Start the Countdown

[johnjk]

This year’s batch arrived this morning. 8 weeks till they go live in the freezer

 

[pigdoc]

This year’s batch arrived this morning. 8 weeks till they go live in the freezer

Amazing, isn't it?
The genetic improvement in livestock over the last 40-50 years is truly amazing.

-pigdoc

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Thats very cool.

I love chickens.

I wish I could have some, but we are not at the cottage enough to have them.

Luckily for me, our neighbors always have them around, so I buy bags of feed and when I'm up there I get to feed them.

Love watching them "run" to me for some reason.......The way they run, just cracks me up.

 

[skeets]

Think I'll take two chickens | Arya Stark | Sandor Clegane #gameofthrones #shorts #got

#gameofthrones #shorts #got #houseofthedragon #aryastark #sandorclegane #shorts #short

www.youtube.com

 

[Scm]

Ferment the feed and they will be a little bigger/healthier. We were getting them into the 6-7# range after 8-9 weeks when we raised Cornish crosses.

 

[BBFarmer]

My chickens are more pets than livestock, although they've kept us from buying eggs for almost 4 years now.

I've been ready to raise some meat birds now for a couple years. Kids and wife just can't accept it. Hopefully we'll get there soon.

 

[jyoutz]

My chickens are more pets than livestock, although they've kept us from buying eggs for almost 4 years now.

I've been ready to raise some meat birds now for a couple years. Kids and wife just can't accept it. Hopefully we'll get there soon.

I used to always raise turkeys for meat. A lot more bang for the buck than chickens. One time I put over 250# of turkey into the freezer.

 

[PHPaul]

Raised 4-5 dozen meat birds every year for a long time. Over the years, we developed a system where we could go from live birds to cut up and ready for the freezer at a rate of 4 birds an hour.

When they were pre-teens and teens, the grandsons would help. When they moved on (and we mysteriously got older...) it got to be more work than we were willing to do and it never did pencil out financially on a per pound basis.

Gooooooooood eatin' tho.

 

[Splinters and Sparks]

My chickens are more pets than livestock, although they've kept us from buying eggs for almost 4 years now.

I've been ready to raise some meat birds now for a couple years. Kids and wife just can't accept it. Hopefully we'll get there soon.

The wife and I are going thru this right now and preparing for chickens. I made her agree to keep the names simple- , Fricassee, Alfredo, Nuggets, Fajita or any other chicken dish she can think of!

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

What breeds do you get?

 

[BBFarmer]

What breeds do you get?

All of mine are brahmas. They're some big ole chickens.

Because of their size i dont have to worry about hawk attacks.

But because of our coon and possum population i do put them up and lock them down every night in their coop since day 1. If i didn't, they'd be done 10 times over now.

Not sure what i should get though for meat birds.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

All of mine are brahmas. They're some big ole chickens.

Because of their size i dont have to worry about hawk attacks.

But because of our coon and possum population i do put them up and lock them down every night in their coop since day 1. If i didn't, they'd be done 10 times over now.

Not sure what i should get though for meat birds.

We just have layers…3 Orpington (these are our favorite), 2 bard rock, 2 Rhode Island Red, 2 silver laced, 3 barnvelders. I would not get the barnvelders or silver laced again unless you like the Swedish chefs and gonzos chickens…same goofy personality but different color - they are goofy and I would not get them again. We had a couple of buckeyes that were mice eating machines, but the Orpington get after the mice to and are better layers IMO.

 

[BBFarmer]

We just have layers…3 Orpington (these are our favorite), 2 bard rock, 2 Rhode Island Red, 2 silver laced, 3 barnvelders. I would not get the barnvelders or silver laced again unless you like the Swedish chefs and gonzos chickens…same goofy personality but different color - they are goofy and I would not get them again. We had a couple of buckeyes that were mice eating machines, but the Orpington get after the mice to and are better layers IMO.

I used to keep a road island red at the shop. His name was Lincoln Hawk.

He was something. Eventually gave him to a co worker cause he kept trying to jump on vehicles. Couldn't have that. Barry never did that.

He had the highest pitch crow of all my roosters, ultimately why we gave barry his name. He had the deepest crow of all the roosters.

Oh the good ole days LOL

 

[johnjk]

What breeds do you get?

I do Cornish Rock birds, all males since they get bigger. We average around 9lbs each at processing.

 

[johnjk]

Dogs met them yesterday and and were unimpressed which is good. We don’t do layers. A good friend does around 60-70 layers in her flock and we happily buy her eggs. She supplies most of the restaurants and bakeries (that aren’t chains) in town.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Dogs met them yesterday and and were unimpressed which is good. We don’t do layers. A good friend does around 60-70 layers in her flock and we happily buy her eggs. She supplies most of the restaurants and bakeries (that aren’t chains) in town.

Do you get them from the LaRue hatchery or doing mail order? Or other? (We’ve been using Mt Healthy…it’s a bit of a drive but their hours are convenient for us and/or shipping not bad if buy enough for the discount)

 

[johnjk]

I get them from Welp Hatchery in Iowa. Birds come via USMail in 2 days. They shipped Tuesday evening and I got a call at 7:30 Thursday morning to grab them. Good service, decent prices and selections. I guess I should find a local and drive over for them. Save me some coin on shipping. Need to locate one in Central NW Ohio.

 

[johnjk]

Just googled LaRue and they are 30 min NW of us. Thanks for that tip. May check them out for the next batch

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Just googled LaRue and they are 30 min NW of us. Thanks for that tip. May check them out for the next batch

NP. I have not used them personally but someone I work with lives around corner from them and has gotten ducks there. Whenever I have called them they either don’t have breed I am looking for, or I can’t get there during their open hours. But yeah they are close to our county….sure beats MT healthy down by Cinci (they have weekend hours and really convenient stay in your vehicle pick up….we mail order if we have no reason to drive there)

 

[johnjk]

A trip to Cincy would mean I75 or double the time and do the back roads. I work from home so I can run to LaRue pretty much any time. I have to go up and pay for a side of Beef in Ridgeway in 2 wks. May do a side trip if they are open. Just texted my friend who does the layers and she uses them for all her birds.