Recent content by Blue Legs

So, I ended up putting 2 hot hands heat packet things in there and was able to keep the incubator at no less than 84f until the power turned back on in the morning. I may use 3 next time instead of 2. All dozen narragannassett poults and all 3 duck eggs are internally pipped and expected to...

So tonight my local power company is pulling the plug from 10pm-8am the next day. I have a batch of turkey eggs on day 23 and I am trying to decide if this power outage is acceptable or if im going to need to find them somewhere to go for the evening. Anyone ever had an extended power outage...

greenfires are the closest to the originals from my understandings, but way expensive. I got some from bresse farms in mississippi and was not super happy with the size of the birds or the meat quality compared to some I sourced locally which originally came from greenfire.

They are all similar in size to within a few pounds. Will the breed have much influence on final quality or is a heritage turkey a turkey is a turkey assuming they have been eating the same food? I've been leaning towards the bourbon red tom based on things I've read but... have no experience...

I routinely keep processed birds on ice for 5-6 days without any issues.

Wondering if anyone has an opinion on who might make the best thanksgiving dinner this year. We will be deep frying the bird, if that influences anyones decision. Looking to choose the bird that ought to have the best flavor.

I use a large butcher knife. I like having some weight behind the blade and like a longer surface to cut upon, plus your fingers are not likely to get cut

I have started a small farm business in Oregon. Currently focusing on microgreens production, but I am strongly considering expanding into a limited commercial poultry operation as well. Oregon has some very favorable farm-to-table style laws that allow home processing and sales so long as...

those look pretty damned strong, thank you

Anyone have a favorite? Tried doing an average sized cockerel today using some fancy ones from cutco and they SUCK big time, work less well than the walmart specials for 15 bucks. I'm going to be doing big turkeys so they need to be up to that task. Thanks

i've also done a few bresse crosses with jersey giants and orpingtons. All of the resulting offspring have a faster growth rate than normal and reach processing size in about 16-20 weeks. So if you want to add speed, thats another possibility

I had a 'hatch' of bourbon reds about a month ago that I only managed to get 2 hatchers out of. One was stronger and healthier right out the gate, and another was weaker and maybe 2/3 the size. The larger one managed to drown itself, and that possibility is no more, but now I am down to just the...

My first batch of bourbon red is currently hatching, and one of the birds has started pipping in the lower portion of the egg as opposed to near the top. It stuck its beak out saturday, and is still alive, but has not progressed. At what point should I intervene? It is currently day 27 and there...

Well, I seem to have finally diagnosed my hatching problems, but it did cost me a whole hatch of bresse and almost this whole batch of turkeys. My incubator thermometer probe likes to be resting against an egg to give reliable temperatures. For months now I couldnt understand why it was so far...

How are you keeping them warm. They need alot of heat for the first few weeks