Hi Teresa, We like to let ours sit at least 24 hours at Refrigerator temps before cooking, We usually process ours and then shrink bag them right away most are always stiff getting them into the bags, then we deep freeze at -5 to -10 Deg F. When we eat them we let them thaw slowly in the...
well I still don't have my outdoor kitchen area setup yet, so I had to setup a temporary prep area using a large cutting board attached to my portable utility sink piped into a collection bucket. It was also my first run using my chicken plucker and turkey fryer setup for scalding the birds. I...
I have a friend who lost several birds to hawks, He picked up a picnic table type umbrella and cast iron stand, added an extra 3' pole onto it, I think it's 10 or 12' wide, along the edge he put in brass grommets like used in tarps and then ran bright orange flagging tape with string line to his...
You can do it either way, I've done both and like said before letting them rest for a day or two in an ice bath or tub in the refrigerator will make it easy to stuff them into the shrink bags. I never had any issues with doing that, when I directly freeze them I usually pull them out of the...
I ran my first run of the Dixie Rainbows/Pioneers this spring as well, I ordered 22 of the straight run from MM. I ended up with only 9 Males to 13 females which is abnormal I'm told as most straight runs are 70% male it seems. I also ordered some Delawares for egg layers. I've kept close tabs...
Back in Feb we got our first run of birds, I got 12 Delaware chickens for our egg layers and 22 meat birds known as Pioneers or Dixie rainbows, I've kept records of all the costs, of course for building the coop/tractor even with my scrounging still cost more than I would have liked. Looking...
Finally got my hen broke, took me 4 days of consecutively removing her from the nesting box and blocking her out for a few hours every time. now she is molting...
Just wanted to post an update that I have been using the DLM for well over a year now. We have a small coup with only 4 hens in the city, it has worked great and I only clean it out every 4-6 months. I just sort of winged it to how much DE to add, and when to add more wood shavings. I really...
I'm going to have to give this a try, one of my hens as been sitting/broody for about a month now, only have seen her out for a quick snack and some water. I thought she would give up but she's determined to hatch the ceramic egg..lol we have no rooster and can't have any more chickens so a...
I'm glad I found this post, I'm going through similar issues with my dog who is 6 months, she's Lab & Shepard mix and likes to follow the chickens around with her tail wagging. She has lunged a few times but only let her around them with her harness & leash on. I'm hoping I can train her but I...
I had helped to move a 10 x 12 tool shed for my neighbor a few years back, it was in the backyard with no access for a truck or machinery. We did it like the Egyptians. He bought a few round fence posts around 12' long, we used two of these to raise one side (by using a pier block and...
Thanks for the replies, She does lay a very large egg, XL Size. I thought it may have something to do with how big the eggs are, too bad their body can't hold back until the shells are harder guess you can't change mother nature. I'll try to separate her and give her some extra calcium and...
Hmm I suspected one of mine might have done the same thing, we have 4 chickens and I check the nesting box a couple times a day. About 2 weeks ago I had 5 eggs and I was sure I checked the night before.
Hello, I have 4 chickens at home and recently one of them has been laying thin shell eggs. I can tell who lays what based on the difference in heritage of the chickens. I read that it may be caused by lack of calcium, but I give them a high quality organic layer feed and access to oyster shell...
The other manufacturers start at $175+ and others are imported in. I'm also going to have a lifetime warranty with mine, since I've designed it from the ground up it will be rock solid.
Yes, I will have pictures soon, my auto chicken doors will be selling for $80-100 for the complete kit and can automatically open via a light sensor, timer or manually at morning or night or a combination of either. It's powered off of AA batteries, solar or 120V power. I've been trying not to...
I hope mine works that well, I'm about to introduce my chicks (3) to their Momma who is getting broody. I just hope I didn't wait too long there about 4 weeks right now.