Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[jvls1942]

Quote: up until 2 years ago we had up to 90 muscovy ducks.. I tried selling them live in the fall.. No luck.. so we ended up putting the last 72 of them into the freezer.. we did 10 per weekend until they were all gone.. we even went and bought a small apt sized freezer for them.. with the addition of a couple of geese and turkeys, we filled it to the brim..

we sold most of them from the freezer.. there are none left, and I don't plan on raising any ducks anymore..

 

[jvls1942]

here is my #1 rooster.. this is the guy who killed my breeder barred rock rooster last spring..
I don't know what kind he is.. kept him because he is pretty.. I set 74 eggs from him and my red stars, and hatched out 68 pullets..

 

[SnoozeRooster]

Wish I woulda took some pics before I ate these four roosters. Found some similar on the web.

Well I got Snooze with the first batch of free chickens. I thought he was a young, medium/large bantie mix but he was a mature medium bantie mix. He looked like this, but about twice as big.


The second batch of free chickens came with four roos. The boss of them looked EXACTLY like this:


Except for he was twice this big and his head looked like this:
l

He was really pretty and cool. His spurs were two and a half inches long if they were an inch. I'm gonna go get'em and take picture by a tape measure.....scary.

So, when I gottem here, i was afraid he would kill old Snooze, who remember I thought was a youngster so I left him in the cage all day trying to decide what to do. Well, the next day I put old Snooze in the cage and let Razor out. I had to work and was at my wits end what to do. My chickens wouldn't mix with the newbies, they started gathering in a low grapevine rather than go in the coop. I finally decided that maybe it was because they didn't know who the leader was and nature would have to take it's course. I was exhausted and stressed and in desperation, I let Snooze out with no food and water all day and figured he'd get killed even if fed and hydrated but something had to be done. Well, they fought for a couple hours and it was WAY worse than I thought it would be. And I'll be daggone if Snooze didn't whoop Razor. Judges actually had it, rather decisively about 70-30. They were so exhausted, I'm pretty sure they didn't know who won. Snooze was on Razor's back at late dusk, and many an other time and came up the hill first, Razor came up second with his eyes swelled shut, turns out neither had permanent damage, they were bloody though.

Then I was mad, because those other 3 young roosters wouldn't back talk Razor even after he couldn't see, but while Snooze was wore slap out, they bullied him. He was over in the corner with his head down in the corner and his hens around him and they were pecking his back and stuff. I put them all in the cage and wondered if Snooze and Razor would just die sitting there, didn't even hop on the roost. But they healed up and Razor didn't approach Snooze anymore, but Snooze acted like the defeated more than Razor and the three dang thugs ran him off a lil sometimes, he didn't run far and Razor didn't do the chasin' that's for sure. Weird pecking order, the 3 thugs won't mess with Razor, who got beat and Razor won't mess with Snooze, and Snooze won't mess with nobody...weird.

Really wish I'd have took pics, I may have ate two very unique Roosters, or maybe not. Not talkin about Snooze and Razor. Razor was out. Due to car lights on the highway or whatever, his first crow was at 0230 am plus he wasn't in the runnin for looks compared to the others and my taste (no pun int.). Snooze almost got me although replacing him was part of it in the first place. He didn't crow too early, he fought gallantly and won, looked after the hens and then when the thugs picked on him i just almost said to heck with it and kept him.....but he was too small for what I wanted to breed....Like i said, he died good.

So two of the other roos actually struck me first when I first saw them, I can' find a pic anywhere just like them and the guy said he got'em from a hatchery or whatever. One was cream orange and built like this:


Except for he was more white with streak of the orange mixed in, like this but more streaky and less splotchy:


I don't know what he was but he was actually the first one I thought I'd keep.

Then there was this next one, best I can describe him would almost be like a HUGE seabright with flame red and flame orange for the pattern colors and more subtle in the mixture than a seabright, very vibrant. Colors of red and orange like these but together on one roo and tail was red too, not black and he was big like the first pick Cant find a picture like him either.



Assuming you've had time to read a novella, any ideas on these last two roosters I've tried to describe?

Well, here's the one I kept and I don't know what he is either. Also, pics of my other chickens. The hen at the waterer bred to a rose-comb to have those 3 chicks with her. I was gonna talk more about my actual chickens and possible breeds but I wore myself out talking about dead roos that I really, really, really wish I'da taken pics of. Here's my chickens:





I think there's 16 or so in all, hope I didn't leave any out. Took these this morning (well yesterday now, the 26th)

 

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Jim... Glad you figured out how to post pics! Now we can be jealous of all the cool stuff you can do!

DrH... Hope "Little Moe" feels better soon! I am worried about him. I know you'll do all you can, but he's still my kitty! LOL Mom was looking for the boys, she'll get over it too. 9 weeks they are old enough. Shoot, I think she was younger than that when we got her, and she was all by herself when found! You can try giving him some cooked pumpkin or squash to help get rid of the diarrhea. If he starts getting weak please get him to the vet! I really feel bad he started getting sick right before you planed to get him. I know you'll be a good kitty daddy. BTW... NO PEPTO... it's poison to cats!

MLH... Congrats on your new "toy"!

