Homesteaders

[OrganicFarmWife]

Do you have evidence of this claim?

Your the one that made the claim that we are not and I already asked for evidence from you, which you could never produce. I do know of sources, they will take time to find.

 

[KlopKlop]

Ok ok no need to start a war here on the topic of government regulation. That is not what this thread is for. If you want to hash it out take it somewhere else.

 

[duluthralphie]

I would love to see where you got this information. Not that I doubt there are unscrupulous people, or that people died/sickened from food born illnesses. But that most of this probably happened because of a lack of understanding of hygiene, bacteria, viruses, not unscrupulous farmers being lazy. Now if you have documented proof that counters this is really would be interested in it.
I agree some regulation is good, the trouble is people/government always take things to the extreem, when a little over site is all that is nessisary.

I agree!

Most illness from small farms IMHO come for improper handling and preparation after it leaves the farm.

Just renting a spot at a Farmers Market for an ridiculous sum or buying a "license" from some governmental unit does nothing to assure safety of the food sold, it just adds needlessly to the cost of the food and takes from the small farms profits.

 

[duluthralphie]

Now off that topic..
My CX toad experiment is ending, I am afraid. I have two more CX hens I think will die this week. I have found as much as I like CX's and want more toads, it is not going to happen.

I lose my CX hens in February. This is the third year this has happened. I think it is due to my inability to free range them this time of the year. They spend most of the winter in tractor/runs They have lots of room, but it is not like free ranging. Everything gets piled high with snow. There is no place to run them.

I free range them every few days, it is just not enough. If I only had CX's it might be better. I am not sure. CX's do not hold their own with my other birds. They are just to meek and mild to fight back. The stick their heads in a corner and let other birds pick on their butts until they area bloody mess. So I need to keep them separate. During the summer this in not a problem.

If I did not live in cold snow country I would try them longer. But doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,...well you know.

The problem I see with people in the south raising them is CX's do not do well in the heat either.

So sadly I think this experiment is ending. I will keep trying to hatch Toad eggs until I lose my last hen, but I do not hold out much hope....

So much for raising a self sustaining bird like I wanted. I will just have to go to the rainbows, which are great birds too.

 

[KlopKlop]

Now off that topic..
My CX toad experiment is ending, I am afraid. I have two more CX hens I think will die this week. I have found as much as I like CX's and want more toads, it is not going to happen.

I lose my CX hens in February. This is the third year this has happened. I think it is due to my inability to free range them this time of the year.  They spend most of the winter in tractor/runs They have lots of room, but it is not like free ranging. Everything gets piled high with snow. There is no place to run them.

I free range them every few days, it is just not enough. If I only had CX's it might be better. I am not sure. CX's do not hold their own with my other birds. They are just to meek and mild to fight back. The stick their heads in a corner and let other birds pick on their butts until they area bloody mess. So I need to keep them separate. During the summer this in not a problem.

If I did not  live in cold snow country I would try them longer. But doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,...well you know.

The problem I see with people in the south raising them is CX's do not do well in the heat either. 

So sadly I think this experiment is ending. I will keep trying to hatch Toad eggs until I lose my last hen, but I do not hold out much hope....

So much for raising a self sustaining bird like I wanted. I will just have to go to the rainbows, which are great birds too.

Maybe my rainbow over dark Cornish will add to the rainbow breast size and that will go well?

 

[duluthralphie]

Maybe my rainbow over dark Cornish will add to the rainbow breast size and that will go well?

I am hoping so. If it works I will be wanting to buy some of yours. I am going to have to try something different. I have thought of trying to line Breed Bert Jr back to his mother and aunt. BUT he is so large I am afraid he will beat them up during mating. I doubt they could hold his weight.

 

[KlopKlop]

I am hoping so. If it works I will be wanting to buy some of yours.   I am going to have to try something different.  I have thought of trying to line Breed Bert Jr back to his mother and aunt. BUT he is so large I am afraid he will beat them up during mating. I doubt they could hold his weight.

I am also still strongly considering adding white rocks to my flock too based on discussions here

 

[KlopKlop]

I am jot usually a big tv watcher but last night I was at my inlaws house and my FIL was watching Survivor. I've never watched it even though the spirit of the show intrigues me I just assume it is mostly fake like most reality shows.
The reason I bring it up... 2 of the 3 teams grabbed live chickens off the supply boat at the start, kept them penned up in baskets for several days until they got fires made and promptly ate them.

I don't know how hard it would be for a chicken to free range for food (well perhaps on a leash) on a tropic island but wouldn't it be better to have some eggs every day over 1 day of protein? I know the one team had issues with red ants climbing into their beds so I know there is potential food sources for the birds.

I'm making some assumptions here that the birds are hens and of laying age, but still...

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I am jot usually a big tv watcher but last night I was at my inlaws house and my FIL was watching Survivor. I've never watched it even though the spirit of the show intrigues me I just assume it is mostly fake like most reality shows.
The reason I bring it up... 2 of the 3 teams grabbed live chickens off the supply boat at the start, kept them penned up in baskets for several days until they got fires made and promptly ate them.

I don't know how hard it would be for a chicken to free range for food (well perhaps on a leash) on a tropic island but wouldn't it be better to have some eggs every day over 1 day of protein? I know the one team had issues with red ants climbing into their beds so I know there is potential food sources for the birds.

I'm making some assumptions here that the birds are hens and of laying age, but still...

We do not watch survivor, too much drama. There is some decent shows though, Surviving Alaska isn't bad. As cattle farmers ourselves, We do not always agree with everything they do, but it is interesting to watch. They are true homesteaders, not having the option to run to the store.
I imagine you would need someone with some knowledge of chicken diet and care. Also chickens do not like moving to new environments, could take time for an egg. How long are they there?

 

[duluthralphie]

We do not watch survivor, too much drama. There is some decent shows though, Surviving Alaska isn't bad. As cattle farmers ourselves, We do not always agree with everything they do, but it is interesting to watch. They are true homesteaders, not having the option to run to the store.
I imagine you would need someone with some knowledge of chicken diet and care. Also chickens do not like moving to new environments, could take time for an egg. How long are they there?

Which show is that?

I record a lot of the those type of shows but not have heard of that one. Is that the one with the Kilchers on it? Jewel's Dad?