Colorado

[samsr]

Wow, you have been busy! We didn't end up going to Elizabeth, but I have lots of slw pullets if you want to trade your roos. We're learning caponizing this weekend, yay. We are short on roos big enough to caponize, but I have 4 out of 6 ayam cemani and haffies that will be big enough eventually.

I know it's that time of year to cull older birds (I have one in mind too) and roosters, I have 20 3 month old pullets if anyone wants any, they are mostly slw. I have them on 18% protein all flock feed atm that I ferment. Healthy birds and very sweet, I handle them a lot to make it easier to catch them lol.

I would swap out 3 cream legbars roos for three hens but mine are only about six weeks and i am south of corado springs so that probably wouldnt work out too well.

 

[oshun55555]

Wow, you have been busy! We didn't end up going to Elizabeth, but I have lots of slw pullets if you want to trade your roos. We're learning caponizing this weekend, yay. We are short on roos big enough to caponize, but I have 4 out of 6 ayam cemani and haffies that will be big enough eventually.

I know it's that time of year to cull older birds (I have one in mind too) and roosters, I have 20 3 month old pullets if anyone wants any, they are mostly slw. I have them on 18% protein all flock feed atm that I ferment. Healthy birds and very sweet, I handle them a lot to make it easier to catch them lol.

Is someone going to teach you how to do it?

 

[ColoBecky]

Hello, I wanted to pass along some information about some research that is being conducted by the CSU veterinary school about the presence of salmonella in backyard and small scale layer flocks. The researchers came to see my coop this morning. Just took some samples and went through a questionnaire on how I maintain my flock and coop. They are looking for more flocks to sample, so if you'd like to take part, I'm pasting in the information below. The researcher said they will have to pause the collection at the end of this month due to freezing, but will resume in the spring.
_____________________________________________________

Hello,

We are contacting you to find out whether you currently sell or give away eggs? Our research team at Colorado State University is looking for flock owners to participate in a study evaluating the prevalence of Salmonella bacteria in backyard and small-scale layer flocks.

The information we learn will help us to develop Salmonella prevention recommendations tailored to the needs of smaller/diverse producers like you.

If you decide to participate, we will visit your facility at a time determined by you. We will administer a short questionnaire, which will last about 15 minutes and collect the samples, which will take up to 30 minutes, depending on your flock and facility size. For participating, you will receive free Salmonella diagnostic testing (an estimated $150 value), free avian influenza testing (an estimated $210 value) and your choice of a $10-$20 gift card.

Would you be interested in participating in this study? If so, please respond to this email or call Sarah Millonig directly at 970-297-4008. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Thanks for your time!

Sarah Millonig, Research Associate
Kristy Pabilonia, DVM, PhD
Colorado State University
CADSP011

Sarah M. Millonig
Research Associate, Colorado State University
Field Coordinator, Salmonella Prevalence in Small Scale Egg Production Flocks
Avian Specialist, Colorado Avian Disease Surveillance Program
(970)297-4008
[email protected]

 

[trsturself]

Wow, you have been busy! We didn't end up going to Elizabeth, but I have lots of slw pullets if you want to trade your roos. We're learning caponizing this weekend, yay. We are short on roos big enough to caponize, but I have 4 out of 6 ayam cemani and haffies that will be big enough eventually.

I know it's that time of year to cull older birds (I have one in mind too) and roosters, I have 20 3 month old pullets if anyone wants any, they are mostly slw. I have them on 18% protein all flock feed atm that I ferment. Healthy birds and very sweet, I handle them a lot to make it easier to catch them lol.

I'm definitely interested in swapping with you. Let's move this to PM to discuss days/times/locations. I'm in no hurry so I'm sure we'll be able to find a time/place that works for both of us.

 

[Double Kindness]

There's another thread here on byc about caponizing that we're following and our double set of Chinese caponizing equipment is otw here from Oklahoma, we're pretty nervous.

