Herb Farmer
Hatching
Probably too many. Started with a flock of 20 last year (new farmer,) and really befriended my Austra Whites (lorps x leghorns.) They're exceptionally intelligent, and my best layers. Managed to get a breeding pair of Ayam Cemanis, so another 2 dozen crosses and purebreds resulted from that. The austra whites x ayam cemani turned out beautiful, some with black skin/beak/eyes/legs with the white feathering and a black splash. Then I thought "hey, I want some blue and green eggs." A dozen snowy easter eggers, cuckoo blue barres, and blue easter eggers later, with roos to breed out more.. haha.
I may end up eating some of them, but most I don't think I could bring myself to process. I farm/homestead entirely with hand tools (they till for me,) and their value has shown itself so quickly. I think most will stick around even past point of lay, just to teach the younger ones where all of the good foraging spots are. My girls even taught me one the other day. I had a tarp on some grass that grew into a bed, and they figured out that if they dance around on the plastic, crickets come out all over. It's hilarious. They go straight to the tarp when they leave the coop in the morning. Chicken math is real though!
I may end up eating some of them, but most I don't think I could bring myself to process. I farm/homestead entirely with hand tools (they till for me,) and their value has shown itself so quickly. I think most will stick around even past point of lay, just to teach the younger ones where all of the good foraging spots are. My girls even taught me one the other day. I had a tarp on some grass that grew into a bed, and they figured out that if they dance around on the plastic, crickets come out all over. It's hilarious. They go straight to the tarp when they leave the coop in the morning. Chicken math is real though!