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  1. Country Parson

    Wagon Coop Completed - PICS ADDED

    I found an old airport luggage wagon on Craigslist for $200 and decided to buy it and turn it into a mobile chicken tractor. I have a 2-acre field that I can move it around on (though the chickens roam on my entire 5-acre property). I think I have about $450 into the project, as the side panels...
  2. Country Parson

    What is wrong with this birds feet?

    My son came home with a "free" chicken from a family friend. I immediately noticed its feet look horrible, and am not sure I want to put it with the rest of my flock. I've heard of mites, but not sure I would know what they look like. Is this mites? Something else? Or is this normal?
  3. Country Parson

    What is wrong with this liver?

    Here is another photo:
  4. Country Parson

    What is wrong with this liver?

    Any idea what is wrong with this liver? Known facts are: From a 7-week old Cornish Cross Bird had a huge bulge in its belly. One of its legs was twice the size of the other Last few days bulge was getting bigger, and was unable to walk. When culled, I didn't really notice anything unusual...
  5. Country Parson

    How forceful should I be?

    I have a pilgrim gander that is guarding two females on nests. While he has always been rather I'll-tempered, he is quite vicious now. In the past I have always stood up to him and made him back down (e.g. Grabbed his neck, hissed back at him, held him down, etc...whatever non-harmful tactic...
  6. Country Parson

    Plasson Bell & Other Wateres for Sale

    I have several used Plasson Bell waterers for sale, as well as some other "low flow" waterers. I'm not sure of the brand name of the other kind, but they sit on the ground and have a small float valve in the middle (covered by a cone). I use them to water baby chicks. The Plasson waterers work...
  7. Country Parson

    Pilgrim not laying

    I have a trio of pilgrims (1 male, 2 female). One has layed a dozen or more eggs and has been sitting on the nest for two weeks, but the other female hasn't layed a singke egg. It is possible she laid one egg (well...at least one egg was layed in the far corner of the pen away from the nest)...
  8. Country Parson

    Cornish X batch cracked corn only?

    I believe corn contains all of the 10 essential amino acids, including methionine (though perhaps in minimal amounts). It is added by the meat bird industry because it increases efficiency...i.e. Methionine helps burn fat and add muscle rapidly. As the OP doesnt mind slower growth, this isnt an...
  9. Country Parson

    Cornish X batch cracked corn only?

    On a practical level they would be too young to handle cracked corn, at least for the first few weeks. I've actually thought the same thing, as I had a huge supply of free cracked corn. I bought 100lbs of soy meal for $22, which is 48% protein. I mixed it with cracked corn till I got around...
  10. Country Parson

    How much cracked corn for meaties

    We try not to use any processed vegetable fats, and are increasing trying to cook with and eat solely animal fats. The chicken industry, just like the hog industry, are formulating their feeds to produce lean meat. We desire a fatter bird for eating (tastes better, the natural fat is excellent...
  11. Country Parson

    How much cracked corn for meaties

    Yeah, which is why I am only considering feeding cracked corn for the last couple of weeks. Last year I feed cracked corn for the entire last week. With unseasonably cold weather, my birds still averaged well over 5lbs each (finished weight after processing). I can't remember exactly , but I...
  12. Country Parson

    How much cracked corn for meaties

    I have ordered 50 cornish cross, which will arrive next Wednesday. Last year we feed mostly cracked corn for the last several days (maybe a whole week??), as we like a nice layer of fat on the birds. I'm curious if I could increase this to two weeks? Anyone have any thoughts about feed mostly...
  13. Country Parson

    Female Geese Trying to Mate with Each Other

    This has nothing to do with avoiding "same-sex" issues, since in different-sex animal sexuality the dominace instinct is also operational. That's why its called an instinct...it is always at play. You want to reduce this to merely physical pleasure. Sure, that's part of it, but its hardly the...
  14. Country Parson

    Female Geese Trying to Mate with Each Other

    Of course Geese have SOME cognitive ability...as does anything with a brain and spinal cord. The principle point is they that lack the capacity to engage in reason (or, to be precise, 'higher cognition'). As to dominance, it is not as if that is something that is established at a fix point in...
  15. Country Parson

    What bedding do you use? - POLL

    My understanding is Deep Litter is a method of managing the bedding, not a kind of bedding. Thus, you can deep litter with any of the above mentioned kinds of bedding (let me know if I am wrong about that. With that said I use primarily straw because I get it for free. I'll also throw in leaves...
  16. Country Parson

    Dog pulled my hen's leg off!!

    Sounds like you have a great neighbor, and I hope he says the same about you---you have certainly proven that your reasonable and want to be neighborly. With that said, you learned some painful lessons: 1. For traumatic injuries, it is best to immediately cull. I know that sounds mean to some...
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