~*Third Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatch-Athon*~ all poultry welcome!

[mlm Mike]

they arent much larger than my ESS! maybe DH wouldnt notice them in with my gang, at least until bed time

but since my ESS kill my chickens would they go after a goat? I thought dogs were the number one hazard to goat farmers? I would hate to get everything set up and then have to sell them! Perhaps I could rent a goat?

Sally, most people keep their goats outside with a shelter of some sort. Some people lease goats in milk, or as land management animals.

Hey I have fresh turkey eggs-- been in the frig for 2 weeks so they are nice and fresh!!

Actually those are my eating eggs. I would be mortified if an egg exploded for a customer. MORTIFIED. I just received a note from a customer that has 23/26 with movement. I am totally thrilled for her as the last box of eggs toured up and down the east coast and when they arrived weeks later . . . . they couldn't get tossed fast enough.

You are a good person, I think most people would want their customers to have a good experience, it's unfortunate when one of us has to deal with someone who doesn't care.

 

[Penny Hen]

awesome, no thermostat? I wouldnt attempt without one, I have helped so many people at the end with terrible hatches because of temps, that and thermos being off! ughhhh



Do you have issues with dogs with goats? Anyone else have issues?

Oh I have a water heater thermostat. It is not as nice as the one I fried the Chinese one that you can rig up to control heating and cooling but it can get the job done if your room temps are stable. In fact I devised a neat humidifying gadget so that I can add water without lifting the lid.



Steel bowl. Funnel shaped reflector for an old flashlight, piece of clear tubing (cannibalized from a lamb feeder bucket) and a rubber electrical grommet to make the tube fit the reflector. A hook stand that held a candle in a cage, a strip of material cut from one of those special water holding cloths that you dip in water and wear around your neck in summer so you don't die in the Southern heat and humidity. Oh and the ubiquitous tape. Foil in this case but duct tape or zip ties will probably do as well.





Put in bowl and stir!

Viola! A water delivery/humidifier system.
Did I ever mention that I absolutely LOVED MacGiver?




Oh about the goats and dogs. I did train my dogs to leave the goats/sheep alone. Everytime a new baby is born I bring it into the house give it a rinse and dry and but iodine on the navel. Then I introduce the baby to the dogs and let them know that this is mine and falls under my protection. My dogs actively hunt squirrels and rabbits and since the deer never venture into my land I am pretty sure they have given chase to them too. But they know the difference between wild unclaimed animals and claimed farm animals. They don't go after my birds either. The only time I lost birds to them was when my DH had released the guineas before I had a chance to introduce them to the dogs and explain that they weren't wild but mine.

It is harder with puppies. Never leave a young dog alone with prey animals. They just don't have the impulse control of an older dog. Much like human children.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: awesome, now patent it

 

[yinepu]

Quote:

still not enabling....

what kind ? awwwww lil Luke is freaking lookin at them! hmmm perhaps I need goats milk for my allergies

and soap for my delicate skin, and and and

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sally Sunshine

LOL your bad! I have wanted a pair FOREVER and then I met a full size spoiled nubian wether, and fell in love with the big doting dummy! I just saw on FB group some local mini fainting goats, OMG I was sooooo tempted!! but those I would have to get a unrelated pair because I would need more babies!! they had two boys sold banded

Sally, I'd give you a couple of kids whenever you wanted.

I wish! what is the adult height and weight of them Mike?

Do you have issues with dogs with goats? Anyone else have issues?

Quote:

lol.. Ancona are smaller than a muscovy.. think "average white pekin with spots" and that will give you an idea of what they look like.. I'll take some pics of my older babies to give you a better idea

Out of these eggs.. 99% are shipped in.. for the last batch of ancona (also shipped eggs) I got a 100% hatch... some of the others are looking the same way. I did get a box of eggs the other day that came in leaking.. the guy used no packing to speak of and every single egg was smashed.. so needless to say that one went into the trash! And I was sent a box of rotten eggs too.. Seller stated their ducks had been laying like crazy.. when I asked about the size of the air cells and told him that a few had exploded in the box his reply was "those eggs are fresh, they were laid this year, 2014".. so I asked exactly when they were laid he said "oh, sometime in January I think.. but they are still good for hatching"!

For the muscovy.. if you get the French Whites.. they can reach 12 pounds in 12 weeks...

and that baby goat is Fiona.. she was born in February and on the coldest nights she got to spend in the house to help her stay toasty warm.. now I have to listen to our parrot demanding "where's Fiona?" "Maya wants to see Fiona baby".. lol

fresh is laid this year????

