BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Beer can]

Was it here we discussed bone grinders?
Saw that one at our county fair yesterday.

Used to grind bones to add to chicken feed for calcium before oyster shell became available. I'd like to get my hands on one.

 

[Beekissed]

Me too!!!! What I couldn't do with all these chicken and deer bones with that thing!

 

[JRNash]

Cool

 

[gjensen]

Hi guys. I have been lurking on this thread for some time now while I read it from start to finish. Finished up today ... whew!!

I'm in SW Louisiana ... not far from you @JRNash . I am raising a small flock of Delawares, and will be replacing my old flock of rir, blue orp and black sexlink in the next couple of weeks ... right after my next butcher day. I do have a Delaware cock with my old flock now, but will not be using him due to split/lazy wing. I currently have 3 cockerels and 8 pullets to begin my breeding program with next year ... not a lot, but that's what facilities and budget allows. My Delawares have had no problems dealing with the humidity or heat here. They have done well without any misters, spray downs, dipping pools etc. ... and if I had to do that to keep them here then I would find another breed. My Delaware cock with my old flock has done well through our wet winters and heat as well.

My plans for the rest of the year in preparation for next year is to select the best two of the cockerels ( pretty much all ready decided and the extra cockerel will be butchered with my old flock ) for breeding purposes and then to split the pullets into two breeding families to compliment the faults of the cockerels. The pullets will reside in my main coop and will take a visit to the cockerels when I begin their breeding and then return to the main coop when breeding season is done. I hope to breed my flock to perform well for eggs and meat ( culls ), but will also be breeding for standards and type as well ... when I say I have Delawares, I want to have Delawares.

I don't have specifics on my goals yet, because I don't know how my flock will perform next year ... In other words, I haven't had them long enough yet to know where they are so that I can move them forward. I have a general idea of where I want to take them and will work towards that. In the meantime I am enjoying them and having a blast making plans and building up my facilities for next year.

BTW, I also raise New Zealand Red rabbits and am working on improving these as well.

I have also enjoyed reading and learning on this thread!

It sounds like you are on the move.

 

[gjensen]

QUESTION: But first a short statement. We will on longer be in the beef business as of Aug. 30...(my birthday...send cash...it's the right size, right color and perfect styling).

Ok, seriously. We're no longer in the cattle business. We used Cydectin last year to worm every head and we have a small amount left in one of the containers. I'm considering using this product on my birds (first of a few that are more or less expendable). I'm wondering if anyone has used this product on birds (chickens) before and to what degree of success.

I have read lots about it on the web but would like to hear from some folks who have personal experience. Thanks for any information that might shed some light on this subject.

RON

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EDIT: Thanks to all who where lining up to give me the requested information. I don't even know why I made the request on this thread or any other on this forum. I did what I now realize I should have done in the first place...I called the Boehringer folks and after considerable false starts and stops, and several trips around Robin Hood's Barn, I finally was dumped of onto a very sweet young lady who went out of her way to give me the information in detail that she was NOT supposed to discuss...but I was able to ease her mind and frankly, "out--lawyer" her to the point that she succumbed to my charms....And...after a 15 minute period of speaking in conditional terms, she gave me a very good understanding of the product and it's benefits and drawbacks with a promise of sending me a packet of information out in the morning mail!

Seems I'll be able to use this 'stuff' on just about every living thing on the farm with the exception of very young critters.

It is generally effective. Do not depend on it to be a cure all for every little thing. It will help with mites more than lice, though it may still help you with lice. There are some worms that may persist. I think it is a helpful aid to use in the rotation. I like it for birds right before the molt (withdrawal time). I will not use it on my layers etc.

 

[gjensen]

I have a place for that bone grinder.

Concerning flighty birds . . . Everyone has a different definition it seams. I like birds that are athletic and active. Persistent and assertive. I do not like roost potatoes or lethargic. I do not like fat, and I do not like clumsy. I like bold and confident.

I also do not like persistent feather picking chicks. I am referring to those that regardless of management will literally eat their siblings. I do not like screamers, and I do not like birds that panic over nothing. I find that this is heritable and is not required for an active, and assertive bird.

Good active birds sometimes do not like to be cornered or closed in. Good management overcomes much of the hassle. But . . . there are still those that are a real problem.

 

[JRNash]

My leghorns roosted in the topd of 65ft pine trees. They ran even when I fed them

 

[DesertChic]

My leghorns roosted in the topd of 65ft pine trees. They ran even when I fed them

Yeah...I probably would've used those for target practice.

@gjensen I agree completely with your likes when it comes to my breeding and meat stock. Among my layer flock I like to have a few especially friendly birds that enjoy being held and pet. My layers are my long-term birds and I take comfort in their "pet-like" behavior. (But that might be a girl thing?)

 

[DesertChic]

I butchered my two Silkie cockerels today. Oh my! Not easy birds to process! So much fluff, so many feathers....such unbelievable narrow bodies. I wound up cutting out the spine just so I can remove all the organs. It was a fantastic reminder of why I like big birds. (And that black meat will take a little getting used to too.

)

 

[JRNash]

That's exactly what happened to them DeserChic.lol