Recent content by bnentrup

Thanks again guys; that was my first batch last year-- I documented quite a bit of the experience -- some good/some bad but overall a learning project! For some reason, I was focused on getting them all to the 7lb live weight range and thus the extra weeks...the reason they were slower growing...

PERFECT! thanks for the input; secondly, I feel strongly the flavor issue will be resolved if/when I handle smaller batches. I used coolers and feel that I did not regulate temps well enough before I froze them. --- thanks again.

All are 1-year old birds, and I believe they are 'pre-molt' - I was just curious if the outcome of the egg-eating causes them to produce additional eggs. And just for the record, I removed the egg-eater tonight.

Well, we butchered about 25- cornish X last fall and finishing up with the last of the batch. I gotta be honest, now that the thrill of growing my own freezer meat is lost, I can admit that I was NEVER impressed with the texture of the meat. Secondly, they seem'd too frickin huge! I would say...

I have been consistently getting 9-eggs per day (24-hour period) from my flock of 8-chickens. One of the eggs usually gets eaten by one of the chickens though...and I am counting that as one of the 9... It has been this way for about one-month now. The only reason I can think is that they are...

I actually called the Indiana board of health about this for 2-reasons... Indiana seemingly does not fully adhere to the national law regarding rights to process a certain number of birds on your property per year (exemption from being a commercial and USDA stamped). The conclusion? He asked if...

Good advice and great reply-- thanks! I agree.. I did notice when I let them out the other day-- they wanted to 'fly' -- therefore I will probably make a 'taller' run too so that they can enjoy flapping a bit.

I did that.. and there is about 1/2" between the strip and the bottom -- enough of a gap that they 'thrust' the straw out. I may need to just build a 4-sided box?? It is frickin hilarious to watch them. As SOON as I put it in there, they go to town and straw is flying. I am wondering if they...

Ok, well my pullets have now reached what I consider full size-- one problem now... there are likely too many birds in their tractor. We were hoping to have been moved by now to our new farm where I could have built a larger coop. I am using a 4x10 tractor and have just about 3-square foot per...

Well, I have tried HARD to keep straw in the nesting boxes. The girls keep kicking it out on the ground (as they search for treats below the straw-so they think). I cannot figure out how to keep the straw in there long enough for them to leave it alone. I have not had any broken eggs yet from...

okra: per the 'web' http://ajol.info/index.php/wajae/article/viewFile/45677/29155 shows 15-22% protein -- therefore comparable -- I did know that turnip greens were high-- and fed them plenty this year! I tied in bundles and hung on strings in the tractors. YUM! - I am much more intrigued...

And - truth be know is it is in MOST of the commercial feeds we buy at the store. When buying chicken feed from the feed-mill..they use a base feed with proper nutrition and then 'dumb' it down with corn to reduce protein. Too much protein causes protein poisoning. Lesson learned is balance...

here is a list of VERY simple tools/inexpensive: -SCALDER: I use my turkey fryer that I bought with a pot at garage sale for $5.00 -Plucker: see picture below: about $10 or less in parts - and about 15-minutes to build using a PVC cap, and 5 black/rubber cargo straps attached to an old drill...

My take is that with about 9% protein ration, it will take 2x the feed to get the birds to butcher weight. So, IMO you are not saving money, but rather just spreading the money over time. The chickens 'may' get enough nutrients from the ground/bugs etc-- but more likely needing the tractor to...

Well, look at me.. I have not posted my success and finishing comments to this summer-time backyard story. It all ended August 8, 2010 -- yep.. well over 11-weeks from Start to finish. I really could have butchered them 8-9 range, but it was not convenient for us. And HONESTLY, the biggest...