BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[smarsh]

Farming in general is a different business anymore. The small farm can hardly make a go of it, not that some don't. But a century ago, nearly all farms had a flock of chickens. Probably wasn't much money in the sale of chickens then, but it sure made sense to grow your own. Speaking of growing your own, is it a coincidence that the two teams playing for the football championship are from the states they are?

 

[hellbender]

If we could benefit from the reduced cost of feed like the big outfits, we could do better. I figure feed as around 80% of my output. I am always scheming on how to make improvements without sacrificing the quality of the ration.

As you know, volume and automation is key.

Around here to do any volume, you would have to go with the hybrids. Where I live, people are only going to pay so much for eggs. They do not care about rare, heritage, organic, free range, whatever. They care about what color the egg is, and how much they cost. There is exceptions. Just not enough of them. Can't compete with Wal-Mart here.

There is enough people that are interested in such to support a flock or two.

As I see it, eggs are never a waste of time. They store well and if I couldn't sell just about everyone I get my hands on, I'd feed 'em right back to the flock...In fact, many if not most of the smaller pullet eggs DO get feed back.

As for brown eggs...I certainly understand that system but I'm thinking of breaking that, to a degree. We have discussed the prospect of bringing in a small flock of white egg layers and sending them out...with a bit of notice to the customers. They will buy them or they won't. I'm betting they will, so long as I don't fill their cartons with white eggs all of a sudden...just one or two at a time to begin with.

Human nature being what it is, I suspect in fairly short order, I'll get calls for the free-range white eggs...Nothing like the trash that can be bought in every market in the country. Someone has to start somewhere..And frankly, it wouldn't kill me to slow down a bit to work on the SOP birds. If Folks want to try to dictate to me what color eggs I sell...they can pay pretty much the same price or more at Walmart!

LOLOLOL

 

[hellbender]

Farming in general is a different business anymore. The small farm can hardly make a go of it, not that some don't. But a century ago, nearly all farms had a flock of chickens. Probably wasn't much money in the sale of chickens then, but it sure made sense to grow your own. Speaking of growing your own, is it a coincidence that the two teams playing for the football championship are from the states they are?

Most had a flock of kids too..free labor...sort of.

 

[smarsh]

Most had a flock of kids too..free labor...sort of.

my dad would tell you differently on the price of child labor, but it is like raising chickens for a lot of people, a hobby that has benefits that outway the cost.

 

[hellbender]

my dad would tell you differently on the price of child labor, but it is like raising chickens for a lot of people, a hobby that has benefits that outway the cost.

I'm sure your dad is right. Being an only child and having only one, I might have lost perspective. I do however, think I've paid to raise several households full of kids...

and I hope they are all healthy and happy!

I absolutely love chickens, dogs and and kids and hate to even think of any of them being mis-treated or having to do without the good things in life.

 

[call ducks]

For anyone looking at production breeding - read this blog by my mentor. She sums everything up nicely

http://truenorthfarm.ca/production-breeding/

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

My kids do help out regularly. ANd I in turn drive them to sports and other clubs they belong to. I feel one of the greatest gifts I can give my children is a good work ethic.

LOL, yes Hellbender, Takes a lot of supervision to assign the work and teach the kids. I hope someday they appreciate the value of good food and the hard to get it on the table. ( they cook and wash clothes, too.) We all pitch in-- a team effort. And enjoy each others company.

Unfortunately I don't have a flock of kids, just kidding, 2 is just right.

 

[hellbender]

Raising ONE boy was enough for me! He was an all-American boy with many of their natural proclivities. Only had to 'bail him out' once ...for exercising the primal urges of most teen age boys...he was caught slipping out the window of a girl's bedroom.

Keep in mind...he was invited in. He learned his lesson from that...never again got caught..

Seriously, as good as my son was as a kid; hard worker, excellent student and went to WVU on a baseball tag, the greatest stressor of my life was when he told us he was joining the Marines. I tried to pay him not to do it.

I don't think I could have survived having more than one kid...not that we didn't try. It just wasn't in the cards.

 

[hellbender]

For anyone looking at production breeding - read this blog by my mentor. She sums everything up nicely

http://truenorthfarm.ca/production-breeding/

Very, very interesting...Thanks for posting the link!

 

[hellbender]

Very, very interesting...Thanks for posting the link!

Heck, this thread is quiet enough...I'm posting a pic (or two) of Jason...the apple of Ol
dad'

s eye.
He's holding a pic of our first Patterdale Terrier, the great grand dam of the two that ease our
predator problems by 'night stalking'.

By the way gals...he's single.