Recent content by Cosmo

For under 1000 chickens per year, in NC, you can do processing on farm and don't need any certified facilities. I only had to get a farmers market business license to sell there.

I am in WNC just above our shared state line. Can you tell me where the mill is and the name and number? I am looking for a local mill that will do non GMO feeds and can buy 500 to 800 lbs at at time so a trip to SC would be worth it.

Thanks. I am going non GMO this year and I plan to charge a bit more. I had no idea that they would eat less though. I keep track of how much each batch eats so I can see if they grow faster, loose less birds, or eat eat less.

I raise 50 cornish cross birds at a time in a pastured pen like Joel Salatin uses. I get my chicks from Cackle Hatchery. Being on pasture is suppose to cut down on feed costs. I pay about $15 per 50 lb sack for meat bird feed, from the feed co-op. At about 7 weeks old they are about 4 lbs...

Western NC, zone 6. I made a mistake doing that and spent some time this afternoon moving the whole operation into the basement. Seemed like a good idea at the time until I spent the whole day trying to regulate the temperature. On a really hot day, I would have had 50 roasted chickens.

Instead of putting my brooder in the basement where it has a cold concrete floor and not much natural light, I had the bright idea to put it in the plastic high tunnel green house instead where it is very warm and has plenty of light during the day. Now that I have 50 chicks in there I am...

I suggest lots of ventilation. They are more likely to get sick from lack of ventilation than get too cold from too much. I board up the vent next to the roost during the winter to prevent frostbite but have plenty of other ventilation open. Most breeds are very cold hardy and unless you live...

Half inch hardware cloth will keep predators out and will keep racoons from sticking their paws in through the larger holes of chicken wire and killing chickens. Hardware cloth is more expensive but is the way to go. Since chickens love to eat bugs I'd invite them in.

Straw can be oat or wheat and is hollow in the center making it light and easier to stay dry. Hay is grass that is solid and has seeds in it. I use either straw or pine shavings from the farm supply store. Either one works fine.

I had an old trailer that was the back of a pickup truck. I wanted to move my chickens around the pasture so made the coop on top of it. I move it with my little tractor about once a week and the chicks have fresh grass and bugs to eat. I use Electronet fencing around the coop to keep them in...

Thanks, I have been thinking of getting rid of one of the drakes but so far they have been cooperative. There is one that is dominant and the second seems to respect that. I'll keep an eye on them though in case they get too aggressive. That is really fascinating that they will toss cracked...

I have three Kahki Campbell ducks that have each been laying an egg a day for the past two weeks. When the first one started laying she layed out in the yard instead of in the duck house. The second duck started laying inside in a nest that she made and then the first and second followed suit...

I will be ready for about three hens in a week or two. I am building a chicken tractor for hens for the back yard. I am in Asheville. Will you be coming to town in a week or two? I can meet you early, no problem. Allen