BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Beer can]

Well, my main focus is not for meat, but eggs. I don't have a problem with eating my chickens, just don't do it that often, as long as they are producing. By the time they aren't producing, they can be pretty tough! Even keep the roosters for breeding, unless I don't like their looks or temperament. That being said, this weekend I will be doing some extensive rooster culling, just because I'm getting too many, and the lesser specimens gotta go.

That being said, a sick chicken is a whole 'nother story. If it has a problem that can't be fixed or cured by me, I will put it down just to end it's suffering. I wouldn't eat it if it was some kind of unknown disease, though.

My main focus is the meat. I am getting too many eggs at the moment. Those old hens tender right up in a pressure cooker or slow cooker crock pot, or can them. I haven't got a white egg in a long time, no egg trap nest to figure out who's not pulling their weight on that one, only have one brown leghorn left now and one polish, rest lay brown or green/olive. Have to process some that are laying also to make room for the giants when I start hatching, and a shipment of naked necks. Only going to keep a couple EE/welsummer crosses out of that bunch. Have a few cockerels that are not needed also. We have five kids to feed and have to either cut down on the chickens or the kids, both are expensive to feed Lol!

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Ya I am getting to many eggs to but yet I just hatched more that I plan on keeping if they are hens and maybe a rooster I just have to wait and see the first two baby's are pullets I am positive

 

[Beer can]

Had a darn pig in the run of my big coop the other day, gone by time I got back out with my friend Mossberg. No chickens harmed, pulled the fence out of the ground. Pretty sure a feral one, have them in NY now, but have heard of no sightings in our area yet.
I don't think my mother in law believed me, told the wife 'are you sure it wasn't a bear'...I know what a bear looks like, it was a pig...she called yesterday, it was spotted about a mile down the road from us rutting a old hay bale, now she believes me....
I don't want to spend the $$ on electric fence, but if there is more around, or if it comes back when I'm not home I might have to.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Ya I want to get a solar fencer and since my run is two dog kennels with chicken wire under around the bottom of the coop and its all touch I was thinking of and solar fencer from tractor supply but I don't have the spare money right now

 

[hellbender]

My main focus is the meat. I am getting too many eggs at the moment. Those old hens tender right up in a pressure cooker or slow cooker crock pot, or can them. I haven't got a white egg in a long time, no egg trap nest to figure out who's not pulling their weight on that one, only have one brown leghorn left now and one polish, rest lay brown or green/olive. Have to process some that are laying also to make room for the giants when I start hatching, and a shipment of naked necks. Only going to keep a couple EE/welsummer crosses out of that bunch. Have a few cockerels that are not needed also. We have five kids to feed and have to either cut down on the chickens or the kids, both are expensive to feed Lol!

I think you will find the Naked Necks to be worthwhile. They are a very good stand-alone bird and we are going to cross then with Dark Cornish for deluxe capons.

Good luck with yours

 

[hellbender]

Had a darn pig in the run of my big coop the other day, gone by time I got back out with my friend Mossberg. No chickens harmed, pulled the fence out of the ground. Pretty sure a feral one, have them in NY now, but have heard of no sightings in our area yet.
I don't think my mother in law believed me, told the wife 'are you sure it wasn't a bear'...I know what a bear looks like, it was a pig...she called yesterday, it was spotted about a mile down the road from us rutting a old hay bale, now she believes me....
I don't want to spend the $$ on electric fence, but if there is more around, or if it comes back when I'm not home I

@Roada Red ...as well...It doesn't take much money to keep electric on an area. For protecting from hogs, a cheap charger and one strand of copper wire around the bottom of the pen, about 6 to 8 inches from the ground will be plenty to keep any hogs from taking one step closer. Those big ol' wet noses and pointy toes will ground a hog in the driest weather, provided you sink a good ground post to begin with.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Ya I know I just meant buying the fencer plus I don't want cords running through the yard and plus since it would be solar it would make the price on the fencer more expensive than it already is

 

[Beer can]

I need a faster growing cheaper feeding breed to counter balance the cost of these giants that I will be keeping. Not keeping the Red Sussex, not impressed with their growth. The pullets are laying great but I've had better growth with hatchery RIR. I'll try the NN and see how they do here this coming winter. Going on a trip to Florida next month and debating picking up a dozen German New Hampshire hatching eggs from Eight Acres Farm in Gainesville on the way back up. I'd save shipping cost and risk but I don't want to be over run with breeds/chickens, think it would be better to see how NN do first.

 

[hellbender]

Ya I know I just meant buying the fencer plus I don't want cords running through the yard and plus since it would be solar it would make the price on the fencer more expensive than it already is

When you get past the cash part, cords can be buried with ease, only need to lift up the turf with a 4-corner shovel.

 

[Beer can]

I'd rather the pig doesn't come back. Haven't had to deal with them here before. If they're here they're here though, guess they're like rats once they get established. Can't be the state is doing well at eradicating them. Went from open season on them to closing hunting cause they think it made them smarter/harder to get rid of. DEC is supposed to be using traps and helicopters now, I doubt they are doing much good. Haven't heard. If it was working I'm sure they would be bragging.