Mine is only temporary
I took the two new hatchlings out to my brooder tonight. They ran right over to her and the other chicks! The two older chicks were milling around with the others for the first time finally as well. That makes 11 chicks in my new nursery area of the coop. I still have 5more eggs 'cooking' in the incubator, so I hope they hurry up so the others won't be too big to hurt them. It takes exactly 21 days for the chickens to hatch, but I didn't write the date on these eggs. I think there pretty close. I also figured out that the rooster ratio to hens is just about 50percent. So I'll have 5 or so more birds in the freezer before long.I've had hens that would take in other chicks and some that would kill chicks that they didn't hatch thierself . I had one game rooster that raised a bunch of chicks after something killed thier mama hen .
Thanks, I had never read real numbers before, but I can look at my eggs and tell a huge difference. The shells are way thicker, and the yolk is much deeper yellow. I honestly can't taste a difference, but I certainly feel better about mine.Pastured eggs versus caged eggs:
• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/tests-reveal-healthier-eggs.aspx#ixzz37JURsUuQ
The Muscovys are considered a nuisance bird, but their meat is excellent. It's a red meat and when you cook up the breasts on the grill, people will ask you where you're hiding your cows. It tastes like a tender sirloin steak.I'll have to do some Duck homework . I think the ones we got eggs from one time were scoveys or mallards . That was a long time ago and I had decided aginst duck eggs . I have a pond started and may get some ducks . The last time I tried to have turkey's they were very dark almost black turkeys and went wild and moved to a creek next to our yard and owls got them .
My neighbors would be very upset with me if I had a rooster. I have a total of 9 female chickens. Only 2 of them are laying and I have to say that it's super cool to go out and milk the goat in the morning and check for eggs and walk into the house carrying my perfect breakfast - a full glass of milk and 2 eggs. My chickens have a nice spacing in age, 2 are 8 months old, 1 is 6 months old, 2 are 3 1/2 months old, 3 are 2 months old and I have no idea what is going on with the 9th one. I got her at the same time as the 2 1/2 month olds but she still looks like a one month old. The youngest 4 were all the same size when I got them but this one just isn't growing. I'm wondering if she's some kind of miniature chicken mix instead of the Rhode Island Red she was supposed to be. The interesting thing is that she still sounds like a baby chick, too. When I grab her up and she starts calling, all of the other chickens come running. So I use her to get the rest of my chickens where I want them.That's why I buy pullets vs. breeding them. Guaranteed females. I would like a (sequestered) rooster for the option at some point, but for now, I'm content with just hens.
When I had a coon problem, I put out those humane trap and baited it with cat food. Ended up catching 5 in a 2 week period.This morning I went out to let the chickens out and there were coon tracks all around the chicken house . He didn't get in but is trying to find away in . I will have to get some more gaurd dogs most of mine have past away from old age . Just having a dog around stops most preaditors from coming around . Several years ago I had a Mama coon bring her half grown youngsters and killed 18 one night and 22 the next night . I don't keep that many birds now that would just put me out of the chicken bussiness .
I really haven't noticed a difference in taste or texture, but they sure look richer and have thicker shells. By the way the crushed shells are great to put around your tomatoes next year.My Buckeye has finally started laying! I found a nest hidden in the back corner of the coop - she had hollowed out a spot and laid 4 eggs in it. When I found the 4 eggs, I didn't know which chicken had laid them. I brought those eggs in and did the water float test. All 4 eggs stayed in position on the bottom of the bowl. So I ate them.
This afternoon, I walked outside and didn't see my Buckeye with the other 2 girls so I peeked in the coop and sure enough, she was hiding in the corner on her little nest. She didn't leave an egg behind, though. I guess she was just staying in practice.
Now, I know that free range eggs are much better for me than commercial eggs. I see that they have much thicker shells and darker yolks. They do taste different. I really do not like them hard-boiled and hard-boiled eggs have been a staple in my diet for a long time now. I sure hope my taste buds adjust because I can't buy eggs at the store anymore, just like I can't buy milk. The thought of either literally turns my stomach.
ever tried fried coon?When I had a coon problem, I put out those humane trap and baited it with cat food. Ended up catching 5 in a 2 week period.
I think thats part of having birds, you are going to loose some once in a while. I'm almost ready to get a couple outside dogs to help soon, I'm almost done with the fencing.This morning I went out to let the chickens out and there were coon tracks all around the chicken house . He didn't get in but is trying to find away in . I will have to get some more gaurd dogs most of mine have past away from old age . Just having a dog around stops most preaditors from coming around . Several years ago I had a Mama coon bring her half grown youngsters and killed 18 one night and 22 the next night . I don't keep that many birds now that would just put me out of the chicken bussiness .
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