Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[Yellow House Farm]

Brilliant! Once you get them where you want them, you'll have to bring them up to show at the Northeastern Poultry Congress. Speaking of, the APA National is there in 1/2014. It would be awesome to see a class of Catalanas.....hint hint.

Our Anconas are meaty little things. I'm sure yours will breed up quickly enough, especially if they're showing so much vigor. Have you weighed them? This is the time (a couple of weeks ago) that I weigh everything to see where they're at. Where are your birds in relationship to the SOP weight-wise?

 

[gjensen]

I am certainly shy of Standard weight. I have not weighed them, but I would guess one male @ near 7lbs, and the other 6.5-6.75. They are cockerels, and I do not know when they were hatched. They will not get to where they should be. I need to weigh them.
There is a plan to exchange eggs with a breeder in California. He started with birds from Ideal (Ideal started with the same source as myself), and has done well with them in the last five years. Judging by pictures they may help me with size, and they have been removed for a long time (vigor). I think Romig said Ideal purchased some from him in the 90s?
Regardless if these eggs hatch as well as I am starting to hope, and if quantity can be a key, I am encouraged. My wife even asked me this evening how many Catalana eggs I was going to put in the incubator. I gave her the standard answer. I do not know.
Like you said in the Dorking thread. Murphy has not visited me yet. I have a saying at work. Never complement anyone. As soon as you do, they let you down. Women can handle compliments. Men cannot, and animals . . . well they are animals. LOL.

 

[Arielle]

If I understood-- someone is looking how to separate egg cartons during hatching?? I use plastic needle point canvas from the craft store. COmes in sheets about 10 x 12 inches ( I do't remember exactly). I cut it with a scissor to size, forming a box with a lid. Using either zipties or what ever can be sanitized. I didn't like the lid because I couldn't see thru it, so I laid on light weight wire racks like the kind used for cooling cookies. Little chicks can get over the dividers surprisingly easy-- a top is a must.

Some people use a little plastic basket from the dollar store and to with the cookie rack. Not sure if I am making sense--let me know if anything needs clarification.

 

[NanaKat]

On the OT thread over in https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...l-up-a-rockin-chair-and-lay-some-wisdom-on-us
Al suggested using woven produce bags for the eggs in the bator. Someone else posted the photo



Since chicks can get out of the egg carton, putting them in the bag keeps them contained until you take them out of the incubator to toe punch or tag.
There are bags that are softer and loosely woven that could hold a plastic basket...
Get creative.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Hmmm...that's an interesting thought.

 

[sandiklaws]

On the OT thread over in https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...l-up-a-rockin-chair-and-lay-some-wisdom-on-us
Al suggested using woven produce bags for the eggs in the bator. Someone else posted the photo



Since chicks can get out of the egg carton, putting them in the bag keeps them contained until you take them out of the incubator to toe punch or tag.
There are bags that are softer and loosely woven that could hold a plastic basket...
Get creative.

works great, I use recycled produce mesh bags all the time this way

 

[Arielle]

I love the creativity of the mesh bag!!! I copied and used the idea of plastic mesh canvas = shaped into a box and use a cooling rack for a top. THey hop over otherwise!

 

[Arielle]

I am looking carefully at what my birds are eating and . . .

can anyone direct me to sources of land management and growing feeds for chickens ( and sheep). We have rough land, meaning full of rocks, and young trees. It is a long process to convert the land from wooded to grass lands. Would like info on speeding up the process ( without using heavy equipment = only have a chainsaw) and better forage to encourage or plant.

Thanks for the help.

 

[gjensen]

If given the choice, chickens will spend more time foraging under the cover of trees than they will out in the open. They prefer scratching through leaf litter, while looking for edibles.

Grass itself is not a big portion of what they eat when they have a choice. Of course they eat some but,they prefer sprouting wild plants, weed seeds, insects, etc.

What I am saying is converting soley to grass land is not necessarily improving the birds forage. Ideally, you would have wooded sections with trees and shrubs, mixed with more open grassy areas. They will frequent the clearings more in the mornings and evenings, and spend most of the day under cover. Especially in the summer.

 

[capayvalleychick]

I am looking carefully at what my birds are eating and . . .

can anyone direct me to sources of land management and growing feeds for chickens ( and sheep). We have rough land, meaning full of rocks, and young trees. It is a long process to convert the land from wooded to grass lands. Would like info on speeding up the process ( without using heavy equipment = only have a chainsaw) and better forage to encourage or plant.

Thanks for the help.

Here is a good resource for information: https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/livestock/

Here is a forage mix for chickens: http://www.groworganic.com/omega-3-chicken-forage-blend-irrigated.html

I do multi-species rotational grazing on poor, stony soil. It helps if you can make very small areas for them to mob graze for a day or so. When the cover gets down to 4 inches high, move to another space. Let the grazed area recover for at least 2 weeks or until the forage reaches 6 inches high.
I struggled at first, trying to grow grass only pasture. I went to a seminar given by a retired ag professor. He says if the pasture plants- weeds, whatever grows- are green and growing, and the animals eat it, then that is pasture. With the exception of toxic plants, let whatever grows the best grow, if they eat it. I actually ended up gathering seed heads from the wild grasses (weeds) that grew so well naturally, and incorporated them into the pasture.
I also use small, heritage breed, hogs to till up areas in need of renovation. I make small pens with electric netting for them and let them till. Then I move them to another space and the chickens will pick through and spread their manure. After the chickens are finished, I throw down cover crop seed. Months later, I may grow crops in this space. After the crops are harvested, I return the pigs. You could do the same, only substitute grass seed for crops and eat the pigs.

There is lots of info out there if you look. Best wishes.