The Old Folks Home

[miss heny]

 

[perchie.girl]

I'm just masochistic enough that guineas sound like they would be right up my alley. No kidding. DH and I were driving down the highway that is near our farm one day, crested a hill and I swear there was a flock of about 50 guineas marching down the road, covering my whole lane. I slammed on the brakes and just kept from slamming into them. We spent the next half mile creeping after them watching them try to decide which way they wanted to go, left, right, straight. They finally decided to go down into the ditch letting traffic pass. I think my husband asked me if they were nuts and I told them, no, they were Guineas and at that moment I started considering getting some of my own little psychotic birds. I admire animals that march to the beat of their own drummer.

How do they do with dogs?

they do well with animals they have been raised with... My little flock of five actually escorted a coyote off the premisis once.... Squacking at him and lunging with their beaks... Feathers up in back and little running charges... the coyote kept out of reach but kept looking back like.... "this aint Right"


deb

 

[Wickedchicken6]

These are probably the best guineas. Aren't they cute?? I want some! They won't eat many ticks though.


The guineas we had when I was a kid were...to put it lightly...very, very wild. We went from 2 to 11 in a hurry and after wintering them one winter they were sold. Grandpa had enough of them bursting through barn windows when someone entered the barn...lol.

(I think that someone was me)

Totally agree that guineas are crazy! They need space and time to decide to go where you want them...if they're rushed they just lose their minds!

I can actually live with this. But what I really don't like about them is I find that guineas are bullies, males the worst. The chickens can be bad that way...but guineas are quicker and sneakier. If a chicken doesn't stand up to them, they'll chase it, pick it's feathers...chase it some more.

I purchased 4 keets last year but I had to separate them from the chicks...they were too aggressive. I kept them kenneled and once they were older...I let them free range with Mr. Rock. He kept them in line. The guineas were actually very easy to deal with...they came back to the kennel in the shed every night and I put them in for their safety. I had enough of them by this spring picking on the chickens and the males were fighting. And then the female laid an egg!

So she got to stay. I had tryouts and let her choose her mate from the 3 males. Thank goodness she picked the least aggressive male. I was only going to keep the pair. Really...only the pair.

The person I bought the keets from has bred strictly pearls for years. My first hatch was a porcelain male and 2 females; one royal purple (I think) and one pearl.

So how could I sell them? I didn't even know guineas came in different colors when I got them last year...lol.



First hatch of keets. The royal purple female; she's actually quite nice. She's the middle keet The white guineas I bought, with my own hatch.

I keep getting females so I keep keeping them. And then I BOUGHT 2 unrelated white keets to cross with the offspring. They're seem easier going and they have more wrinkles on their heads.
So I've got around 13 now. (yikes!) What am I doing? I don't know. They're like a gang of Hell's Angels coming through the chickens. Forrest (porcelain male) fought my new rooster, Shuster and now they have it out for him. (That was right after the turkey incident earlier on the thread...lol) Here they are chasing him away yesterday.

In another week, things should be good. Hopefully.




Beer can...the guineas I had last year were terribly noisy every time my husband or son started talking. The ones I have now...not so much. Not any noisier than the chickens.

They may start up for a quick moment but it's over as quick as it started. The hens and their

egg songs are much worse. Really.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I'm just masochistic enough that guineas sound like they would be right up my alley. No kidding. DH and I were driving down the highway that is near our farm one day, crested a hill and I swear there was a flock of about 50 guineas marching down the road, covering my whole lane. I slammed on the brakes and just kept from slamming into them. We spent the next half mile creeping after them watching them try to decide which way they wanted to go, left, right, straight. They finally decided to go down into the ditch letting traffic pass. I think my husband asked me if they were nuts and I told them, no, they were Guineas and at that moment I started considering getting some of my own little psychotic birds. I admire animals that march to the beat of their own drummer.

How do they do with dogs?

Ours do fine with the dog...and the cats...and the rabbits when I think about it.

My experience is that they don't care unless the dog after them. We had a flock of 4 a few years back, they were the most idiotic birds we ever own

...yep. This should be a guinea...not a chicken.>>>

It sums them up accurately.

Quote:
I was talking about your back and your chickens. I am so sorry for both.
Thank you for both.

That entire family of raccoons had been eradicated by the next week. That helped a bit.

And my back...I think the mental aspect of it is worse than the physical. I wasn't in the best frame of mind for the first while...but I'm in a better place about it now. Like mentioned earlier...it could always be worse.

I think about my hubby's schoolmate whose plane crashed last year and he's completely paralyzed. (in his late 40s)
Or my parents; my dad was killed in a car accident at 24, the day my Mom found out she was pregnant with me (he didn't know), my stepfather who had a heart attack and passed away at 43...or my mom at 39 finding out she had cancer a week after his funeral. She fought it until she died at 47 back in '99. She's already been gone almost 20 years. We have sheep breeder friends and the lady developed MS back in her 50s. Her and I were about the same shape 2 years ago but she'll be worse than I am now...they've retired out of the sheep.

I turn 45 next year and I'm still here...still kicking (ok, maybe not literally...lol) but I can function to get by and can look almost normal for most things if I take muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory meds...I just can't do half of the things I did before and I have to behave. (Behaving is the hardest!) But I want to still be walking and be able into my 60s.

Quote:

Hi Ravyn!!!

Ducks eat ticks? I did not know that! I don't know if this is the right farm (or if I'm the right person) for ducks.
I haven't had the best luck with ducks.

I think they deserve someone better than me.
Turkeys on the other hand...

