I had 9 chicks hatch from my broody girls. A high percentage of the eggs were not fertile. of the 9 that hatched. One was killed by one of her aunts. Two just disappeared completely. 6 are doing very well and seem to have blended with with the others.
We can talk about eggs next spring. But my birds have shut down and my breeding season is mostly over..... I don't ship live birds anymore at all. It takes too much to do it legal. But if you find yourself in NE Kansas, I can fix you up.
Any outside pen is subject to owls and coons. The birds can't see at night and night critters use this.... I have the most trouble with owls.... this one is working on a chukar pen. Anytime a bird sleeps against the wire they are in danger...
I have ran 2"x4" wire for years on my pens. The only loss iv had was when a pullet decided she likes to sleep outside in a corner. This leaves them exposed to being killed by a owl or coon. Iv had very good luck with it!
Originally there were 6 that insisted on sitting the same nest as a sister.... 3 nest of 12 eggs each. When I gave them each a clutch, I stopped collecting eggs, they were tapering off anyway. But within a week another two, different pens, started hoarding eggs and went broody too. I'm not sure...
A few weeks ago I gave in to the broodies.... they wanted to sit so bad.... it's been outrageously hot lately. Now they have started to hatch early. They were all due tomorrow... I found a dead one in pen C tonight, the hens were still on the nest so I suspect there are more there or pipped...
Glad help.... They look good! I'd bet you have a fine flock of whites by fall Frank. In a few weeks they'll both be white and you won't be able to tell for sure which is the oldest.
Congrats! Butchering is never fun. But after a few days the feast is always awesome! I have two favorites.... The first is Spatchcock chicken.... it's best cooked with indirect heat, grill or smoker either. Cut up both sides of the backbone and pop breast bone it's easy to do. This let's the...
These were the hens of one pen. In breeding pens I ran quads of birds. You'll find that even those are hard to maintain long term. My largest group at the time. Cock birds rarely broke 350 grams.... But the hens usually pushed 400.
We raised a few big quail.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tatanka-breeders-club-meat-quail-project-with-history-discussion-pictures-and-videos.629414/
Good morning MTC, That's a great feel'n isn't it. Feed'n your family with your own effort. Kinda makes a person wanna raise a hog and learn how to make moonshine don't it! I'm glad it worked out well for you.... Bill
Yes Greg, I have shipped a lot of eggs this year. 466 to be eggzact. If it all works out there could be 19 new breeders of white cornish come spring. As far as shipping live birds, Thats somewhere I no longer choose to go. My birds started to slow down and the broody instinct was building to...