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Post by cff on Dec 7, 2008 18:13:03 GMT -5
Ok the chick catalogs have started to arrive and I have a wish list going already  I was wondering - what's on your poultry wish list ? I've been looking for some Black Copper Marans but the $$$$ are unreal - maybe the prices will come down to earth about spring time  I did kinda luck up on a new pair of Rampuri Asils (Black Asil's) that should be shipping this way on Monday - Pictures coming. |
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Post by Alan on Dec 7, 2008 20:00:30 GMT -5
Right now Guineas and Marans of some type or another are high on the list, other than that, I've pretty much got what I need with the new EE chicks I've got. I'm going for that specialty colored egg market in the future. I know that even if a Marans is full blooded if it doesn't lay a number four egg it isn't considered an actual Marans which is ok because I just basically plan on creating mutts out of them by incorporating the dark brown egg gene into lines that lay other colors so as to create more vibrant and deep colors into my eggs.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Dec 7, 2008 20:31:31 GMT -5
What kind of chicken doesn't taste good to long tailed weasels?
I'll be getting them from the feed store again, most likely. I liked the Brahmas, they were sweet. 
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Post by cff on Dec 7, 2008 21:19:49 GMT -5
Uh well If your interested in helping the weasel sleep for a long - long time - like after his last meal  Drop me a pm What kind of chicken doesn't taste good to long tailed weasels?
I'll be getting them from the feed store again, most likely. I liked the Brahmas, they were sweet. |
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 8, 2008 4:49:12 GMT -5
Lav, the weasel got all your birds?  I'm so sorry. I won't be ordering any birds this yr. I just don't have the room for any more. If I can find a GL Wyandotte Roo, I'll grab it. |
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Post by lavandulagirl on Dec 8, 2008 9:18:13 GMT -5
Yeah, it was traumatic! Before I get new birds this spring, I'll probably go over the coop yet again. The birds will feel like they live in Fort Knox! Up at the top there was some 4x4 wire, but I didn't realize we had weasels here, so I didn't think it'd be a problem. Oh well, live and learn, right?
My poor husband thought I was dying, or one of the kids was, when I made the discover and called him. It was an abbatoir... eeeewwww!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 8, 2008 10:06:55 GMT -5
Lav, If it ain't Weasels it's a Raccoon, Rat, Polecat, Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, Hawk, Owl or the Neighbour's Dog that's allowed to run loose. All you can do is make it as secure as you think is necessary and then go just that little bit more. When we first built a turkey sunporch here (from plans in a Storey Publishing book), we thought there was no way anything could penetrate the wire mesh encased porch. Well, chickenwire is no match for a hungry racoon, but the stronger hardware cloth mesh or concrete mesh is. And skunks, weasels and rats can easily climb up underneath the raised house and climb in through the wooden rungs  , so we had to wire that as well. Still, we lost birds. So, we moved the house up from the barnyard to behind our garage, next to the Dog Kennel. Finally, a solution that worked! Oh yeah, there was also the plywood range shelter that was encased in hardware cloth except for the roof. A hungry Raccoon just ripped the roof right off the shelter to eat what was to be one of my entries in the 2006 National Show.... You aren't alone my Friend. My heart goes out to you. I know the pain that comes with a gruesome discovery like that. But rethink the coop security, and I will help with suggestions. All you need do is ask. |
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Post by bunkie on Dec 8, 2008 10:16:52 GMT -5
oh lav, we feel for you too! been there, done that. lost all but one duck, poor thing. had given some boys to a guy to make meat of, but he couldn't do it, so got one back to keep her company. very difficult time.
blue's list is a good one too. had the bobcat experience and the owl, hawk and weasil ones too, sad to say.
on our wish list is some Kahki Campbells come spring!
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Post by houseodessey on Dec 9, 2008 20:21:35 GMT -5
No poultry on my wish list. A friend and her kids are hatching some mutts for me as a science experiment, though and they started pipping this morning. I hope they all make it and that none are roosters. That's a big wish.
I'm sorry to hear about your chicks, Lav. It happens, though. Just be glad it wasn't a beloved family pet doing the killing. It took a total of 8 hens before I got my program right. I screamed bloody murder and then cried each time, too.
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Post by cff on Dec 10, 2008 0:09:57 GMT -5
My new Rampuri Asils (Black Asil's) arrived today and I have to admit I was impressed, both are really nice healthy birds.
When I put them into there new pen a fight broke out immediately.
Keep in mind that this is a 4 month old cockerel and an 8 month old pullet.
I thought it would only last a few minuets till someone was declared the boss but the pullet held her own for 30 full minuets. She was winning at one point and I thought sure I would have to separate them into two different pens and try again later but she finely accepted defeat and there getting along well.
Asils have such a rock hard body that when a fight breaks out Its was like watching two bricks kick the snot out of each other.
I'll try to get a pic of em tomorrow
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Post by bunkie on Dec 10, 2008 8:16:02 GMT -5
we used to have 2 banty hens and a banty rooster that were given to us as chicks. we lucked out on the balance of gender there. we also had two male kahki campbell ducks and two female mix kahki ducks. they pretty much hung out together till the banty rooster's girls started laying. that rooster would chase the male ducks all over the yard. i finally started yelling and scolding the rooster, not realizing it was one of the boy ducks that had grabbed ahold of the rooster's tale and would not let go. poor rooster. i was blaming him and it was the duck! very strange kids, indeed! ;D
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Post by cff on Dec 25, 2008 16:29:33 GMT -5
Rampuri Asils (Black Asil's)  |
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 26, 2008 5:33:50 GMT -5
Nice looking birds, CFF. |
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Post by cff on Dec 26, 2008 15:04:33 GMT -5
Thanks FP” They are really cool birds, healthy and really hard bodied birds. I won an ebay auction on a small number of Welsumers eggs. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll have a good hatch % and a new line of really dark egg layers. That’s going to wrap up my wish list for this year unless I give in on some really rare Empordanesa birds The Empordanesa are from Spain and are closely related to the Penedesenca. This is the only white chickens that (I know of) that lays a Dark brown egg. |
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Post by Alan on Dec 26, 2008 18:05:23 GMT -5
Nice Pics CFF, my new Easter Eggers are getting ready to join the big chickens outside, I think they will do well there, we get fights from time to time but nothing major, especially since now they can all get out and free range and get away from one another for a while.
Right now I've got a dozen Ameracauna eggs in the new incubator on about day 7, hoping I get some to hatch and live, that will be all the chickens I need for a while, though I do still plan on getting some Guinea Keets come spring and maybe a few Turkeys.
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I'm so sorry. 
, so we had to wire that as well. 