BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[NanaKat]

I'll be butchering too since we have a break n the temperatures this week.

 

[Beer can]

I will be adjusting the ration especially for our meat roos going forward.
Thank you for that. I have started to move away from as much corn in their diets recently, the lay mash that I get from the local co-op (where I work) is heavy on the corn, but it's a decent ration at a good price. I do ferment their feed and I feel that it helps but I will be making a change soon.... actually have been changing slowly over to a diet with more wheat. It will cost me more but I believe it will be better as it will have less soybean meal also. Still planning on fermenting it just changing what I add.

I've saved a lot of $ by fermenting. It's pretty easy. Still haven't seen any documented proof of it's benefits but I've seen savings on my wallet so only proof I need. I hear you on the corn base, I get 17% layer mash 50lbs for $10 from our local mill, hard to shy away from that.

 

[aliciaplus3]

I've saved a lot of $ by fermenting. It's pretty easy. Still haven't seen any documented proof of it's benefits but I've seen savings on my wallet so only proof I need. I hear you on the corn base, I get 17% layer mash 50lbs for $10 from our local mill, hard to shy away from that.

I buy in bulk, my husband takes my 55 gal barrel down and gets it filled. I can get a 16% layer for around $0.18 a pound but it's heavy on the corn. The chick starter they make is 23% protein and $0.25 a pound. my plan is to lean t words the starter and add wheat and oyster shell. The wheat runs $0.20 a pound and roughly 13% protein

 

[aliciaplus3]

I currently feed a mash, so I add hot water to my feed one day along with a dash of acv and feed it the next morn

 

[aliciaplus3]

Culled one drake 16 weeks. This was my first duck ever, I was amazed at the sheer number of fluff feathers. Ended up skinning it. Doesn't look like much meat..... I still don't have a scale to weigh it. Also culled a game bird rooster that was given to me. Wow! Quite a bit of muscle. I ended up skinning him to. Whew. Almost makes me wish I would have used him for breeding first, except he was Wild! I did consider it before deciding that it is best to stick with my current rooster balance, at least I have them arranged so there is peace.

 

[3riverschick]

Got a response to my Craigslist ad. somebody in the next town over wants all the crossbreds including the roosters so I'm happy camper. I was going to kill the roosters tonight but now they're going to a New Home. Instead they'll probably get eaten there, but oh well that's the life of a rooster .
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Rant alert:
Well the hatching and grow out season is finally over. watta disaster
I ended up with two pullets today I am pretty sure are pure light Sussex. everybody else was sold today five pullets 3 cockerels for 24.00
I bought $150 incubator.
Built two new grow pens, put in a new watering system, four new brooder setups with hygrometers.
Bought many dollars worth of eggs
had infertile eggs.
we had an unknown power outage that killed 16 out of 17 eggs because the incubator is hardwired into the house and doesn't have on/ off switch. I'm getting to be really good at knowing what Light Sussex crossbreds look like at every stage of development .
sold the five pullets and three cockerels for $24. Today.
really lost my shirt on this season. I'm going to go to that farm and next year and demand he sell me a purebred Light Sussex Cockerel fully fledged.
I don't know what I expected. I went there with my $35 to buy a dozen eggs and he showed me a huge bucket with 60 eggs in it and said , pick out the ones you want.
you know what the differences between white leghorn and Light Sussex egg color is? about 100th of a shade. I was so pissed but what could I do? is either that or don't get any at all .
White Chanteclers andmeat rabbits coming this month. I move on from this season thoroughly disappointed but hopeful in the two little pullets. Karen

 

[NorthTexasWink]

@3riverschick
Next time you go back to that guy with the bucket of eggs, might tell him how deep in the hole he put you this season? If you or anyone else goes back. Doing business like that doesn't exactly encourage repeat customers.

All you can do is move forward. Going backwards makes you more liable to trip yourself. Or step in old poop.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Oh man, that sucks 3riverschick. If I ever sell hatching eggs or birds I would tell people what they are getting no bs. I would warn a person hey backyard barnyard mutt flock hatching eggs and what sort of mixes they might produce based on the mixed flock.

Sorry that happened to you... Ideal I thought has Sussex, might be another option for you, even if you get a small order and not SQ they still might be better than his mixes.

Say some Hoover Hatchery chicks today TSC got a delivery of the wee ones... nice healthy solid looking babies. I really wanted to bring home some of their Ameraucana line, especially the chick that launched an attack on my finger... that one has spunk, but alas straight run and hubby totally freaked about getting a rooster still. Sigh. So no babies this time. I will be studying up of feather sexing and early sexing of some specific breeds as he wants a couple breeds I suspect will be SR or we may have to order presexed and pay higher price for.

So hot today that the hens were wilting big time so I have brought them into the house to cool down, got them in the bathroom I raise the babies in. Not good outside, we say people collapsing just trying to get across the parking lot when we were out.

 

[3riverschick]

Cool, thanks guys .some warm words help .well I was trying to resurrect the gene pool I created several years ago and placed with this farmer 2 years ago when the pine tree fell in the grow out pen. I was trying to bring it back because of the guy who entrusted me with it in the first place. I had his only flock then so you know it is what it is . I'll keep trying. I'll keep these two girls and see if I can add a boy and maybe spread some nice Light Sussex around in year or two.
Best ,
Karen