggs per week. Pretty birds too. These are probably not easily found on that side of the pond, but I'm thinking Swedish Flower hens are pretty close to these.

Nice.... Love how strong they look and how their flight is purposeful looking not frantic. My last big flock of Mutts were like this. Smallish with some game in them Not quite bantams not quite large fowl. Varying in colors too. Some even layed blue eggs so I know there was Americana influence in there.

I would love some Swedish flower hens. there are a couple of breeders here as well as Bresse and a plethora of blue egg layers. There is one gal who bought straight from Greenfire farms so she started a bunch of other breeders here.

But I just want to raise Guineas because of many different market angles. From hatching eggs to Keets and even adults. People buy them for insect control and predator assistance. I had my little five Guinea flock Escort a coyote off my property once, Charging and squawking and pecking at him the whole way... They also let you know when someone is on your property... A plus living so close to the border.,

Since Guineas historically have a bad rep for hatching and raising Keets I want the Sumatra's because the hens are ferocious brooders that go broody at the drop of a hat. They are also active enough to keep up with Guinea Keets. Guinea Keets can fly by the time they are about two weeks old and would be up on the roost with momma in no time.

Also Guinea Feathers have a market for Fly tiers and artists. Whole pelts have a more lucrative market sometimes fetching twice what a live bird is worth. Depending on the coloration. So I get the meat for dinner and sell the pelt... properly cured and preserved... just a teeny little bit of taxidermy skills needed for that.

For what its worth Chicken pelts Properly preserved are good money too to fly tiers.

I am planning for the eventual time I will be living on my own property alone. Fixed income and a need to provide for myself with food. So Selling Guineas in many forms... Eggs.... I might even give balute production a try with some runner ducks...

The localvore movement has just started here in the county... Poultry I can do.... Gardening I cant except maybe for my own veggies in an Aquaponics setup Oh and fish too.

Wow I wrote abook..

deb

 

[Alaskan]

 
Well, here it is then. The Cold Folks Home.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/921630/the-cold-folks-home

I don't qualify, yet. It was 68 and muggy last night. Way too hot and sticky for sleep.

It was cold enough last night that I closed the windows..... The leaves are starting to change.

 

[LindaB220]

That is good that some people can use them, I sure wanted to. I even tried making more and larger holes but the water still was to hot.
I know the heat can kill them and it is horrible! I had a pullet hollering and groaning in the coop so loud one day last week that I knew when I saw her she was to hot to move. So I opened the door and hosed them all down to cool them off! I felt she would have died if I hadn't.
Man if it were be I would try to use a hose with the sprinkler holes in it or make on and put a fan behind it! That would mist all the birds and keep them cool! Or make one of those ice chest coolers with a fan. (the red neck a/c). lol But what ever works!

I've actually bought one of the tiny pink fans to make it. I have the styrofoam to cut into pieces. Just need to find time.