Brahmas are large enough that more square ft per bird are required...they are truly LF at it's best.
If you are cramped for space...the b's won't be happy....a lot of space...creates and keeps a happy flock with them, as well as all breeds. My birds are never cramped. If you have space, they will please you, for sure.
Went fishing yesterday...we did catch enough for a fresh fry.
In regards to the cross beak delish....it's really hard to see in the beginning...culling at hatch would be tough to and almost impossible to do....the close eye as they grow is the only way, except for extreme cases ,where the young day or two old ones die, because of their inability to eat and drink.
It can range from mild to severe...the severe shows it's face as the birds age, and the bird grows out. Most folks figure if the bird can eat and drink we are good to go...yep, I agree....just don't breed them....most folks do...never ending the cycle.
Hi all---stopped at the fair and reordered the display. Took 10 dozen eggs for a Lady AND got PAID for them! Whoooo-Hoooo! Kids in the 4H club are doing fantastic. One girl got both of the Grand Champion ribbons for her pony! I wonder if we will win herdsmanship this year?
BigFam--if you need eggs for eating and selling you cant go wrong iwth habing a laying flock just for that purpose. Why dont you get a dozen or so production reds in the spring (or now if you can find them) then another dozen the following spring. You can sell the 1 year old ones as the new ones start laying and you will have a continuous supply of eggs! If you butcher or unload the birds as 1 year old layers you wont have any of the troubles they start having after two years old (and you wont be feeding any freeloaders!) This is what I would do if I had a family as big as yours to feed for sure...well, that and a really big garden!
Thanks for the pics Jim. So you clean off the stems a ways up and the growing point just keeps the plant growing taller? You wrap the string around the stem? DOes the top wrap itself or do you have to help it along all the way? I think Dan explained it a few years ago...but I wasnt so interested in saving space and harvest per plant then (so I didnt retain what I read)
Glad you are enjoying the ducks Cuties...I hope your sister likes them as well! They are pretty darn adorable! That method should work for the goose if you can hold it still long enough to get it wrapped. Put a sock over it's head...that is what we did with the peacocks to get them into the boxes when my friend sold them. Incidentally, they fit perfectly inside a Jimmy John's carry out box. You just cut a hole for their head and neck! Good luck with the goose!
My friend might be bringing me a female mallard--same situation. It was a baby that got attacked or something and now it is time to let her go so she is going to bring her here so she has some "company" and she can take off this fall with the wild ones if she wants...or stay--whatever!
THe pure white guinea keet died today. It wasnt doing well when I went outside so I brought it in and put it in the chick TV. Gave it a bit of sugar water...no luck. Also the button quail girl died today. I took her out and trimmed the feathers on the wing on the tumor side. put some 3x antibiotic on the swelling. She walked around a little and lied down and she was dead within an hour! I cut open the mass...it was like meat inside! NO BLOOD at all. So I fuess it was a tumor of some sort. I will put the eggs in the incubator tonight.
otherwise I am looking for a female button quail. He is calling and calling....
Garden is shady--better get some weeds pulled!
Nighties! TerriOwithblistersonherheelsfromthedarnchoreboots
Hey bigZ dh told me to talk to u. Just found out my cat has worms (I think), u have a remedy or is it something to keep them away? Calling the vet on monday
RAIM--take a sample in or maybe you can just describe and get a prescription wormer. Best way to go and very safe. If you have more than one treat them all...if your dogs delight in "litter box crunchies" they need to be treated also. Make sure to tell the vet all the animals you have that have access to each other...if they are certain kinds of worms they arent picky about species!
Hey guys...there is a 4Her at the fair that is selling his bantam cochin...dead ringer for Tommy! Anyone interested? I could give your number to him...PM me cause tomorrow is sthe last day of the fair and I would have to find this kid. I opened the cage and the bird seems tame but I didnt have a "drink" to share with him so I have no idea about his drinking preferences!
TErriO
ETA: listening to Saturday in the 70s and "Convoy" just came on! " We got a great big convoy, aint she a wonderful sight? We got a great big convoy rollin' through the night!"
Did I ever tell you about my trip to the Toronto zoo?
They have a bald eagle. It is unable to be set free because of injuries.
We were there at feeding time and it was hard to see what this eagle was eating from in between its claws gripped tight. Finally the Yellow fuzz gave it away. He had like 4 baby chicks in one set of claws and was ripping off pieces and swallowing them down
I hope that mental image does not cause you to loose sleep.
Watch out for that eagle. They scavenge too, so don't leave anything out to atract him back like scraps for the dog, or the dog.
Terri the F stands for the same as in chickens, or means hybrid, F1 first cross to hybrid, F2 second etc....usually the higher the # the more diseases the plants are resistant to
the wilting heirloom tomatoes most likely is cut worms(maggots) or grubs,,,,not late enough in the season for most diseases to evidence themselves yet,imo. I would dig out one of the plants and check the stem and root areas. Temperature stress is not the answer (this comes from the guy that had 40º a couple nights ago and high 80's all week)
Terri the maters are anchored at the bottom and you wind the string around the stems when the plants are limpish,,,mid-day works well. Once started you simply pinch the suckers and wind maybe once a week. For outside growing making the support will be the only part that takes some doin' remember the load when the plants are grown and figure in the wind factor,,,,I use the orange baler twine, re-bar stake between 2 plants. There are videos on youTube for all of this info.
Jim your plants look good,,peppers are impressive,,,I suggest you get those supported,,,
bbl time to lockup
ETA: you trim the bottom branches to force the top growth and keep the water from splashing on the lower leaves (main cause of disease)