Recent content by ScottyHOMEy

  1. ScottyHOMEy

    A box for dust baths -- how big?

    I've lost three birds over the winter to what I thought was cold. They lost a lot of feathers to what I have thought was the one aggressive hen at the top of the order. Thinking mites as the alternative, I've been equally aggressive with dusting the birds and the coop. With a smaller flock...
  2. ScottyHOMEy

    ? about cornish x for newbie

    The Cornish X is a chicken. It is the same bird that makes it to the supermarket as a broiler or roaster. Tyson or Perdue may (probably) have their own strains which are in some way different from the strain you or I can get from the hatcheries. For return on your investment, 8 weeks is about...
  3. ScottyHOMEy

    Wait time after dusting for mites?

    I'm about at wit's end. I know there is one aggressive RSL in the coop who is a pecker, and the other birds all show signs of her handiwork. But things ahave gotten worse the last few weeks, to the point that I'm suspecting mites. I haven't been able to positively identify any, but the...
  4. ScottyHOMEy

    "dispatching" & scalding ?'s

    Looks like pleny of advice. I'll just add a little punctuation to your question about the temp of the scalding water. The 145-160 range is a good one A rolling boil is a boil and will be too hot, with the effect of cooking the skin and you'll be pulling skin off along with feathers. A...
  5. ScottyHOMEy

    What are the red "blood spots" on egg yolks?

    Blood and meat spots are common. Not a high percentage but, once you'e cracked enough home-grown eggs open, they aren't all that rare and they're nothing to worry about. perfectly harmless. But I can understand how they could be a little disconcerting if one is encountering the first one. We...
  6. ScottyHOMEy

    Anyone from Maine know..

    Jason's Butcher Shop, Unity Rd, Albion, ME. Tel: 207-437-2490 does birds on Mondays. You need to call in advance to get your name on the list. They take some care so as not to get overbooked. Once there it's first-come-first-serve. They do a good, clean job. It's been $3/whole bird.
  7. ScottyHOMEy

    Newbie Questions

    What the others said. If you give it, it should be in small measure as a treat only. They'll love it as being something different. That's what treats are. Older/larger birds can absorb it more readily as part of their diet. You just don't want to give too much by way of treat to birds of...
  8. ScottyHOMEy

    I had my rooster "Fred" de-crowed... sad update

    Huh? Is this to disguise him for compliance with local ordinances against roosters? Otherwise . . . WHY??? ". . . he was VERY active with the girls . . . " Yes. They found him quite handy to alert them (vocally) to something tasty he'd come across or a threat they needed to avoid. No...
  9. ScottyHOMEy

    Different kinds of nest bedding???

    I'm having the experience also, with the current flock, that they will scratch the straw in the nests out into the shavings on the floor of the coop.
  10. ScottyHOMEy

    Managing your chicken money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The money I put into The Pullet Palace in my new locale may never be recovered. That aside . . . I'm small scale and don't break even in cash flow. My ladies don't produce enough eggs for me to hang a shingle out. And my nature is to pass our surplus along to family and to folks who I know can...
  11. ScottyHOMEy

    Question about medicated feed

    If you've got cocci in your soil, I'd go with keeping up the medicated feed for a while longer. You don't say what breed your new birds are, but it's not likely they'll be laying before 20 weeks or so. You could start to taper off the medicated feed a little before then or, if they start up...
  12. ScottyHOMEy

    Egg eaters! opinion on Kuhl front roll out nests boxes

    They'll take care of egg-eating, and deprive any of the ladies thinking of going broody of a clutch to set on. Simple, effective design.
  13. ScottyHOMEy

    processed first bird today!

    I'd let it rest. 48 hours refrigerated or on ice (without being frozen) is more than enough. It lets the rigor mortis work itself out. This being Monday, you could roast it up Wednesday, if your schedule allows. If you need to wait until the weekend keep it good and cool, or pop it in the...
  14. ScottyHOMEy

    Surprised myself! First time processing.

    Good job. Some fret about that first time, others don't. Sounds like you did well. Enjoy.
  15. ScottyHOMEy

    Keeping eggs

    Quote: Just reinforcing what Den had to say, layer feed does not induce laying, i.e., there's no hormonal additive or anything of the like. It simply has more calcium than grower feeds so that the hens don't strip their own systems of calcium (leading to something like osteoporosis and...
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