 

[Ravynscroft]

Wicked, I ain't quoting all that, lol...

And take that back, no critter could find a better person than you to care for them... it's not about the labor, it's about the love...

Turkeys are awesome too... got a few of those as well... but yep, our yard has been tick free since the Calls took it over... still get ticks on the hill behind us but we couldn't let the ducks up there this last summer due to our previous neighbors... that'll all be different next summer, thankfully...

 

[Wickedchicken6]

sorry, my bad. If I don't quote right away, I lose the thought or the quote or both!

I don't know.

We had baby wild ducks appear last summer...they were running around our yard with no mom.
They died on me.

Animals don't usually die on me...I'm not good with that.

We're also surrounded by 3 bodies of water; the dugout where they'll be hit on the road when they cross because everyone drives so fast,

the water hole in the small cow pasture between our houses...

with poo...or the creek where they'll be swept away to you guys down south.

Border patrol be knockin' down our door for ducks crossing with no passports.

 

[Ravynscroft]

sorry, my bad. If I don't quote right away, I lose the thought or the quote or both!

I don't know. :/   We had baby wild ducks appear last summer...they were running around our yard with no mom.
They died on me.    Animals don't usually die on me...I'm not good with that.

We're also surrounded by 3 bodies of water; the dugout where they'll be hit on the road when they cross because everyone drives so fast,
the water hole in the small cow pasture between our houses...  with poo...or the creek where they'll be swept away to you guys down south. :/
Border patrol be knockin' down our door for ducks crossing with no passports.

No apologies necessary! Was just saying that was too difficult for me to navigate quoting on mobile, lol...

Awww... poor babies... but you can't blame yourself for wild orphans not making it... odds definitely weren't in their favor and no telling what issues they might have had that you couldn't see...

Duckie passports!

 

[Wisher1000]

This is what Costco has:

I can't live without my Flonase. I was devastated when it was dropped from prescriptions, as we have a drug plan and it was only $7 with a script and over $60 without. Now, I get it at Sam's. I am happy again.

I still haven't done it, still haven't had predator trouble. Do plan on running a few strands of potent electric fence around our coops and runs. It'll stop a bear should stop about anything.

You need an LGD or two. I bought a Anatolian/Pyrenees/Akbash puppy four years ago for $75 and his brother two years ago for $125. They are easy to keep, do a fine job keeping predators away, and are great intruder deterrents. They are worth their weight (216lbs, total) in gold. That purchase, my Sportsman incubator, and my Pullet-Shut auto door, are the best purchases I have made for my chicken addiction.

Today when I went out to get eggs I saw a few little critters go scurrying out of the coop through the vents even though there is welded wire over them. One of the darn things had quills that were brown and white like a hedge hog! I could not believe it, I tried to do a double take but it was gone! What the heck could it have been?

What the heck!?! I would have to get a game cam to solve that mystery.

I'm so sorry you lost a hen.

It's very frustrating.

I had purchased a quad of Silver Spangled Hamburg chicks in July.



Racoons broke the corner of the one back door, knocked the cage over and pulled the 5 month old birds through the wire. How terrible to think that's how they died. I was just sick about it.

You need an LGD, or two. I could put a hen under a laundry basket in the yard and she would be there tomorrow.

I got two emails (DS1 and friend) and a phone call (DS2) about the Chicken People movie being on CMT at 7 on Wednesday.
Just thought you'd like to know...in case you want to watch, they said.

I think my chicken addiction is showing

Did I mention that I am in the movie?

Quote:

CMT is Country Music Television. It is channel #166 on Dish. Attention all old folks --If you are not going to buy it, you really should watch tonight.

I have Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Coyote, loose dogs, Hawks, owls, Vultures, Ravens, Raccoons, Weasels, Rattle snakes, Ground squirrels, Rats Mice and voles. The mesh on my wire is small enough that the only thing that can get through to the poultry will be edible.

I dont have the hot wire up Nor have I rebuilt the coop. I have had three major predator episodes that have wiped me out completely... whole flock. I consideer it my fault for not thinking through the housing as I should have. last one happened about five years ago and I tore down the coop for a rebuild when I get a chance to move back home.

deb

LGD, just sayin' .....

 

[NotAFarm]

Welcome to all the new Old Folks, both young and those that are more experienced!

In case I can't make it on here tomorrow,
Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!


Quote:
CMT is Country Music Television. It is channel #166 on Dish. Attention all old folks --If you are not going to buy it, you really should watch tonight.

Where in the movie are you? I'll watch for you!!

CMT is 327 on our DIRECTV.

 

[microchick]

Wickedchicken6, consider yourself hugged. Living with back pain isn't easy, especially when your day encompasses so much bending and lifting.. I've learned to behave myself though and work around the back problems. When I saw the doctor on Monday he was pretty sure that my current problem was an inflamed SI joint on the left side. The only real way to diagnose it is to shoot a load of zylocaine/steroids into it directly. If the pain goes away, bingo. Sure enough. Pain went away. Oh well. What's life without a few challenges. What's tough on me is that I have these Red Head genes floating around in me that challenge me to push myself when all I should do is lay down and let my body rest. Aren't muscle relaxers a gift from God, tho?

Maybe ducks would be better for tick control, giving it second thought. We have a lagoon behind the barn that I told my husband is just screaming for some ducks to swim around in it.

I'm off to bake pumpkin pies. Spent yesterday processing a pumpkin. We get a pie the chickens get the guts. Everyone is happy!

Y'all have a great Thanksgiving! Blessings for everyone!