CntryBoy777 - The Lazy A** Acres Adventures

[NH homesteader]

We had three chickens early last spring. Then we had 7. Then 12. Now we have 17 if you count my feral escape chicken who is living in the woods. And I have 15 on the way come spring. Chicken math!

Americaunas (there are a million ways to spell it, don't remember which one is right), from what I've read, are friendly and easy to start with!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I can imagine about Maisy, Mike, tho I have never had as big a dog as that; so, I sure can't say I understand. But, I have been around enough animals that I can "Imagine". I used to get away with a plastic tub as a hay feeder, but the boys got older and it became a Casualty of goat play....

 

[Bruce]

We have been thinking about Americauna (sp) for awhile. We will only start with 4 or 5 since we have a hatchery not far from us.

The APA breed is spelled Ameraucana and if you are getting your birds from a hatchery they are Easter Eggers. The hatchery might be listing them as Americana or Americauna or another intentional misspelling. Many of them refer to their blue layers as Ameraucana / Araucana. No hatchery has Araucana, you will only find them at a breeder.

Only Meyer and one other hatchery sell APA Ameraucana and Meyer sells only the Blues. They aren't cheap, that is another way to tell they are EEs which sell for $3.64 for a day old female at Meyer. Their Blue Ameraucana is $21.40 for a female. I don't recall which other hatchery sells APA Ameraucana. A real APA Ameraucana will always be sold with the color specified since there are only certain colors that meet the SOP.

Now that you think I am an Ameraucana snob I don't have any. I will be getting 1 EE chick in late April along with 2 Exchequer Leghorns, 2 Barnevelders and 2 Welsummers. I currently have:
4.5 Y/O: 1 EE, 2 Faverolles, 2 Black Australorp and an Ancona
1.5 Y/O: 2 EE, 2 Black Australorp, 2 White Rocks

I like variety and the ability to tell which girls are laying.

We have a lot of long term storage buckets but I can't use plastic buckets in the sheep pen since like another LGD on here they become toys for Maisy and then are trash.

That is for sure! Merlin would snake anything plastic. Half and full gallon jugs (given to him), 1 pint containers I brought stuff in for the chickens. And the big green cat litter jug I use to bring water down from the house to the barn. Don't know what it is about plastic.

 

[CntryBoy777]

@Mike CHS when does the "Whistlin Season" begin? There is a kennel and training ground up around Hernando on US 51. I thought about talking to them to see if there are any events up there to go Watch.

 

[babsbag]

I started with 9 chickens about 7 years ago and have about 30 right now. All different kinds. I have owned Barred Rocks, New Hampshires, Red Sex Links, Easter Eggers, Polish, Silver Spangled Hamburgs, Wyandottes, Cornish, Brahmas, Australorps, Orpingtons, CA Grays, Marans, and many many mutts. Also had Bantams breeds of many of those varieties and Silkies. I love the Easter Eggers but right now I am missing my Barred Rocks and will be getting some of those in the spring.

 

[NH homesteader]

I knew Bruce knew... But my new phone won't let me tag people... Annoying.

Love, love my Dominiques. Never liked chickens much until we got them. Not great producers though. But the calmest birds!

 

[CntryBoy777]

We only have the GLW right now, so far so good, but there is one roo that I am watching close...I've seen the "Look' too many times in my life to Know when they are thinking about it... these are mine and not anyone elses around here, so I don't have to put up with it any longer than I decide to deal with it...and it won't take long and he'll be "Floppin". We do have a Crockpot.

 

[CntryBoy777]

When we get some more I thought about some Polish, Welsummer, and Australorp. We aren't too keen on the breeds with feathers on the feet, just not our "Taste". Those Polish are very interesting to be honest. May look to get some guineas too, they can be gotten pretty easy around here.

 

[NH homesteader]

My roo needs the occasional talking to from my DH. He hates it, he embarrasses him by cuddling him and playing with his wattle bahaha poor Brewster avoids us like the plague for weeks after! He's only had two or three such lessons and he's 3 now.

 

[Bruce]

@Beekissed has given her procedure for taming a roo that is aggressive toward people. As best I can paraphrase it:
Teach him that you are in charge, he is not. Some examples I remember

• Keep him from eating until you let him
• Use a long stick to keep moving him around. You aren't hitting him, just using it to get in the way of where he wants to go
• Don't walk around him, walk through him. That doesn't mean stepping on him, just making him move out of your way instead of you moving out of his way.

If he doesn't learn that he is below you in the pecking order, "Hello Freezer Camp!"
She can correct or add of course.

I thought about Guineas @CntryBoy777 but everything I see and read says they are loud.
A lot.
And annoyingly so.

You might want to visit someone that has a number of guineas before committing.