I'm about 90 miles north of Los Angeles in the very western end of the Mojave, at 3000'. Near the town of Gorman, about 30 miles west of Lancaster.
Richard
Boy. Our first day over 100. I went out to check on the eight CX's I have. They're six weeks, and I was hoping to process in the next week or so.
Three were dead, and two more died in front of me. I got the last three over to an emergency dog run and sprayed them with some cool-down...
One more thing, Mr. Apple. You are parroting popularized nonsense when you assume a high school teacher should "at least" know something.
I hold a doctorate from UCLA. I'm a published author in refereed journals. I was named a California Teacher of the Year, a Milken Foundation National...
One wonders why ad hominem attacks are necessary here.
I hate it when moderates cannot try to join a conversation. We just get to watch idiots on both ends of a spectrum lob logic bombs at each other.
I quit. No more BYC for me.
Formerly Richard in Neenach, California
I'm sooooo new at this, but what I read seems to point me in two directions with the sprouts, and so far, I notice the chickens seem to notice.
1. Grain. Sprouted 3-5 days, until the seeds have basically "unpacked" all the chemicals nature provided to feed the plant embryo, but BEFORE the...
Quote:
I go back to Einstein on this one, and it's been my mantra for 3 decades teaching high school chemistry/biology/physics:
"There is nothing so complex that it cannot be explained simply. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
The problem I have seen in the...
I went to a nursery and got a sand sieve. The fine ones (not the coarse) do a good job of holding the seeds while I give them a good rinse.
Our soil is pretty rocky, so I have to run the dirt through a sieve in the beds where I want to grow carrots.
Richard
Amen. It's not cheaper, but it tastes better, and I sure gotta believe it's better for you.
When you clean the bird, and there's not tons of fat to cut away, that has to be a good thing.
Growing tomatoes at home isn't too cheap, either.
50-lb sack of whole barley at the feed store.
They do seem to love the stuff. I think they like it better as 4-day sprouts than full greens, but they get lots of greens from the garden, anyway.
I've done a few Orpingtons. Good eating, and a decent amount of meat for a dual-purpose. I like dual-purpose birds in the 12-16 week range for the tenderness issues mentioned here.
My favorites are the New Hampshires.
Richard
I've been using the bucket and bag under the cone method. I have a 5 gallon bucket with a black trash bag in it. As soon as I have the bird's neck cut, I can pull up the bag and the bleed out is much cleaner. I also have the legs bungied together at the top of the kill cone. For me at...
I processed the last of my TJ's chickens last night. They're in the fridge aging.
What is sad is that I processed a New Hampshire roo at the same time that was 10 days older. He was twice as big, though!
So much less frantic this morning when I went out to check on the birds! Everyone...
I have trouble telling the difference between my 3 NH and 2 PR hens. Actually, I don't just have trouble. I have no idea which is which.
Am I alone here?
Richard in Neenach, California
Amen on both of these. Most of the birds I raise for eating at NH's so far, but I'm very new to the whole thing.
New Hampshire at 12-14 weeks have been good eating for me on the bbq or in the oven.
That is a great story. My New Hampshires come over all the time. Several actually trip me until I pet their breastbone. The TJ's, meanwhile, are dialing 911 and claiming I'm Norman Bates!
My last three TJ's chickens (11 weeks) are going to the freezer farm this week. I'm very tired of walking by their coop, and them freaking out. All the other chickens come a running!
I don't much care if I get a lot of white eggs! We're getting plenty from the New Hampshires and Red Stars...
Mine really tore into the 4-day barley sprouts I gave them. I'm trying to do it a few times a week, but also keep them with layer pellets on demand to keep all the nutrients in balance. They get a ton of greens out of the greenhouse most days as well.
Richard in Neenach, California
Amen on Odyssey Ranch. I have had nothing but good experiences there. Wayne and Barbara will sure give you lots of help if you need it.
Richard in Neenach