BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[hellbender]

Everything here has finished molting that's going to molt, other than the continual molt of the juveniles. Looks like snow here too due to the Chanteclers but they are no obvious physical sings, other than the ground cover of white feathers.

 

[Our Roost]

Well, I have a lot of feathers all over the run areas. I notice all the birds are contributing to feather removal and pecking right now of loose feathers. Some get ingested and some don't. I suspect a little lack of calcium, so I will add some oyster shell to their diet.
It is that time of year in the north woods of Michigan and its evident molting is occuring. Nothing serious but not the prettiest time to adore your birds. There has been some very interesting climate changes in many states and I wonder how its changed, if any, how chicken behavior has been effected?

 

[hellbender]

Well shucks...I forgot to mention something tha Jason informed me of last evening. It appears that West Virginians can dress chickens and rabbits on premises and sell them at Farmer's Markets anywhere in the state. I don't know how many people are going to pay whatever the price my kids will ask for those Capons but if they travel to Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown or Martinsburg...they might sell a bird or two...hardly seems worth the effort but I think they might try it once.

From what I understand, each will take friend to a market with a friend and set up, just to see what the kind of action they will get. I think they are going to offer the large Capons at $50 bucks.

The big advertisers on the net demand $89 bucks for theirs so that's quite a discount....I think the markets are over for this year but I don't know that. It won't be hard to find out and if there's one left, I'm sure they will be represented...

 

[ronott1]

Well, I have a lot of feathers all over the run areas. I notice all the birds are contributing to feather removal and pecking right now of loose feathers. Some get ingested and some don't. I suspect a little lack of calcium, so I will add some oyster shell to their diet.
It is that time of year in the north woods of Michigan and its evident molting is occuring. Nothing serious but not the prettiest time to adore your birds. There has been some very interesting climate changes in many states and I wonder how its changed, if any, how chicken behavior has been effected?

It would be protein my friend!

Feathers are a lot of protein. Chickens do not need extra calcium when they are not laying eggs. They actually need less calcium and more protein to build new feathers.

 

[dfr1973]

Well shucks...I forgot to mention something tha Jason informed me of last evening. It appears that West Virginians can dress chickens and rabbits on premises and sell them at Farmer's Markets anywhere in the state. I don't know how many people are going to pay whatever the price my kids will ask for those Capons but if they travel to Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown or Martinsburg...they might sell a bird or two...hardly seems worth the effort but I think they might try it once.

From what I understand, each will take friend to a market with a friend and set up, just to see what the kind of action they will get. I think they are going to offer the large Capons at $50 bucks.

The big advertisers on the net demand $89 bucks for theirs so that's quite a discount....I think the markets are over for this year but I don't know that. It won't be hard to find out and if there's one left, I'm sure they will be represented...

Given the current state of turkey-raising this year in the Midwest, they may have a marketing angle for the holidays. "Roast capon instead of roast turkey," or some such like that. Hubby says the older birds smoked taste very similar to smoked turkey, although IMO an older chicken tastes much better than turkey. I am not a huge fan of turkeys. Might be why the idea of raising up twelve-pound capons sounds so good to me.

Speaking of capons, we have a new chick nanny, Pollux. Cappy and Puffy ended up being slips, although quite tasty ones. Pollux is another Americauna from Luanne, and adopted/was adopted by the two chicks hatched a couple weeks ago. He doesn't hover over them like a mother hen, but he does a great job of fluffing up and squatting to warm them up when they need it. It's cool enough again we turned off the AC over the weekend.

 

[Beer can]

My bunch that are a year and a half old have never molted. I figure about the time the temp hits negative they'll loose the feathers....

 

[JRNash]

Everything here to include the Greater Boat Tailed Grackels has molted

 

[Our Roost]

What was I thinking! I stand corrected and read way to many articles and then forget the content. Protein eh? Well, I just changed my feed ration thanks to you.

 

[NanaKat]

My runs look like pillow fights and have for about three weeks...just the large breeds. The Bantams are just now molting. The juveniles haven't started yet.

 

[Our Roost]

Hah! Pillow fights is a good example to explain molting onset. In my observation and continuous maintenance of raking out the run areas, feather abundance just kind of sneaks up on yourself and you might not realize the change taking place. I often ask myself how in the heck I end up with more feathers outside the run than inside! The whole fence area seems lined with feathers. Some people rake leaves and I rake feathers and poop! Almost looks like something from the outside pecked in to get their feathers. Also the coop floors look like the birds are stockpiling feathers for warmth in anticipation of colder weather. If you take notice, you will discover a buildup of dander and fluff covering window sills and walls. Good idea to do that last fall cleaning before turning on any heating or lighting. Wipe it down for safety sake. In Michigan the first frost is coming!