Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

A little update on my cheap meat rooster, now master of my flock. He is gaining confidence and now has his own flock derived from the six young pullets in my flock...who never really wanted to flock with Toby much. They were a flock apart but now it's changed. Now they are the "big" flock and my three old hens are now separate in a smaller flock.

It never fails to intrigue me, this social life of chickens and how it revolves around survival of the species. This young rooster is breeding two of the young pullets who are now laying, one WR and one BA. He's also making advances towards those not currently laying. He isn't chasing or rough, he just politely steps on, gets the job done and steps off. Very much like Toby when he was a young cockerel...very confidently gentle and deliberate in all his movements. You can almost see him changing on a daily basis and his strides are more deliberate and male in nature, his stance is more upright and vigilant than it was and he has moved into a leadership role in the flock where just a few days earlier he was just a goofy, nerdy youngster.

He has a lot to learn about flock watching and guarding on free range but it looks likely that he will be a quick learner. He doesn't even have a good spur nubbin' yet and his comb and wattles are not fully developed, but he is breeding like an old pro and receiving the preening and adulation of his harem. It will be so interesting to see this very mild, slow and clumsy breed turn into a free range flock master....I wonder if he will pull it off effectively.

Seriously not a breed I'd put over the good DP breeds I have, but sometimes God does the choosing and you sit back and watch what happens. It's sort of fun to see what happens!

 

[LindaB220]

Boy Linda, you have more than got your hands full! I feel for you and I pray that God will keep you strong and lead you in all those circumstances. A huge hug to you!


I really do believe you are right, I have said for a long time that most of the sicknesses we have and all these new mental problems that kids are having come from our food. Oh, and not to mention all the crap they are giving us and calling it medicine - including vaccines! Here in the area that I live in there are a huge huge percent of women who would have lost their baby had they not been sent to a bigtime hospital about 200 miles away to give birth then the baby kept until it is healthy enough to survive- and many don't. I have seen this more than once in my own family. Also right here there is far more instances of cancer than anywhere around here. It is all because of chemical plants and a gaseous diffusion plant in other counties. I was told first hand about an elementary classroom here that has 25% of the kids with mental and severe behavioral problems. They have so many messed up kids anymore they have come up with names for the conditions I have never heard of! Those poor kids, what have we done to them! And like you were talking about, no doubt all this stuff messes up DNA, so it is passed on.


Monsanto and all the rest along with the USDA and other government agencies and the majority of the farmers (the big ones) do not care what they are doing because all they see are dollar signs. It's like smoking. Years ago we really didn't know what it did to people. But NOW THAT WE KNOW they still do it because of the money!!! It is the same with everything else including steriods, antibiotics, ect and now GMO foods. They will deny deny deny and persecute anybody that dares to stand up to them or speak out very loudy. There are some messed up people out there!

Thanks Sweetie, I appreciate it. I believe God gives us what we can endure. And really, we're fine. I'm still happier now than ever. Brandi stays home now to be available for Patrick when he gets home from school. They are happy. Jenny went to school for almost 20 yrs to get her nursing degree and now they are ok. Planning a trip with hubby and John to London next year. Nikki will be baby sat by a retired mental health nurse buddy. Now that's a friend!!! Aimee's chin was touching the ground when I told her about the London trip. It's a different world. Both daughters complain about lack of money, but one couple makes $40,000 yr and the other $150,000.

I don't care about money. When I sold my land 2 yrs ago I gave the other 2 daughters $15,000 and kept the rest for Aimee because she was going to be for me for the time I have left. I used the rest of the money to get her set up in her Dog grooming and boarding business. So I'm po'. Only in money. I make a decent SS check and pay some for my expenses and the rest I save for things like coop, brooder stuff, chickens. You know, the important stuff.

 

[LindaB220]

A little update on my cheap meat rooster, now master of my flock. He is gaining confidence and now has his own flock derived from the six young pullets in my flock...who never really wanted to flock with Toby much. They were a flock apart but now it's changed. Now they are the "big" flock and my three old hens are now separate in a smaller flock.

