It's official: it's a stupid idea letting the girls set on nests outside. Kittywhee is gone, and her nest has a bunch of broken and empty eggs. I thought I was being mean to Kiki when I broke up her nest; I had bruises on my hand from her pecking me. She was mad. But she is alive.
Did you know that the Department of Fish and Game says that it's just fine for me to shoot the raccoons? If they are taking my poultry, I'm fully legal to take care of them. But wait, I don't want to kill them! It's not their fault they live here and find good eats. What about live-capture traps? I can relocate them myself to a nearby park. Noooo, that's illegal! They say it would displace the raccoons where I do the relocation, and the poor raccoon would also be in unfamiliar territory, not able to forage as well. Oh, and the chance of catching some raccoon disease is too risky. Best to shoot it, bang bang! Thanks, Department of Fish and Game. I'm glad you're looking out for me rather than the animals.
That's the goodbye, here's the hello: the Guinea Fowl Breeder's Association had a competition recently and I won. I will take delivery of 30 keets (baby Guineas) sometime by the end of September. That'll put me closer to 100 than 50 birds at the Alpine Estate. I'll be giving some away of course... I think.
2005/08/30
2005/08/23
Silkies no more
The pictures I last took of the silkies are the last I saw of them. The following morning, three were gone, and one was dead inside the enclosure. It appears that a raccoon was able to get a paw underneath the enclosure, grab a silkie, and drag it underneath the walls to pull it out. The last remaining one was not along the edge, so apparently it was out of reach though not when it was first attacked.
This morning before sunrise, the jumbo guinea who was sitting on her eggs was screaming in front of the coop. I can now identify the "a raccoon got my eggs and I'm pissed" sound. She's alive, thankfully. Her wattles were shrunken and had lost their color -- probably the least of the effects of sitting on eggs for two weeks. I imaging the full 4 weeks is really draining on a guinea. I wonder how Kittywhee is doing, now on her 3rd week of sitting. I know approximately where her nest is but I dare not go looking for fear of attracting a raccoon to the hidden spot.
The last of Kerrie and my drunken buying binge has arrived -- six Lavender and five Royal Purple Guineas. They hatched late last week. They are very active, healthy, and of course cute.
This morning before sunrise, the jumbo guinea who was sitting on her eggs was screaming in front of the coop. I can now identify the "a raccoon got my eggs and I'm pissed" sound. She's alive, thankfully. Her wattles were shrunken and had lost their color -- probably the least of the effects of sitting on eggs for two weeks. I imaging the full 4 weeks is really draining on a guinea. I wonder how Kittywhee is doing, now on her 3rd week of sitting. I know approximately where her nest is but I dare not go looking for fear of attracting a raccoon to the hidden spot.
The last of Kerrie and my drunken buying binge has arrived -- six Lavender and five Royal Purple Guineas. They hatched late last week. They are very active, healthy, and of course cute.
2005/08/12
It's now week 6 for the Silkies hatched from eggs:
These birds have black skin, which is not appealing to most Westerners. Visit your local Asian market, however, and you'll find them right alongside Cornish Game Hens.
At 6 weeks, these are nearly fully-grown. And only 1.5 lbs., no more. Not for eating, for sure. Not for eating as far as food conversion is concerned. (What does a Pekin Duck weigh at 6 weeks? Much better conversion ratio, for sure.)
On the Guinea front, Kittywhee is sitting on a nest in the woods, as is the only female Jumbo. They might be eaten by the local predators -- bobcat, raccoon, skunk -- but I'm letting them give it a try. I'll know more in 3 weeks.
These birds have black skin, which is not appealing to most Westerners. Visit your local Asian market, however, and you'll find them right alongside Cornish Game Hens.
At 6 weeks, these are nearly fully-grown. And only 1.5 lbs., no more. Not for eating, for sure. Not for eating as far as food conversion is concerned. (What does a Pekin Duck weigh at 6 weeks? Much better conversion ratio, for sure.)
On the Guinea front, Kittywhee is sitting on a nest in the woods, as is the only female Jumbo. They might be eaten by the local predators -- bobcat, raccoon, skunk -- but I'm letting them give it a try. I'll know more in 3 weeks.
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