Recent content by swede-murphy

  1. swede-murphy

    floor or no floor in a walk in coop? why or why not?

    Floor. High and dry, easier to clean, easier to keep predators and mice out.
  2. swede-murphy

    How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

    I had a great day! 40 eggs from 25 hens! It really helped to have forgotten to collect the evening before due to dinner guests.
  3. swede-murphy

    starting seeds

    This is similar to my set up, only I used a metal shelving unit set up on a counter top in my sun porch. I hang two 4 ft florescent lights from the bottom of the middle and top shelf on chains so I can adjust them up and down so as to get close to the plants; this gives me a double-decker plant...
  4. swede-murphy

    Cabbage poisonous?

    Hmmmm, my chickens love cabbage and related veggies. I left some in the garden (surplus) and they ate them down to the dirt. They get ALL the kitchen scraps, and they seem to like them, including raw potato peelings which have also been reported to be "poisonous." Cabbage is good for people...
  5. swede-murphy

    how much do you charge for your eggs?

    I have been selling mine to a local small specialty grocery store for $2.60/dozen (they sell them for 3.99!). I charge some others the same, but it is so much easier to bring a bunch of eggs to one place rather than to deliver all over town. I still give a lot away to friends, but then they give...
  6. swede-murphy

    BYC gardening thread!!

    I love to garden and I love to share the garden with the chickens. They feed me three times, eggs, meat, and fertilizer for the garden. You don't have to worry about "burning" your garden veggies with fresh chicken manure if you spread it thinly (or let them spread it thinly ) over the garden...
  7. swede-murphy

    How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

    I got 20/25, within the typical range of 18-23 that I usually get. However, one of them was a very cute little egg about the size of just a yolk. Nothing inside except egg white. I should have put it in the carton for a customer to find, just for the fun of it! But we cooked it up with some others.
  8. swede-murphy

    How many Eggs did you Sell today?

    I found a small specialty grocery store that wants to carry my farm eggs; I really don't want to get in the habit of driving all over making deliveries, particularly since I am heading into retirement this spring. It will work out well, I think. I have about 7-10 dozen per week above what I need...
  9. swede-murphy

    How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

    Today a record, 24/25 from 9 month old RIRs. They have been pretty reliable at between 18-21, but one day only 14. I am overwhelming my feed guy who has been buying my eggs, gonna have to develop some new markets!
  10. swede-murphy

    Egg Eaters

    Fence. The dogs will follow their instinct, good luck training this out of them. Our six dogs are separated from our 25 chickens by chainlink fence, and both groups are happy with plenty of room to roam.
  11. swede-murphy

    Frostbitten Comb- Vaseline Didn't Work

    I use an oil-filled heat, did not cost much but cannot remember having bought it years ago. Anyway, it has a thermostatic control and no open flames, heat elements, glass bulbs or anything like that. Looks like an old fashioned radiator. I also have an inexpensive digital thermometer that...
  12. swede-murphy

    ordering from Murray McMurray. What are your experiences?

    One datum point does not make a trend! Sorry it did not work for you on this occasion, but it is a stretch to blame it on sub-standard breeding. Did MMM make things right with a refund or credit?
  13. swede-murphy

    Frostbitten Comb- Vaseline Didn't Work

    If you are referring to damp as being "wet" then you are correct. If damp refers to high humidity, then it is not so clear. Frostbite occurs at temperatures at or below the freezing point, taking into account wind chill effects. Dry air increases the wind chill effect, humid air decreases it...
  14. swede-murphy

    Frostbitten Comb- Vaseline Didn't Work

    I have seen this idea in several places, that you don't want to heat because a) the birds can handle the cold, b) people don't want their birds to acclimate to the warmth, and c) what would happen if the electricity goes out and they are not used to the cold. Nothing personal to the OP, but this...
  15. swede-murphy

    How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

    I am in Wyoming. There have been other good days, but our typical laying rate averages about 75%. They have not slowed down during our cold spells, but I do keep the coop heated, if you can call 34 degrees being "heated."
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