It never fails to intrigue me, this social life of chickens and how it revolves around survival of the species. This young rooster is breeding two of the young pullets who are now laying, one WR and one BA. He's also making advances towards those not currently laying. He isn't chasing or rough, he just politely steps on, gets the job done and steps off. Very much like Toby when he was a young cockerel...very confidently gentle and deliberate in all his movements. You can almost see him changing on a daily basis and his strides are more deliberate and male in nature, his stance is more upright and vigilant than it was and he has moved into a leadership role in the flock where just a few days earlier he was just a goofy, nerdy youngster.

He has a lot to learn about flock watching and guarding on free range but it looks likely that he will be a quick learner. He doesn't even have a good spur nubbin' yet and his comb and wattles are not fully developed, but he is breeding like an old pro and receiving the preening and adulation of his harem. It will be so interesting to see this very mild, slow and clumsy breed turn into a free range flock master....I wonder if he will pull it off effectively.

Seriously not a breed I'd put over the good DP breeds I have, but sometimes God does the choosing and you sit back and watch what happens. It's sort of fun to see what happens!

That's so cute!! Love it. Keep us informed.

 

[LindaB220]

It is a scary thought but we already know what that does to chickens... We know what it does to dogs... We know what it does to horses, sheep, pigs, goats.... Why would it be any better for humans to breed diseases in, encourage a lack of motion, and then treat every illness with antibiotics? Personally, I have gotten one vaccine in nearly two decades, my hobbies and lifestyle is one of doing things outdoors, and I have no intention of adding more of my cancer and joint issue riddled genetics to the world... It doesn't help that my beau's familly has similar genetic issues...

It is a bad thought, because it is eugenics. And eugenics is bad. It means some people get to reproduce and some don't. It is also how natural selection works and how we can breed flocks of chickens that can survive just about anything the world throws at them. There is no good solution.

I am still dreaming of a massive natural disaster that will take it all out of our hands anyhow.

Then natural selection can come back and maybe as a species we can recover...

Okay. I am done with my scary genetics and management of the human species rant now. For now the beat things we can do in the world is take care of ourselves the best we can, and maybe adopt if we know we carry severe genetic issues and want kids. Goodness knows there kids out there that would love to have a nice home!

I am going to go see if my hens have layed me any more pretty and darker eggs yet! Maybe I will start getting eggs more regularly if they have!

Yes it is some scary stuff. When I first started planning on raising chickens, I decided that only non GMO's for me. I knew it would be more expensive. But Bee, with her common sense, said it's all around. My using organics would not be a drop in the bucket of corn syrup etc. So I decided that I will do the best with what I have. Wheat, barley, oats, corn. The chickens will be healthier and so will we when we eat them.

 

[Triple Willow]

A little update on my cheap meat rooster, now master of my flock.  He is gaining confidence and now has his own flock derived from the six young pullets in my flock...who never really wanted to flock with Toby much.  They were a flock apart but now it's changed.  Now they are the "big" flock and my three old hens are now separate in a smaller flock. 

It never fails to intrigue me, this social life of chickens and how it revolves around survival of the species.  This young rooster is breeding two of the young pullets who are now laying, one WR and one BA.  He's also making advances towards those not currently laying.  He isn't chasing or rough, he just politely steps on, gets the job done and steps off.  Very much like Toby when he was a young cockerel...very confidently gentle and deliberate in all his movements.   You can almost see him changing on a daily basis and his strides are more deliberate and male in nature, his stance is more upright and vigilant than it was and he has moved into a leadership role in the flock where just a few days earlier he was just a goofy, nerdy youngster.

He has a lot to learn about flock watching and guarding on free range but it looks likely that he will be a quick learner.  He doesn't even have a good spur nubbin' yet and his comb and wattles are not fully developed, but he is breeding like an old pro and receiving the preening and adulation of his harem.  It will be so interesting to see this very mild, slow and clumsy breed turn into a free range flock master....I wonder if he will pull it off effectively. 

Seriously not a breed I'd put over the good DP breeds I have, but sometimes God does the choosing and you sit back and watch what happens.  It's sort of fun to see what happens! 

That's pretty neat Bee. You never know what a person or an animal can do when given the opportunity and encouragement. Fluffy is becoming a man. Also interesting how dynamics can change like that huh? ...human or animal.

