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Post by Valerie on Dec 31, 2010 7:35:05 GMT -5
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Post by weg on Dec 31, 2010 9:31:44 GMT -5
Wish I could come get some,not so much for them but just to go somewhere and meet you.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Dec 31, 2010 10:49:51 GMT -5
I'd love to meet you too, Willa!
Gayle, the first thing is that the Pyrs protect the birds from predators. That makes a huge difference, particularly if you want to free range like I do. The free range birds get a large % of their feed themselves so it cuts way down on the feed bill and they are healthier. They also help keep the insect population under control and eat a lot of weed seeds. They and the goats keep the grass cut quite a bit too.
Then you need breeds that go broody. Birds with a lot of game in them are the broodiest and the best mamas.
You need eggs with strong shells or you get a lot of smashed eggs in the nest and that contaminates the rest of the eggs.
You need the birds to be healthy with no parasites. Putting copper sulfate (1/4 teaspoon per gallon) in their drinking water keeps them free of parasites and helps to harden the eggs along with oyster shell.
Then you need to either provide a caged off nest box where other hens can't lay or let them hide in the bushes. I'm planning to set up broody cages so I can control which eggs are hatched (as soon as I'm moved), but right now they are just stealing nests and doing their own thing.
The Coturnix Quail need a LOT more room and cover than the vast majority of people will give them if they are going to raise their own babies. Most people raise them in small cages and they just will not brood in the cages. I'd like to try them again sometime. Snakes got the last of mine here. "Everybody says" that they won't brood, I had to prove them wrong. LOL
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Post by sunshine on Dec 31, 2010 13:30:36 GMT -5
We've also had trouble with rat snakes and fire ants getting hatches. I used to have really good luck with broody hens, but not here.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Dec 31, 2010 15:54:09 GMT -5
Yes, you have to use broodies only in winter around here. A friend of mine lives outside of Lexington and her hens hatch tons of babies every winter, but none in summer.
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