Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[irishrovr]

Hi! my name is Marcy and my husband and I moved to Aniwa WI a few months ago. I had signed into this site a while ago when we lived in the Chicago area and I first got chickens, but to be honest I don't really know how forums work and I just never went back! I used to chat in forums years ago, but all things internet change so quickly, if you step away for a little while everything changes! Well, now that I'm here in WI and left all my old friends behind, I'm getting lonely and want to make some new friends with similar interests. We bought a 4 acre hobby farm so all I'm really interested in farm stuff! We have 15 chickens, 3 dogs, and 30 snakes (we breed boas to sell as pets) and 50 fancy rats (bred as feeders and pets) an iguana and a leopard tortoise. Our property is almost half water, so we have lots of wild pond friends as well! Within the next few weeks I'm buying some goats, maybe a sheep and 12 ducks, and a mini donkey hopefully in the next year.

A few days ago I posted on Craigslist that I was looking to buy a duck shelter and a lady replied suggesting I check out BYC for ideas and recommended I find the Cheesehead group. Her name is "Frenchtoast" and I will try to figure out how to find her on here.

So, I look forward to meeting everyone and picking your brains and also sharing what I have learned so far!

Thanks!

Welcome! Sounds like you have an awesome group of critters there!!

 

[irishrovr]

ok... i'm at work so posting real quick... I have sneezing and wheezing chickens? What do I do? I also have chickens with gleet like back ends. Gleets nots contagioous right? I know my delaware has gleet, but what's up with the others? I did put some VETRX in the water to try and treat the sneezes (didnt help) so may be that's the butt issues? help, advice, and info pretty pretty please!

I'm also interested in the answer to that question. My roo has the sneezing, too, but he's getting better - I have him away from the rest in a time out most of the day so the girls are all OK. I have been putting ACV in the water so that may be helping him.

 

[irishrovr]

Then there were 10...

Michelle finally gave up the ghost and is now in the big coop in the sky. I'm a bit sad (and so is Eleanor Rigby) but I'm more relieved that she's not suffering or just wasting away. She went peacefully in her sleep. JustJohn - I'd get more like those two in a minute, they're so sweet!

 

[PsycoPeep]

I went to check in on the NN thread and OMG I'm dying looking at their pics! I am so envious! Just LOOOOOK at these freaky-cute-adorable-gorgeous-honey buns!!!!!!






Not a Naked Neck, but to be used in the breedings.

 

[irishrovr]

I went to check in on the NN thread and OMG I'm dying looking at their pics! I am so envious! Just LOOOOOK at these freaky-cute-adorable-gorgeous-honey buns!!!!!!






Not a Naked Neck, but to be used in the breedings.

Very cool!!

 

[199787]

Hi all!
Well one of my broodys broke, and I didn't even do anything special. She was one of my back sex links. The other one is a barred rock. Second barred rock this spring. I would like to give her some eggs, but I would only want to give her some "real" eggs, not just my mutts.
The coop area is a big sloppy swampy mud hole. The only ones who don't seem to mind is the ducks. Thankfully everyone free ranges so maybe will dry out soon
Horse people- anyone have any ideas on how to get my mini to behave? Last night when I was trying to lead him home from the "pasture" he started rearing up. No reason, he just gets really stubborn and he wanted to keep eating the weeds and didn't want to come where I wanted him to. I only had him by his halter, and it actually scared me a little. He has been a little crabby lately, so I don't let the kids walk him anymore because I am afraid something will happen. I have no experience with horses at all. Nothing, so any ideas would really be appreciated. Oh and he is gelded (that's the term right?)
Talk to you later

Well, when it comes to horses they are a lot of work and take a lot of training...even mini's. Mini's don't know they are mini's and think exactly like a full sized horse. You are going to have to spend some time working with him because once they know they have your number it will only digress from there. First of all get a lead rope on that halter, you have no control when you grab a halter and they know it. A miniature rope halter would be best because it puts pressure in the right places. Horses shouldn't be left turned out with a halter on because they can get caught on things and injure themselves. Anyway, (so much easier to show than to type all this btw) you will need to take charge of the little guy. Practice walking him every day. Make sure he stops and starts when you do. Work on backing up on command. If he doesn't listen give a yank on the lead rope to get his attention or shake it to pop him in the jaw with the clip. If he won't listen you have to make him do something he doesn't want to do, work. This is where a long rope (longe line) comes in handy, or a round pen, which I am guessing you don't have. You need to make him do some circles around you until his attitude adjusts (It's actually so much more complicated than that though and takes time to learn to do right). You should look up some videos on ground work and lunging (round penning) to help you to see what I am talking about. Once he is done with his fit, calmly begin to walk him again. You have to be very persistent. If you let him win, you just took 2 steps back. Also, a handful of grain once you put him in his stall (or wherever he sleeps) is extra incentive to be caught at night. Do try to stay away from hand-fed treats or pretty soon he'll mob you and might begin biting. Hand fed treats a reserved for well mannered and well trained animals. If you really need some help, you can send me a PM and I'll give you my phone number. It might be better to explain over the phone. I am very good at training horses and mine are very well mannered. I've been riding and training for about 17 years now. I have had them all since babies except for one that I have had for 9 years. He was 16 when I got him and a bit of an *****.

I remember a mini stallion my husband brought home from one of his customers (he is a farrier) that was harder to deal with than many full sized horses because he got away with murder. It took some diligent work a little each day (after a major attitude adjustment round-pen session) to get that little guy gentled and sweet. He turned out really nice.

Lisa

 

[199787]

Never mind, miss read a post.

Lisa

 

[RedWolf02]

BigFam???
Did you add any new chickens lately? That could be the cause of a new surge of sniffles/cold/ or worse............. keep a close eye out
also vent gleet/ yeast infection is contagious from a few articles I read your rooster can spread it just like your hubby can pass it to you...........or you can keep giving it back to each other if you both are not treated..... use vagasil or a yeast infection cream ob all your girls an do not cage the roo, he needs treatment too but not quite sure how ya get it on his flapper?????

 

[vickiw]

IRISHROVER-so sorry about Michelle . Told hubby what you said and he replied that he has hung up his hammer for the summer. Little does he know, silly boy

HI Marcy!!! Welcome! Pull up roost sit a spell.

 

[bigzio]

Evening All...finally have the last garden planted, and I feel so good about it. Me and you Vickie are in happy camp.

I called them frenchie..discounts come in volume breakdowns...so 3 for $48 sounds like my deal i'm gonna make. I'll check out variety's when I get there....thanks again.

Jennie took 2 of the grandkids fishing today at the Marion pond...they ended up with 64 keepers....perch, bluegills and sunfish.....me and suzie are gonna filet them out for a outside fishfry in the future....it will be a Friday...duh!

Yep, that's what was the downfall for all the heritage breeds...folks concerned about large eggs. I'm ok with med-large eggs...the breeds in consideration of saving their genetics is more important to me than egg size...BUT...I understand your liking hens that might have prolapse problems....it's all about egg size....for most...why? Make three instead of 2...just kidding, ya know. but some truth too!

More ice on the fish...I'm cleaning in the morning!

Having Fun...Stay Safe...bigz