I think it's a valuable tool to learn to use in animal husbandry and flock management, to caponize and for breeding to get certain breeds decrowed surgically to keep happy neighbors. A crowing contest is not always the best thing for happy neighbors. There's always a question about wtd with extra roos, so I'm seeing how difficult it would be for a regular couple like my bf & me to do something like this, to supply our own meat and eggs in a variety (rabbit, duck, chicken).

A lot of people are noticing what we've been able to accomplish in a short period of time on our. 5 acre urban homestead project.

Idk if others are interested in CO about learning to caponize. I got the white bresse for the famed meat, but to get that meat one has to caponize, so we are learning on the .80 feed store roos, not the more expensive white bresse which are still too little to even sex atm. I had hoped for more than 5 roos out of 27 chicks lol, so I guess it's going to work out some how. It's a learning curve, I need roos to learn on, anyone want young pullets or learn to caponize, pm me.

 

[Euarto Gullible]

Double Kindness, let us know how your tools work. I may be interested in one of those kits if they're good. My first batch of capons will be ready to butcher soon. I'm eager to see how many are slips and the difference in quality between slips and clean capons. One of my Bresse hens is now laying. Every egg is going into the incubator. I will caponize the extra cockerels and add the pullets to my flock. I hope to add at least 15 more breeding pullets this fall/winter.

 

[Double Kindness]

I just have the 7 white bresse chicks atm, 2 roos will go to be decrowed to be the basis of my breeding stock. In the spring I'm getting another line of white bresse from gff to add biodiversity.

For Christmas I asked my bf for 2 incubators, some brooder stuff, and hoping he'll pay money towards my spring order of chicks being svart honas, ayam cemani, hmong, white bresse. Agh, of course I had to fall in love with rare chickens right?

I forgot if you are finishing your bresse capons on goat milk soaked grains or not? I look forward to your results! The bresse chicks legs are starting to turn blue, and they are growing so fast! I'm on my 2nd bag of chick starter (40 lb bag between 20 chicks age 2-7 weeks old). I need to seriously get a custom feed made b/c the gluten in the feed is starting to really make me ill. Freezer camp is soon, which will take 50% of my flock in a month.

We're going to be picking up a hog this weekend at the butchers and buying a new deep freezer, coolers, a fishing table and getting things ready to set up processing areas for the chickens, ducks and bunnies. In 10 days we take the nzw x sf doe Grace to be breed by a 16 lb nzw buck, and in 3-4 months be eating bunnies. It's going to be a busy weekend, hopefully we end the weekend with as many chickens as we begin with.

 

[Euarto Gullible]

Double Kindness, I'm just finishing these on grain since these capons are only Buff Orpingtons and one huge Olive Egger. If my flock produces enough eggs into the winter, after I have what I need, I'd be happy to set those eggs and sell you some from my flock for adding biodiversity. Mine come from GFF lines. I think most Bresse in the states are. I'm not sure how often GFF imports new Bresse from France. I would imagine the French aren't very cooperative in Americans importing their proud national cuisine and tacking on "American" in front of it. Here's my alpha roo, Bryce.

 

[Double Kindness]

The bresse line I have are from gff, but in the spring they are releasing another unrelated line to existing customers, so I'm adding them.

Reading how the ccl are so inbred, and not wanting similar issues, makes me want to add another blood line for breeding bresse. My dp meaties are getting quite big, and from the looks aggressive with one another. I'm going out with no pick for the roosters right now.

The muscovy ducks don't take any guff either, and are getting braver to explore everyday. It's getting a bit crowded in the meatie pen. Freezer camp soon!

 

[oshun55555]

I would love to caponize and have tried it a couple of times, I kill my chickens for food all the time, but the times I tried to caponize it was gruesome. I need someone to teach me how to do it. On the farm my grandfather tried to teach me but you how teenagers are, he told me "One day you will need this knowledge son". I sure poo pooed that idea, now that I am old and retired his words are haunting me.