My Wyans didn't start laying till a full 7 mo+ - slow the whole way. For all that they were intened as an inprovement on the Brahma as a DP bird, I've got to say I'm unimpressed.
Only good thing I can say about mine is that they are very predator aware.
Traps set - one on either side of the pasture. Using sprats as bait - should be a strong enough odor to distract from my own (wore a fresth set of gloves to minimize human smell transfer as I assembled.
Worried I may still end up with my cat in one of these, but otherwise...
Fox, bobcat, or...
Cooking method is the determining factor, not weight. But yes, your math is right. If the growth is slowing markedly, take the bird now. If its still putting weight on at a good clip, and you don't need something close to supermarket tender, give it another two weeks and reconsider.
Study here.
https://projects.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Foothills-Farm-study_Full-report.pdf
Would like to see that in a larger study. Some of the results don't make sense, and may be an artifact of the nature of scratch & pck whole grain feed itself (as the study authors concede.) Its also...
I've found some deer scat, and some hog signs, but nothing that resembles dog or cat droppings inside the electric.
So, that's not a hard "no", its a "not a certain yes". Its certainly possible. Though we are high ground and not densely vegetated, there is plenty of swamp nearby. I did think...
I'd like to read that study. It seems *unlikely*, given the margins in the egg business. If rate of lay could be improved 10% by fermentation, then every egg laying commercial operation would be doing it. Historically, they operate at margins under 7% - having 10% more product for the same...
Have not heard them in months.
Lost another bird in the last 12 hours. Several piles of feathers. Whatever it was had to drag a 4# +/- hen, couldn't carry it. I found the initial attack site in the pasture, another puff of feathers in the pasture, a third as it hit the tree line, lose the...
The darkest two birds are just getting darker - so one stays on the cull list, one is added to it. Lightest bird is showing some markings, were I expected essentially none, so it comes off the cull list.
12 in the incubator, candled two days ago, progressing fine-ish. Questioning a couple...
More crimson than desired. Not Patterned as desired. And yet, this might actually work on my property (which is the ultimate goal, regardless of pattern).