EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING CHAT THREAD, w/ Sally Sunshine Shipped Eggs

[BantyChooks]

Well, around here, for one - I've certainly driven by some of the properties that have lots of fighting cocks in a field in little separated huts on leg leashes. I've been told by a breeder here that that's something that can happen to small roosters sold/given away (we were talking about Cream Legbars). Processing them myself humanely is a much better end for them. 

Oh, goodness.

What knife do you use for butchering? I like breaking the neck best for euthanasia, but for consumption that way don't let 'em bleed out, so I need a nice sharp knife.... Or loppers, if I can keep the kids away from them long enough to use them while they're not gummed up with pine sap.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Please Don't get me wrong on this! I KNOW how dangerous mercury is, And I don't belittle it, but statistically Cigarettes, Alcohol and cars made much much more damage to people that mercury.
And if I remember correctly they get from eating contaminated tuna fish and not from mercury thermometers. ......

... which came from contaminated water, which is why there are such strict regulations on handling mercury waste now, and why it's questionable to put it inside a fragile breakable unit. I don't think that just because people are more likely to die from one thing, statistically, means that we shouldn't still avoid other dangers. Just how I see it.

 

[Beer can]

I hope you enjoy him. Now for the expensive part. I know you know, but it made me think of all those people who want a free horse because they can't afford it. Shoot buying the horse is probably the cheapest part unless you're buying a really fancy roping or show horse.

Pictures?

Neighbor across the road up the hill from us was giving five nice horses away free after he couldn't sell them, retired selling his house and moving. DW pushed so bad to get a couple, we only have 3 acres, can feed them hay, no, where would you put them? Out front...ground might be goat able, nice flat open acre or so but a little on the soft side come spring stream runs all yr, we have pond next to it and neighbors large pond, if I can't drive my truck on it, no horses. She and the kids were not to happy with me, but I can't see getting large animals you can't properly take care of. Maybe someday if we move.
Bad part, the people down the road from him apparently got them. Saw them fencing in another place, must have got permission or are renting. All winter, they had a few big round bales out in the open. I ain't to knowledgeable on horses but I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to eat round bales at all? And out in the open..the poor things are still alive anyway.

 

[Beer can]

It's hard to come by.

Price of rabbit at our grocery store, never seen rabbit at a grocery store before, Easter weekend to boot

I'd rather get out the beagles and harvest them for the cost of shotgun shells

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Well, around here, for one - I've certainly driven by some of the properties that have lots of fighting cocks in a field in little separated huts on leg leashes. I've been told by a breeder here that that's something that can happen to small roosters sold/given away (we were talking about Cream Legbars). Processing them myself humanely is a much better end for them.
Do you have there people that enjoys that cruel "sport"?
There are people all over the world who enjoy cock fighting (I certainly don't but there's no question) - just check YouTube (found a bunch of videos when I was looking for bumble foot videos). Interesting tidbit - I forget the reference where I read/heard this, but they think that the chicken was first domesticated by humans not for eggs, certainly not for meat, but for cockfighting as a religious ritual. (Again, I am NOT saying I am okay with it, but it's part of the history of humans and chickens, and it's still out there.)

Quote: I actually use a scalpel and ordered good quality blades on Amazon (I can send you a link to good ones - I knew because of using them for work). This time around, though, I think I'm going to get myself a pair of PVC/PEX cutters and try those.

- Ant Farm

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
They really are seriously not hard to raise, as I understand it (Dan can comment). You should get a basic set up and some New Zealand Whites or Californians or something. The Storey Guide on Raising Rabbits is pretty good. There's an online forum that's pretty good, RabbitTalk, similar to BYC (though not nearly as good), just stay on the meat parts of the forum and away from the pet areas. I like rabbit, can't ever find it for sale, one of these days I'm going to try raising them. Problem is that with all our heat, it would be a bit of a struggle - would be a lot easier for you in your climate, I'm thinking...

 

[BantyChooks]

There are people all over the world who enjoy cock fighting (I certainly don't but there's no question) - just check YouTube (found a bunch of videos when I was looking for bumble foot videos). Interesting tidbit - I forget the reference where I read/heard this, but they think that the chicken was first domesticated by humans not for eggs, certainly not for meat, but for cockfighting as a religious ritual. (Again, I am NOT saying I am okay with it, but it's part of the history of humans and chickens, and it's still out there.)

I actually use a scalpel and orders good quality blades on Amazon (I can send you a link to good ones - I knew because of using them for work). This time around, though, I think I'm going to get myself a pair of PVC/PEX cutters and try those. 

- Ant Farm 

Let me know how they work.

PVC cutters sound like something I'd be less likely to hurt myself using -- calling myself "accident prone" would be an understatement.

 

[BantyChooks]

They really are seriously not hard to raise, as I understand it (Dan can comment). You should get a basic set up and some New Zealand Whites or Californians or something. The Storey Guide on Raising Rabbits is pretty good. There's an online forum that's pretty good, RabbitTalk, similar to BYC (though not nearly as good), just stay on the meat parts of the forum and away from the pet areas. I like rabbit, can't ever find it for sale, one of these days I'm going to try raising them. Problem is that with all our heat, it would be a bit of a struggle - would be a lot easier for you in your climate, I'm thinking...

I've only had rabbits as pets, but yes, they are extremely easy to care for. Cheap to feed, too.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
Yeah, basically, a quick humane beheading. I will have a lot of culling to do this year. I have previously done it by bleeding them out, but am thinking I will try beheading if I get enough drainage of the blood (I'm sure it will be fine).

 

[BantyChooks]

Yeah, basically, a quick humane beheading. I will have a lot of culling to do this year. I have previously done it by bleeding them out, but am thinking I will try beheading if I get enough drainage of the blood (I'm sure it will be fine). 

I am thinking just taking the head off leaves less room for error, rather than say having the learning curve of how much pressure to use on a knife, but the usual axe method is a no way. Ain't even gonna try it. Nothing that involves aiming sharp things while jittery.