Not likely you'll be getting your money back on those eggs!! Can you leave feed back at least?

French Whites?? Havent heard of those. THat is a really good growth rate!! Wow.

Oh poor Maya-- maybe Fiona can come in for a play date. THough I can see Maya increaing her demand until Fiona has become a house goat. DO they have diapers for goats??

I filed with paypal and got a refund already... he was about as brilliant as the woman who sold me infertile eggs..she refused to have a rooster around her hens.. heaven forbid that she might sell anyone "rooster eggs"... (yeah.. her words.. not mine)...

French white muscovys are all white (with maybe a black spot on their heads).. they grow faster and get larger than regular muscovy.. so they are the "meat bird" of the muscovy world.. and they don't have leg issues like other meat birds (cornish cross and broad breasted turkeys) have.

The problem with having a house goat (sannen at least) is they do get pretty big.. and have no issues with bouncing around on the furniture! Maya would love it... but he's bad like that

Quote:
yeah... nice huh?.. lol.. he must think he has special eggs with no shelf life!

Quote: they arent much larger than my ESS! maybe DH wouldnt notice them in with my gang, at least until bed time

but since my ESS kill my chickens would they go after a goat? I thought dogs were the number one hazard to goat farmers? I would hate to get everything set up and then have to sell them! Perhaps I could rent a goat?

Some dogs are a problem... especially if they are running in a pack.. but a single dog will usually have a standoff with a herd of goats... usually.. lol.. I have seen several dogs get stomped by goats.. but keep in mind these were also larger breed goats who don't mind ganging up on dogs who are smaller than themselves. There is always the odd occurrence where a single dog will win.. but around here the goats have the upper hand. Coyotes are another matter... they will work in a team and can kill an entire herd of goats pretty quick.. usually by cutting them from the herd one at a time.. i have even seen where a few coyotes will go after the LGD to take it out of the equation while the rest of the pack goes after the goats

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
Since I buy a lot of eggs I have had my fair share of explody eggs when I open the box.. one seller a few years ago (from south Carolina if I remember right) sent me 16 of the most beautiful exploded eggs you have ever seen.. lol.. the post office had the box in several garbage bags and called me to come get the box before they even opened because it still reeked!.. when I got there they told me to go around by the loading dock because they had to keep it outside .. one even asked me if I knew who it was from.. they thought it was a biological weapon of some sort..

 

[chiques chicks]

Sadly, don't forget you need bunnies!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mlmddh

Mine are Saanens .. pure white. I have been wanting to add in some Nubian blood.. but finding people around here willing to part with one is about like finding hen's teeth..

I love the little breeds.. but they are a lot harder on the hands to milk (arthritis isn't happy with such little teats) lol

Ours will charge dogs... so during the day they are fine so long as there isn't a pack after them.. it's the dogs and coyotes that come out after night that are the problem.. which is where a livestock dog comes in handy!


Coolerbators are hands down my favorite bators.. hold perfect temps and i can drill them full of holes.. lol!

I do like the pure white, but do they get muddy alot? or are goats fairly clean critters? What is the smallest breed of goat? thats what I would need, but yea it needs to get tough with the dogs, but I do have training collars, I dont need to use them since they are mostly older, we have a 10 mo old pup but she is just a goof, I cant see her harming a fly. lol





Some dogs are a problem... especially if they are running in a pack.. but a single dog will usually have a standoff with a herd of goats... usually.. lol.. I have seen several dogs get stomped by goats.. but keep in mind these were also larger breed goats who don't mind ganging up on dogs who are smaller than themselves. There is always the odd occurrence where a single dog will win.. but around here the goats have the upper hand. Coyotes are another matter... they will work in a team and can kill an entire herd of goats pretty quick.. usually by cutting them from the herd one at a time.. i have even seen where a few coyotes will go after the LGD to take it out of the equation while the rest of the pack goes after the goats
Would 4 springers be a pack

I dont have to worry about other animals here, we have the entire back acre fenced in and I havent seen anything cross over it, I think the smell of so many gods and dog poops enough to keep them at bay....

Speaking of poo, GOOD GRIEF when that snow finally thawed I had a mess!! I wouldnt have though it would disapear in the snow so much! land mines EVERYwHERE!! eeeek!! DH was hollaring at me for not cleaning it up!! I refuse to hang outside in the snow sleet rain and -185 degree weather gathering up dog poop!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Sadly, don't forget you need bunnies!

oh Ray your killing me!! what color are eyes? how old are they now?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: This bunny is so cute I thought it was a stuffed animal-- so darn cute!!