California - Northern

[zooweemama]

This thread used to be quiet, now I can't keep up... Welcome to the newbies! I wouldn't call most of us vets, we all talk a lot but I don't think any of us are old timers.

Amy, all my livestock have a purpose (rescued horses excepted). They are either food or breeding stock. Even my dogs & cats are expected to work for their living.

And I choose breeds that are a good fit for small homesteads, needing less space, less food, many can forage for themselves in the right environment.
Jersey & Jules, Guinea Hogs grow to 100-300 lbs. Less meat than production hogs but more flavorful. Easy to process. They have wonderful temperaments, not aggressive at all.
Here's more info on them: http://guineahogs.org/?page_id=98

Pat, I think if you plan to show and sell, you either have to cull sick birds or breed for resistance, or both.

Chiquita, I'm sorry about Sachi.

Meg, ask about King Feed on the Bay Area thread. I know some of them use it and will know where to get it.

Cali Chick, I love those aprons. My husband often has Levis that are beyond use as pants.
Walt said that he is showing at the State Fair. Deb will be there, too.

I wonder if people consider my place a crazy chicken habitat. I couldn't tell if Ron was cringing

or not. A few feathers from our butchering are still out on the lawn next to the picnic table. We had people over for a meal and I was hoping they wouldn't notice. My husband had to open his mouth and tell them!

Kim

I love pork! Other than feeding pigs I don't know anything else about their care. How much do piglets cost, is it expensive to feed them....and how much does a butchering fee cost for a pig? Do you eat the other animals or are they breeding? From a 200-300 pound pig- how much meat would you say you get? How long does it take to raise them that large?

 

[zooweemama]

I'm trying to get King Brand food into Rodies in Clayton (a small farm/feed store.) Clayton is by Walnut Creek/Concord. If you live close and would like to see this brand carried, please call Rodies and request it!! I talked to the Kings Brand feed guy yesterday (Hal) and he's going to try to contact them next week to try to get his product to be sold there. If you call and request it, we have a better chance! Here's the info: Rodies Feed & Country Store: 8863 Marsh Creek Rd, Clayton, CA 94517 - (925) 672-4600.

Let's get this done chicken fam!

- Megan

Good luck!!! Wish I had some more Redding peeps- we could gang up on a store here! hehe

 

[zooweemama]

I'm the Deb mentioned below. I have ten birds entered, all a bit young, don't have a place yet to condition them individually, so they won't be competitive. But this will be my DH's first time ever to go to a poultry show, so we thought we'd go. I've really given him the bug, he's outside today building the newest bank of coop/runs (The Hen Haven)


No, this place was insane. An elderly woman living by herself. It was the most gorgeous inground pool and there were ducks/geese swimming in it and perched all along the rim. Chickens ran loose everywhere. When you stood in her carport, you had to look up and make sure no one was roosting above you. If so, you'd be the poop board! She had an oddball collection of gargage sale/thrift store finds, dog crates, exercise pens, baby play pens, shipping crates, stuff just flipped upside down everywhere to use as breeding pens so she would know who was breeding who to collect eggs.

It's too bad the tv show Animal Hoarders wasn't around then!

Deb

Wow sounds crazy! Ducks and geese don't just poop frequently- they poop a lot and geese poop like the size of cat poops but all day long! They would really destroy a pool in no time!

 

[zooweemama]

So I am working on gathering and testing egg recipes. Gotta be ready for September when some of my layers start kicking down some eggs. Mmm! The farmer we get our eggs from currently - his flock of 17 I guess is laying like half as much past couple weeks. I assume it was the heat? I normally buy like 6-8 dozen once a month from him and this month he only had 4 to sell me. Eek! I really hope the mister we installed helps the chickens stay cool and less stressed when the heat comes back. I'd hate for that to happen to me next year!

 

[lawatt]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/690849/platinum-sumatra-pair-for-sale

these are so crazily beautiful, it makes me wish i could have a rooster! hope you've found a good home for them...
best,
laura

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Thanks you Deb!

My little one has little yellowish wattles so she looks like a pullet to me too.

Ron

 

[zooweemama]

Anyone here have Delawares? Curious how they tolerate the heat.

I was reading in my book- that old time utility breeds were Delaware, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte. Of those...do you have any personal experience? How are they as egg layers? Meat birds? Temperament?

Not sure after this year if I want to perpetuate my Marans or not- or we want to go try another breed to replace it...I think I would like to have a 2 utility breeds and 1 egg laying breed next year.

 

[ronott1]

So I am working on gathering and testing egg recipes. Gotta be ready for September when some of my layers start kicking down some eggs. Mmm! The farmer we get our eggs from currently - his flock of 17 I guess is laying like half as much past couple weeks. I assume it was the heat? I normally buy like 6-8 dozen once a month from him and this month he only had 4 to sell me. Eek! I really hope the mister we installed helps the chickens stay cool and less stressed when the heat comes back. I'd hate for that to happen to me next year!

Yes! the heat slows them down. My Marans stopped altogether.

I wish the Basque hens were laying to see if the heat slows them down.

Mine were also stressed by the rooster.

They like him now however. In a couple of weeks I am going to sneak some eggs into the incubator....

Ron

 

[debs_flock]

It's been 100+ here and my BCMs have been doing fine. In fact, the pen next door of NH have seemed to be bothered more by the heat (extended wings, panting).

Can't comment on the egg laying, they are both just reaching POL.

Deb

 

[lawatt]

Anyone here have Delawares? Curious how they tolerate the heat.

I was reading in my book- that old time utility breeds were Delaware, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte. Of those...do you have any personal experience? How are they as egg layers? Meat birds? Temperament?

Not sure after this year if I want to perpetuate my Marans or not- or we want to go try another breed to replace it...I think I would like to have a 2 utility breeds and 1 egg laying breed next year.

it's too early for me to know, i've only had my Delaware pullet (7-8 weeks old) Lucy since monday, but so far she's the friendliest of my four, very sweet-tempered and trusting, AND she totally befriended the younger/smaller australorp chick, and now looks after her almost like a foster mom. and she's utterly beautiful -- i'm a big fan.