Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[ozexpat]

Our new baby goat is doing well. Her name will be Chevrita, a ripened cheeses similar to Brie or Camembert.

Caprino dropped dead Feb 21 and we bought the newer goats Feb 5. The brown and white one definitely cycled but I am not sure about the black one. If so, they will kid in a month. They are getting bigger bellies but no real udder growth yet.

The new keets are alive and well. Our flock increased 40% in size. We have lots of eggs in the bator.

One of the chicken chicks that hatched over the weekend died today. It had leg issues. I told the guys to cull it on day one but just like Bernie, they are a bit soft when it comes to sharp scissors and a chick's neck. He has 300 chicks and teenagers as well as 100 adult birds to worry about but wanted to hand feed one "special" chick. Bless him.

I hijacked my wife's facebook with a CocoBeach Poultry page. I have been getting steady inquiries without doing much. I may have a sale of a doz hens and 2 roos from it. It will cover the farm's feed bill for the month if it goes ahead.

I need to sell 75 adult birds a month to 10 hectares of rural land away from the beach. then another 20 for the Kubota

 

[ozexpat]

Dont you wish there was a site like this link for chickens

http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/problemsolver.php

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Dont you wish there was a site like this link for chickens

http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/problemsolver.php

I didn't check out but have seen those before. When I worked in hog barns I researched some but they had their own protocol and procedures so was a waste of my effort.

If everything had a simple website with a chart I don't think people would be serious about anything anymore. Everyone wants things too easy these days. I knew a guy that was going to take college coarse to become an CPA, and the guy had issues with basic math. His answer when I ask how he was planning on doing the job if he couldn't do basic elementary math? "Just type numbers into a computer, it does all the work. I don't need to know math." were his exact words. Okay I'll keep track of my funds myself. No CPA needed, tyvm.

I like learning. And a challenge never hurts (To much anyway). Failing can suck but I learn better if its not always perfect. Look at where you are from a chicken hobby idea Oz. I never read EVERYTHING but I know there are probably more failures than successes in the past few years for you. Wish you all the luck with the hog enterprise though. Bio security precludes us from raising any. Should wife ever go for career change that's the 1st change we are doing. Between the 2 of us we have over 10 years in hog raising. Breeding, farrowing and rearing. So we are semi confident we can make hogs work, even if its just to feed us.
We have the beef and poultry covered, as well as wild game (we hunt and fish together, and with older kids that have interest.). So hogs would make the menu complete.

Your last statement "I need to sell 75 adult birds a month to 10 hectares of rural land away from the beach. then another 20 for the Kubota." Was that meant to purchase more land inland? ANd purchase a Kubota? Or pay 1 off?

 

[ozexpat]

@5 Acre Rooster

Interesting comments

Having spent 30 years in the diagnosis of humans, there is nothing like touching feeling and knowing your patient but....

I have played with the app and its very resourceful.

The first time I saw Coryza in a chicken I was unhinged. I thought it was but really was hoping it wasnt. Now I can make a diagnosis over the internet on my birds.

And there lies one of my challenges - distance.

Just the list of symptoms as a checklist is great for me. Its sure better than a text message saying a bird or pig is sick without all the symptoms.

Additionally, a list of 3 or 4 possible diagnoses to differentiate is a lot simpler than ten.

I would use it as a resource, not a rulebook.



Based on chickens at $25 each.

10ha of crop growing agricultural land is around 200 thousand dollars 20% down and 75 chickens a month for ten years

$20000 tractor 20% down and 20 chickens a month for 3 years

I better add another 12 chickens for the Canter

 

[ozexpat]

Here is a bargain

http://www.olx.ph/index.php/view+cl...ords=land&event=Search+Ranking,Position,1-7,7

5.5 acres for $20,000 and just 50 minutes from the city center

 

[ozexpat]

Here is 30 acres an hour past us for $130,000

http://www.olx.ph/index.php/view+cl...ords=land&event=Search+Ranking,Position,1-5,5



If I was to buy more land it would be at 2500 feet above sea level - A 12oF lower temp would be true paradise

 

[vehve]

How about a farm with 50 ha of forest in the middle of nowhere for 260000 euros here in Finland, you could consider that... you'd get a significant drop in temperature at least =) Don't know how the coco trees would do though...

http://asunnot.oikotie.fi/myytavat-maatilat/8381365

 

[ozexpat]

How about a farm with 50 ha of forest in the middle of nowhere for 260000 euros here in Finland, you could consider that... you'd get a significant drop in temperature at least =) Don't know how the coco trees would do though...

http://asunnot.oikotie.fi/myytavat-maatilat/8381365

but you would get free healthcare and the best education in the world

 

[vehve]

but you would get free healthcare and the best education in the world

Oz, you exaggerate, I think we've dropped to third. And last time I went to the doctor they did send me a bill for 12 euros I think. Taxation is brutal though, 24% vat on almost everything, and high income tax. And the Yanks don't know how lucky they are with their fuel and car prices. 3,50$ per gallon would be amazing. Last time I paid 1,65€ for a liter. But that's the price you pay for all the benefits it gives.

 

[vehve]

I now notice that I've hijacked the thread into a "I love Finland" monologue, so to get back on track I thought I'd ask something I was waiting to read about while going through this massive thread. When will Coco Beach have its first Emus?