So far 4 of our 27 eggs have hatched today. More are pecking their way out and we hope for whole mess of them by morning time. Lots of interest from folks in our area in buying them, we could sell 80 of them right now if we had that many.
For their size I’m always amazed at how quickly they are able to move once dried off and recovered from the energy they’ve expended while hatching.
Today I picked up the first part for a motorized chicken plucker. A local gentleman had an electric motor available on Craigslist. After ensuring it ran I paid his asking price and brought it home. Everything else except the lumber, fasteners, belt and wiring components will be here tomorrow.
We elected to just order a killing cone instead of trying to make one. It’s more expensive and less gratifying than doing it yourself but I am a poor welder. The stainless steel model we ordered arrived recently.
Next week I will assemble a whizbang plucker and get to work on the chickens and ducks that need to go.
The other day all of our birds were out free ranging in the trees by the house and enjoying bug hunting in the leaf debris. The windows in the house were open so I was able to hear all the birds were alarmed about something. I peeked out the window and spied this female coyote at a distance staring at all the birds as they fled towards the house.
Quickly I grabbed a nearby rifle, a Remington 700 chambered in 17 Remington, pushed open the back door and aimed the rifle while standing inside the house. She knew she had been busted and I could see she had turned to leave and was disappearing into the trees. When I barked like a dog she turned 180 degrees to face me. One quick shot where her neck and chest meet and she dropped in her tracks. She will not be having any more chicken dinners!
Tonight we let everyone out and brought some old hamburger buns for them to eat. They all enjoyed it!
The good people at the post office called this afternoon to let me know our package from the Cackle Hatchery had arrived. The girls and I loaded up and made the drive into town to pick them up. The guy at the counter and the woman in line just in front of us had never seen guinea keets before so we open the package there on the counter for everyone to see.
They’re all doing well and eating and drinking. It goes without saying the girls love them!
