Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[No More Empty Nest]

Alexa just died in my arms. I think she had an egg break inside her, at least now she is pain free

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Heinzie]

Thank you for the support. She was the dominant hen of three, now the other two are either in mourning or just don't know what to do. I have two 6 week old pullets I was going to introduce to the flock today or tomorrow but I think I will hold off a few more days just to give freya and Rocky a chance to adjust, or do you think it would be a good distraction

 

[jvls1942]

chickens don't mourn. when one disappears, the others look around and say, WTH? and then go back to eating and scratching.
put the newbies in.
.....jiminwisc.....

 

[wyoDreamer]

I agree, put the newbies in and give them a distraction.

On a similar topic, I think I lost another guinea hen on Monday. Sunday I had 3. Monday, only 2 went into the coop at night - but I have 1 that will sit out in the tree all night every once in a while. Yesterday, only 2 met me at the garage demanding food after work and only 2 this morning running around making noise.
There were 8 guineas when we bought the place almost 5 years ago (wow, that long!). I guess it is time to get some keets to start a new flock.

 

[jvls1942]

guineas are dispensable bug eaters.
I don't have any anymore. this is my second year without them. I am bracing for the wood ticks to invade.
If you have any left after 5 years that would be a miracle around here. I usually started with at least a dozen in the spring, and if I had half left in the fall I called it a successful summer.
maybe the missing one is on a nest somewhere. if you have a rooster, watch him to see where he goes during the daytime.
If he goes to a certain spot each day, that is most likely where the nest is..
......jiminwisc......

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have been down to 3 for 2 years and am pretty sure they are all males.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Our neighbor has tried for 3 years to start a guinea flock. Every year, a coon gets into his barn and kills all the keets.

Would it work to build a brooder in the guinea coop that has 2 guineas in it right now? It would save me alot of work to brood them right there with the others.

 

[jvls1942]

if you are brooding chickens, you can add guinea keets to the mix.
I raised all types of birds together. when they are babies, there is no problems.
i had turkeys, keets, chicks, ducks, geese, and a couple of peachicks all together.
.......jiminwisc....

 

[wyoDreamer]

THANKS @jvls1942

I may do that. Depends on how many I get of each.

 

[babylady4]

So my neighbors got
me this:

I’ll be paying them in free eggs forever....