 

[Triple Willow]

@ChocolateMouse... You are right, there are a lot of kids out there that would love a good home to live in with people that love them and care for them. I think adoption is such a wonderful thing.

What you say is something to think about, a lot to think about. All I know is that I am glad that besides the body, no matter how broken down it may be, there is also the soul and spirit. And according to my beliefs I will get a brand new super-duper body one day and I can't wait. The Word also say that there are disasters on the way, 7 years worth of horrific disasters. A LARGE percent of the population will not survive.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Linda, I am very happy to hear that YOU are happy. It sounds to me like you guys have it all under control... with a lot of help from above.

 

[Beekissed]

That's pretty neat Bee. You never know what a person or an animal can do when given the opportunity and encouragement.

Fluffy is becoming a man.

Also interesting how dynamics can change like that huh? ...human or animal.

Was sitting outside today worshiping the Lord and communing with the animals and got a chance to do his first training. He's still not fully into the whole "I'm the rooster, so I should feed and care for my girls" thingy, so when I tossed out some BOSS he was more intent on running all the hens off it than eating any of it himself. It only took two times of voice correction and pressuring him out of the flock before he learned to respond to voice command on that behavior. And he didn't act all crazy eyes and run away when he was being pressured and being corrected...just took it calmly and like he was trying to work out what I wanted. Smart guy.

What's so funny is that the hens didn't even pay a bit of attention to my training him..they didn't budge off that BOSS as I walked through the middle of them. Usually my bunch are a very wary and flighty bunch and will scatter a little when a person walks towards or through them but they just ignored me. It was almost as if they knew exactly what I was doing and was quietly approving of it.

Guess what? He doesn't dislike my singing voice! Toby would always shake his head like bees were buzzing in his ears, but this poor foo foo bird doesn't know quality, apparently, so he hung close when I sang and acted like he was enjoying it. Sang them several hymns and all the animals settled in to listen. I love those times!

Another interesting thing...it's not a BA pullet that is laying, it's none other than my ancient Fanny, a BA hen that is around 7 yrs old. I think she was laying some when she first got back here but it was just a little and then no more. I almost culled her along with Toby recently but she escaped her tape and so I didn't push it. Poor thing decided to lay a little...I'll have to keep an eye on her for any misfires and problems.

This guy sure is a calm, gentle breeder. I like that!

 

[LindaB220]

Was sitting outside today worshiping the Lord and communing with the animals and got a chance to do his first training. He's still not fully into the whole "I'm the rooster, so I should feed and care for my girls" thingy, so when I tossed out some BOSS he was more intent on running all the hens off it than eating any of it himself. It only took two times of voice correction and pressuring him out of the flock before he learned to respond to voice command on that behavior. And he didn't act all crazy eyes and run away when he was being pressured and being corrected...just took it calmly and like he was trying to work out what I wanted. Smart guy.

What's so funny is that the hens didn't even pay a bit of attention to my training him..they didn't budge off that BOSS as I walked through the middle of them. Usually my bunch are a very wary and flighty bunch and will scatter a little when a person walks towards or through them but they just ignored me. It was almost as if they knew exactly what I was doing and was quietly approving of it.

Guess what? He doesn't dislike my singing voice! Toby would always shake his head like bees were buzzing in his ears, but this poor foo foo bird doesn't know quality, apparently, so he hung close when I sang and acted like he was enjoying it. Sang them several hymns and all the animals settled in to listen. I love those times!

Another interesting thing...it's not a BA pullet that is laying, it's none other than my ancient Fanny, a BA hen that is around 7 yrs old. I think she was laying some when she first got back here but it was just a little and then no more. I almost culled her along with Toby recently but she escaped her tape and so I didn't push it. Poor thing decided to lay a little...I'll have to keep an eye on her for any misfires and problems.

This guy sure is a calm, gentle breeder. I like that!

Yeah, but does he like popcorn. Maybe his taste in movies is different. Keep an eye on him.

 

[Beekissed]

Yeah, but does he like popcorn. Maybe his taste in movies is different. Keep an eye on him.

Somehow....I think he's going to like chick flicks......