Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[chickadoodles]

Congrats Lacy!

 

[LindaB220]

Is it because the parent birds are eating less in the heat and so the eggs have less nutrition?  I'm not letting any of mine set a clutch past June, though I doubt any will go broody then anyway....I have three here in May. 

Another question...do you free range or do they eat grain based feeds primarily?  Wondering if the source of nutrition during hot months has a bearing on it? 

This is so interesting. I read recently that you should put the lights on from 1-3am in the south to give them extra time to eat in the cooler evening temperature.

It looks like I'm going to have a bunch hatch the first part of June. Two broody's with Seven or so plus 30 or so in the incubator.

 

[RIR-YELLOWLEGS]

This is so interesting. I read recently that you should put the lights on from 1-3am in the south to give them extra time to eat in the cooler evening temperature.

It looks like I'm going to have a bunch hatch the first part of June. Two broody's with Seven or so plus 30 or so in the incubator.

yes im in georgia i am leaving lights on so my youguns can feed at night when it cool on plus side they get freash meat each night chasing bugs in the brood box i have a ringside seat at the backyard football stadium lol

 

[Lacy Blues]

Well, I don't know about a 1-3 am feed time, I'm dead to the world at that time of day.

Even if the lights are on in my adult pens, and its dark outside, my birds will be on the roost!

Chicks though? I'd have to get up and feed them because I don't leave food out overnight. I have a terrible mouse issue and leaving food out would only encourage them!

I do need to get up earlier though so they can eat at sun-up.

 

[Fentress]

Latest hatch 7 for 8 at least, can't tell for sure, until she brings them out.

 

[Lacy Blues]

If I told any of you that a mouse and a chinchilla could mate successfully and bear offspring that survived, would you call me crazy?

 

[RIR-YELLOWLEGS]

If I told any of you that a mouse and a chinchilla could mate successfully and  bear offspring that survived, would you call me crazy?

i mouse and a hamster can and a rat and a guinea pig can also

 

[Lacy Blues]

oh, ok. I didn't know that.

Anyway, this was not an experiment of my own undertaking. When I went into the barn this morning I saw this HUGE thing scurrying around. It didn't look quite like a rat nor a mouse but I could tell it was definitely a rodent... sent the son for his bb gun.

It was the length of maybe 3 mice but quite full around the girth. I'm not sure but it may have been pregnant. I'm so glad we got it before it gave birth! Very very soft gray fur, big ears and a medium length tail with fur on that as well.

MouseZILLA!

 

[chickadoodles]

You should have taken a pic of that Lacy.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Oh, I still have it!