Yeah, in hindsight I probably should have grabbed something larger. It would have sucked if the animals had attacked me directly, or if I ended up having to go inside the coop (close quarters) with just a bolt-action .22LR. I grabbed the Winchester 69 without thinking, it is the gun I always...
The Sheriff just left. They were completely understanding and told me I was well within my rights for what I did. In fact, he took one look at the dog laying in the run, with a mouth full of feathers, chuckled and said "You can't get any more incriminating than that!"
He spent 30 mins or so...
It's my understanding that is the law in Kansas as well, you're allowed to shoot pretty much anything that threatens your livestock, assuming you are outside of city limits where you wouldn't get in trouble for discharging a firearm.
I decided to call 911 a few moments ago and reported it -...
Hello all, hope everyone is doing well, been awhile since I posed here.
I'm in my office on my computer tonight and hear a ruckus out by the coop. We have been having problems with coyotes on and off so I grab my Winchester 69 and head out the door with a flashlight. Yeah, it's only a .22LR...
Well, just got back to the house and checked on them again, all appear to be survivors! Still a few that are weary-looking but all have eyes open and are standing or sitting in the brooding boxes. Amazing how quick they came back around, I'd have written at least 12 of them off as dead 3 hours...
Update -- 3 definitely dead, 11 barely alive (eyes closed, totally limp on their sides, barely breathing) and 10 that have seen better but probably will make it (eyes open, but very cold & lethargic)
We moved all the ones that had any sign of life into brooding boxes with heat lamps on them...
We bought 125 Cornish X this year from Welp . . . about 40 more than last year. Been keeping them inside the coop for the last couple weeks, they are 4 weeks old now so I'm moving them outside to the tractors. Got half of them done last night. The tractors are 12' square and 2' tall with...
Just wanted to thank you for this great post! We have been hanging ours by the legs using heavy twine, just too messy, plus occasionally they wriggle loose. Also have had problems with them breaking their wings while they spaz out.
Been looking at buying a few of these but just couldn't bring...
Well, we did 10 meat birds last year (Cornish X from Tractor Supply) and they were SOOO delicious we decided to do some more this year.
We were kinda hoping we could sell a few to family & friends as well, maybe make a few $$ to buy a few pieces of equipment and maybe cover the cost of the...
Thanks for all the suggestions -- Yes I realize 2000lbs is probably a bit much, but the mill has a surcharge for anything under a ton, plus we also have about 20 layers to feed, I can use the leftovers for them. The protein% will probably be a bit high but I figure I can thin it out with...
Good afternoon BYC'ers
We're going to do a large batch of meat birds this spring, about 50 birds. I have a feed mill nearby where I can get feed by the ton for WAAAAY cheaper than 50lb bags at TSC, but I have no idea what to tell them as far as ratios, ingredients, how to mix, etc.
Can...
...isn't too far off)
1.25 cubic feet = 1 bushel of corn = 56 pounds
56 / 1.25 = 44 lbs per cubic foot of corn
3x3x3ft box = 27 cubic feet = 44lbs * 27 or ~1188 lbs of corn
Wow you're right, that's alot heavier than I expected, glad I asked! I was going to build them 4x4x4 since I could just...
Hello all, been awhile since I posted on here.
We bought ten Cornish X as our first crack at raising meat birds last year. They were SOOOO delicious we decided this year we're getting a bunch more -- maybe like 30-40. Will probably keep 15 or so in the freezer for ourselves and sell the rest...
...hell. Hung him up, cut the jugular and finished up that way.
Plucking/prep: Got a stockpot of water going and doused him for 30 secs or so in 150* water. Man does that make the plucking easier! I'm getting better but still have to fight with the feet and wingtips to get them cut off. I...
Yes I agree we definitely have too many drakes. I put an ad on Craigslist to get rid of three of the drakes (I figure keeping one is enough) but no takers yet. Another week or two and I'll be making meat birds out of them. I hear ducks are a PITA to pluck compared to chickens, is that true?
Sounds like she may have splayed legs. What's on the floor of your brooder box? If it's anything slippery at all (including newspaper) they can lose traction, basically do the splits and dislocate their hips.
Make sure the brooder floor is covered with something non-slippery, like pine...
We have six ducks total -- two females, four males. The females are one Pekin and one Khaki, males are two Pekins, a Rouen and Khaki.
They're all about 20wks or so. Females just started laying, if I could just find the dang eggs! Found a couple -- they're good at hiding them!
I noticed the...
Well, the yellow one is all good to go! Snuck in last night and put it back underneath mama, since her clutch is starting to hatch now.
The second broken egg, which I thought was dead, has turned out OK too! It's running around in the incubator now, will put it under mama tonight . . .
One of our Delawares went broody in the barn several weeks ago and I put her on top of nine eggs. She's been doing great in there despite the heat of 100+ for the last week or more. They are on day 19 I'm pretty sure, although honestly I cannot remember exactly when I put them under her. It...