Colorado

[samsr]

My hatchings went semi well between 8 broodies.

I currently have 3 broodies on nests again. I dressed out my cx meaties at 12 weeks old at 24 lbs each. I'm picking up between 30-50 more cx meaties from the same guy I got ny last batch from tomorrow, as shipped chicks stress me out.

I sold my bean line ayam cemani trio and a pair of crested cream legbars this week reducing my number of roosters. I still have a trio of adult white bresse to sell and a pair of svart honas if anyone local is interested before I out them on rare breeds auctions.

The neighbor is slightly better. I think he & his last gf finally broke up and he went back to being a reasonable person. Plus we got a lawyer and code enforcement and the rest of the entire neighborhood on our side. He rents. We own. We've been here longer, and my roosters had expensive crow reduction surgeries and my bf built them special housing in the basement.

I've been over to the bar mm and posted many pictures

Am i understandi correctly. You raised meat birds that dressed out at 24 pounds each? Were they crossed with teridactle? Or am i just reading that wrong. I processed mine. Feeding all organic feed. They averaged 4.5 pounds a piece.
Wonder what i did wrong.

 

[Mtn Margie]

2.4 lbs is just as bad as 24 lb! There has to be a mistype somewhere......
Maggie, I am going to process my old layers at the end of Oct. Yes, my 3 yr olds.....
And I have some 2.5 yr Oct. babies that need to go as well..... Use your own hens for your food, it only makes sense. If you have trouble doing the deed, then have someone help you with that part and the rest you will be able to manage.

 

[maggiemo]

Thanks Margie and LS. I know I am being a weenie. I knew you guys would tell me what I needed to hear.
I know it is stupid to feel sad about this. Yes LS, this is why I started raising birds; for food for my family. I have processed lots of birds, but I really, really don't like processing my own laying birds. I feel like I am betraying them. I started a new flock, and flock rotation 3 years ago, so now it is time to pay the reaper.
I have a friend who I would kill her laying hens for her, and the deal was, she would do mine...she moved to Australia a month ago

I am SOOOO glad to hear that you ( Margie) kill your 3 year olds. I have a few that are still laying well. In my heart I know they will slow way down and might have reproductive issues. But then I hear or read someone saying how they have a 7 year old birds who lays several eggs a week. So, I was starting to waffle.

I have processed meat birds with Kristin at Long Shadow Farm in Berthoud. I'll book my birds in on her next slaughter date. She does the killing if I don't want to, and I can clean them

. It's got to be done.

Thanks guys.

 

[Ashdoes]

2.4 lbs is just as bad as 24 lb!    There has to be a mistype somewhere......
Maggie, I am going to process my old layers at the end of Oct.  Yes, my 3 yr olds.....
And I have some 2.5 yr Oct. babies that need to go as well.....    Use your own hens for your food, it only makes sense.   If you have trouble doing the deed, then have someone help you with that part and the rest you will be able to manage. 

This is what we just did. Processed three year old hens, my big fat pig Cochins, and all the Roos we don't need anymore. Taking 8 (or ten) out of the flock greatly reduced the feed we go through, and calmed the flock overall. We're letting our oldest Cream Legbars lay through the winter and one more spring. By then I'll have a better idea of if we're moving or not, and what exactly needs to happen to the flock. My mother-in-law would prefer I had 20 hens, at least, she's getting sick of store prices. I guess I've been spoiling her these last three years. At one point we had enough eggs for the entire family, that's four households never running out of eggs...I'm not sure how I manage that many for so long

 

[rf12345]

This is what we just did. Processed three year old hens, my big fat pig Cochins, and all the Roos we don't need anymore. Taking 8 (or ten) out of the flock greatly reduced the feed we go through, and calmed the flock overall. We're letting our oldest Cream Legbars lay through the winter and one more spring. By then I'll have a better idea of if we're moving or not, and what exactly needs to happen to the flock. My mother-in-law would prefer I had 20 hens, at least, she's getting sick of store prices. I guess I've been spoiling her these last three years. At one point we had enough eggs for the entire family, that's four households never running out of eggs...I'm not sure how I manage that many for so long

How do you like Legbars? are you breeding them for chicks or have just a hen and no rooster?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Maggie, it is not stupid to feel sad, it is a very real feeling. You spend all your time watching them grow and protecting them and feeding them and then all of a sudden, it becomes time to process them. That is a reality, but a necessary one for those who are not loaded with money or space. Most hens have laid over 75% of their lifetime eggs around age three. I have two hens that we named and they are 6/7 and they are still here. Their job is to show the young ones how to deal with snow, hail, predators and wind and how to come when called. Very important!
Give them your "Thanks Blessing" and know that you have done the right thing by not wasting them and you now have the opportunity to learn about other chickens and gain even more knowledge.
It is tough, you are not being a wimp, you are being honest with yourself and you will have the same respect for your food and pride in yourself as with the meaties.

 

[maggiemo]

Thanks Margie,
Those two are lucky birds. I have two I am having a particularly hard time facing the reality of processing. Two naked necks. They don't protect the flock, or show the new birds anything. They are just sweet to me. Thus the betrayal I feel when I process my laying hens. I could easily keep them and tell myself they are adding something to the flock. I know they are mostly spent for laying. They would probably be ok laying one more summer. Those are the two I am waffling most about.
If I read this and didn't write it, I know I would advise to process all the three year olds for the health of the flock.
I'll do it...

I am so grateful to 'talk' about this with fellow bird lovers.
mo

 

[Ashdoes]

How do you like Legbars? are you breeding them for chicks or have just a hen and no rooster?

We hatched them for a while, and I really disliked the Roos. They were just too aggressive. I have six or seven hens left, and we like their personalities well enough. Their mixed babies have become my favorite, very friendly, pretty birds. Wyandotte Cream and Cochin Creams. We've also found the full Creams got sick easier, but not these mixes.
So, our girls are molting heavy right now. I'm feeding them feather fixer, but is there a protein I could be giving them to help out more? These girls look awful.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Some cat food or if you happen to come across a good deal in the sell today meat counter, your girls will love you.

 

[Latestarter]

I've found cans of mackerel in the canned meat section @ walmart for like 69 or 89 cents (can't remember which now - cheaper than cat food). I just open the can, drain it, stick a large fork in there to mash it up a bit, then scoop it into their food trough... Side benefit is they get the added calcium from the bones in the fish. It disappears pretty quick.

Hasn't been enough to stop several of my birds from eating eggs

Wish I could catch the culprit(s). It seems they must lay the egg and then immediately consume it because even checking them regularly, I haven't been able to catch the egg eater(s). I always find a wet spot of albumin and whatever is left of the shell