California - Northern

[Ali707]

Hot and exciting! ERM... Not the way it sounded. But its going to be warmmm this weekend . we were going to Lodi for the passport event but its over 100 there this weekend . I'm set up for a weekend of frozen drinks and not cooking.

Can you put the edges of your coop on wheeled mover things? They are like 5-10 bucks at harbor freight. I use them to move coops and heavy crap all the time I love them!

( the exciting was the funding coming in. The hot was about the packing...)

I am so glad you clarified because I was kind of lost. I don't know about those wheeled mover things, but I might go take a look at them they might be worth the investment.

My green singing finches laid an egg today.

Here's a reminder of the size of baby finches (these were some abandoned gouldians that I was hand feeding last year)




The singers had been courting for a couple of weeks so I gave them a nest and some nesting material. They have been busily building for days! Last year they successfully raised two clutches.

That is so neat! You have way more patience than I do feeding with a toothpick. Maybe I should try that for my next diet!

 

[ronott1]

The Blue and Black Australorps I hatched this year are 22 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg today. It weighed 37G:

 

[Ali707]

I am sure a few of us can help out if you need it
not that I claim to be either big strong or manly

just somewhere in between so maybe 5 to be safe
wow they are small. how big was the egg?

Thanks Jason! You guys here are the best! I will take regular ole men too. They don't have to be manly men. I don't really think girly men would offer to help anyway.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

The Blue and Black Australorps I hatched this year are 22 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg today. It weighed 37G:

How cute!

 

[Ali707]

The Blue and Black Australorps I hatched this year are 22 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg today. It weighed 37G:

How big are they getting? What a nice color on that egg.

 

[chrissyr]

Eat the Cockerels at 4 months and the pullets at 5 months. They need to be moisture cooked after that.

How is the capon practice going?

But at 4 months did you find there just wasnt enough meat on the birds? Maybe for a stew it's good enough.

The Blue and Black Australorps I hatched this year are 22 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg today. It weighed 37G:

Pretty egg Love when the wait is over and they finally start to lay!

 

[Happy Chooks]

The Blue and Black Australorps I hatched this year are 22 weeks old and one of them laid their first egg today. It weighed 37G:

Nice egg, congrats!

My black sex link started laying and I was surprised to see a mauve colored egg. It's very pretty, I will have to get a picture. She's from a BR hen covered by a welsummer rooster.

 

[ronott1]

But at 4 months did you find there just wasnt enough meat on the birds? Maybe for a stew it's good enough.

Pretty egg Love when the wait is over and they finally start to lay!

We have to adjust expectations with regular chickens. They will have less breast meat but more thigh and drumstick meat. The Bresse were 3.5 pounds at this age which is a nice size.

I cooked one in the smoker last weekend and everyone loved it!

The BA egg is very nice for a first egg.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: The carcass on them is around 3 pounds, give or take a few ounces. We are a family of two so that is more than enough for us. I freeze birds 3-4 mos of age whole, then I know I can cook them anyway I want. I freeze older birds cut into parts, then I know to braise them first.

You're never going to get the same size bird as you do with a grocery store bird unless you raise traditional meat chicks (Cornish cross, etc.). The problem they are not naturally sustainable, so you'll need to buy your chicks. Then you can produce birds of the same size & age as what you find at the store.

 

[chiqita]

I just eyeball my boys. When the decibles are too high we cut down. But I don't mind a little tough in most dishes. And if they are exceptionally large they become speedy stew.

The marans are noticibly tastier even if they are 1/2 breeds. Besides the breese. Silkies are never the same and must be stew.