Shoot... got more to say but te back won't let me sit anymore.... guess it's time for bed.... Night all!

 

[otonoh]

good chilly morning everyone,

it is 7 degrees here, chows are ready for their walks. I am feeling a bit under the weather. Not looking forward to work but it is sometimes easier to go to work than prepare for a substitute.
Great photos everyone.

Stay warm

David

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Snooze... I loved your novella! I was getting mad at the thugs for picking on Snooze! They sound like my 4 guineas that I call hoodlums. They will run in a pack and they'll go after roosters, or chickens, but not the ducks. Well they try with the ducks, but the ducks do really well watching their tails and the Guineans don't get away with it.

I am new to chickens so really can't help you with what types you have. Jim is the Chicken Knowledge Fairy ( he wears a tutu, fairy wings, ans socks with sandals). I'm sure he and Terri will know some of what you have!

Speaking of fighting roosters, Babe really got into it with somebody. I was out last night and saw blood droplets all over the roost. I look up, and there's Babe with blood dripping off his beak. He looked like a chicken version of Stephen Kings Carrie! So I gathered him up , brought him inside, and had my oldest help clean up his comb. Then got out the Blue Kote for the first time. Man is that stuff messy. Or at least it is when it drips off your roosters beak onto the kitchen floor! (Had to bleach that). Then I figured since I had him inside I might as well slather the bag balm all over his legs for mites. Poor guy had a blue head and lubricated legs when I was done with him.... (Let's see what you boys can do with THAT statement!)

Ttfn... Have to get the kids ready for school

 

[JustJohn]

My roos were having at each other yesterday too. Not the alpha, he is secure in his leadership, but the other 2 were. No clear winner between the cukoo marans and the wheaten amer. they are both young 5 month olds so no spurs. I am cheering for the wheaten as that is the one that likes being held by my son.

car says it is 6 degrees here. I feel for you up northers this morning.

 

[kristip]

Chilly morning... looking forward to the weekend in the 50s again! Cant complain too much, we are just a few days from December and except for a few cold days, not too bad... (knocking on wood now). Was worried this morning and had to take a few extra minutes to run and check out the chickens in the backyard (and sneak them extra scratch) because Carol gave us silver the silkie roo back and I did not hear him this morning. He usually is announcing his manhood out there. Nope they were just all snuggling out back in a little herd. He looked glad to get his white silkie hen back... I dont think she has laid an egg since he has been gone these three months. But he was following her around and they were all snuggled together this morning. So sweet.

I feel for those of you with the older kids and the big gifts, but when my six year olds focus on one item and it is either pricey or hard to find... can be tough too. So I have one lego friends kit I am hunting for my dd and ds has his heart set on this RC helicopter with laser shooter set that is pricey so i am hoping it goes on a good sale. Was looking all over yesterday but no deal. Few grocery gift cards for my mom and her BF and my eldest witchy sister and I am done shopping. DH and I finished each other on Black Friday. We went out at lunch time though and still caught some deals that were on sale until 1.
So yeah!
I am a planner so need to have it all done and bought and ready to go before christmas. Now just trying to solidify the celebrations with everyone.

Since so many have dogs... anyone have tips on how to help a teething puppy ( with those puppy needle teeth) from biting hard at the kids? He seems to understand that DH and I are alpha to him, but not the kids and he plays rough with them while he almost soft mouths us. Or will all that calm down when he looses those teeth or gets fixed? (which I am hoping to do around christmas)

 

[Dr HaHa]

Good Frosty Morning Everyone! 9* here. What a saga SR that is really weird that Snooze didn't take over! BF4me maybe you should turn the AC off then the ducks would go in.

Yup Amy take the O- ring to Ace or somewhere similar to match it up. Dave that is one scary cat! Don't think I could sleep. Jim think you will keep that boy throwing that ratio! Nice pics on the projects! Waiting for the boys to wind down so Taz will go eat, drink and potty. She is scared to death of them.

But she's starting to come around. The whole house is now their playground. One would get lost in the kitchen and cry until you called. They don't seem to miss mom at all but their busy. But it was a real treat trying to eat ceral, they could smell the milk. The B/W one is getting better Cindy but still kinda runny. They both are using the cat box now with only a couple of clean ups. So far their Toby and Butters. This morning Toby thought my toes and feet were a definite threat to home land security. Both likin the pettin and purr when content and give kisses. Toby is most assuredly the top dog.
Think you all were right about siblings.
It'll be a trip to the vet next week for shots and check up. Will of course keep an eye Butters but think he's OK. Got 6 eggs yesterday! Things to do.

 

[Bigfamily4me]

You don't use hands as toys. Period. He cannot help but play rough. Stop all play when he nips or chews on skin. Nnnooooooo, that doesn't mean chew on your hands with gloves on. It means no hands or arms as chew toys. You just stop playing. Say "no" kindly at first. when you go back to playing and they bite/chew again you say "no" more firmly and walk away. You have to stop the behavior at this age. Puppy cant really be held responsible for biting hard, bevause youre allowing him to play with people like a dog. Playing tug is a great option. The chew toys and ice cubes (if you dont mind a water mess) are great too.

My best friend was have a terrible time with this and went to a dog trainer to fix it. HTH