Illinois...

[ChicagoClucker]

@ChicagoClucker
Yes, your SL Orps are breath-taking, and your cochins are adorable.

Sorry. With 2 posts about the rain this morning I got confused & thought the pic was from ChickenDreams24. I was laughing so much this morning with my poor drenched DH, that I forgot to have coffee.


BTW- how's the gravel in the run area working out?

Your poor husband, and we didn't get it as bad as the sky looked.

Coffee is the first thing on my brain when I roll out of bed, kind of like the old Dunkin Donuts commercial, "Time to make the Coffee".

The gravel has worked out nicely, will have to add some more gravel next spring. I am now trying to think of a covering for that run of my small coop for the winter. I don't want to have to shovel it out every time it snows, plus that is the cochins house and their feathered feet will end up wet and frozen if they are running through the snow.

Has your daughter decided on her project yet?

 

[chickendreams24]

Lol chick fairy I'm loving it.
How many are there? Keep me up to date we'll see what the plans are.
Taking too many might be pushing our numbers unless we get the other coop winterized and use it an the cooler. We will see. The biggest hell right now is going to be processing the oldest boys that are running around here. They are starting to be a bit unruly so have been put in the run for the growouts but the darned things keep escaping. Lol we have about 6-8 ready now and more in a couple weeks. All the littles have been integrated into the small side of the cooler coop with several of our pullets including the two chocolate orp pullets and the white sport legbar. All of whom are now laying about every other day or so. The one that had the bad gash and infection is all healed up and we will continue to monitor her. There are also several other pullets back there that I was making sure were laying. I now believe that all but one of age are indeed laying back there.

They will probably be let out in a few more days possibly a week with the oldest and largest of the littles maybe all of them. My plan is after the boys that are causing trouble are gone.

Been a crazy year here and and our flock would be sorely empty if not for all of my BYC friends and their amazing gifts so thank you all!

@Faraday40
@Junibutt
And @MeepBeep for giving Faraday40 the legbar eggs.

I don't have a total number we've lost this year if I count the failure to thrives predator losses and everything. I would be willing to bet it's about 30 maybe more. We had to cull the 7 blrw which was so very hard as I've wanted them forever and they were such sweet birds. 17+ to predators 4+ of unknown causes, 4-5 to cocci plus some chicks that weren't right from hatch or were failure to thrives. Wow okay so that's more that 35 could even be pushing 40 wow. Granted we hatched out much more than that but thats crazy.

Plus we have about 40-50 cockerals headed for the freezer. Some of which I'm sure will be after snow flies. I'm excited to see our freezer full of good food that we raised although I'm sad about it too. This will be our first chance to eat one of our own birds BC the predators have always beaten us to them.

 

[cavemanrich]

@chickendreams24
Even though I do not eat any of my chickens, I agree with your choice of raising those 50 roos to maturity and utilizing them as meat birds. Economically you are probably slightly in the hole compared to raising strictly broilers.
I do eat chickens from the market as well as KFC.

Just not my pets which I have few of. (city slicker farm). I do get 1 or 2 eggs most days. Today, nothing. We eat those. Half of my chickens are like Seasoned Citizens on social security.

One is 10 1/2 years and blind for over 1 year due to recovering from dog attack.

I will take care of her until she goes to the other side on her own naturally.
I do see hope on the Horizon. My 3 Polish Gals should start laying medium eggs soon.

 

[chickendreams24]

Lol chick fairy I'm loving it.
How many are there? Keep me up to date we'll see what the plans are.
Taking too many might be pushing our numbers unless we get the other coop winterized and use it an the cooler. We will see. The biggest hell right now is going to be processing the oldest boys that are running around here. They are starting to be a bit unruly so have been put in the run for the growouts but the darned things keep escaping. Lol we have about 6-8 ready now and more in a couple weeks. All the littles have been integrated into the small side of the cooler coop with several of our pullets including the two chocolate orp pullets and the white sport legbar. All of whom are now laying about every other day or so. The one that had the bad gash and infection is all healed up and we will continue to monitor her. There are also several other pullets back there that I was making sure were laying. I now believe that all but one of age are indeed laying back there.

They will probably be let out in a few more days possibly a week with the oldest and largest of the littles maybe all of them. My plan is after the boys that are causing trouble are gone.

Been a crazy year here and and our flock would be sorely empty if not for all of my BYC friends and their amazing gifts so thank you all!

@Faraday40
@Junibutt
And @MeepBeep for giving Faraday40 the legbar eggs.

I don't have a total number we've lost this year if I count the failure to thrives predator losses and everything. I would be willing to bet it's about 30 maybe more. We had to cull the 7 blrw which was so very hard as I've wanted them forever and they were such sweet birds. 17+ to predators 4+ of unknown causes, 4-5 to cocci plus some chicks that weren't right from hatch or were failure to thrives. Wow okay so that's more that 35 could even be pushing 40 wow. Granted we hatched out much more than that but thats crazy.

Plus we have about 40-50 cockerals headed for the freezer. Some of which I'm sure will be after snow flies. I'm excited to see our freezer full of good food that we raised although I'm sad about it too. This will be our first chance to eat one of our own birds BC the predators have always beaten us to them.

@chickendreams24

Even though I do not eat any of my chickens,  I agree with your choice of raising those 50 roos to maturity and utilizing them as meat birds. Economically you are probably slightly in the hole compared to raising strictly broilers.  
I do eat chickens from the market as well as KFC.    Just not my pets which I have few of. (city slicker farm).  I do get 1 or 2 eggs most days. Today, nothing.    We eat those.  Half of my chickens are like Seasoned Citizens on social security.       One is 10 1/2 years and blind for over 1 year due to recovering from dog attack. I will take care of her until she goes to the other side on her own naturally. 
I do see hope on the Horizon.  My 3 Polish Gals should start laying medium eggs soon.  

I suppose I should have clarified. Idk who all here has roos but everyone who does shout out...

Our flock is very mixed and we do have birds that though we care for them they aren't so much pet as livestock. They get all the same care(though I do admit I occasionally save the best treats for my favorite birds, doesn't everyone?) and even cuddles but they aren't particularly fond of people etc etc. These birds will be humanely culled when they're no longer breeding or laying appropriately(that is not to say we swap all our birds out every year- we don't and we won't) they will be humanely as possible culled and, assuming I can get myself to do it, eaten. I admit I talk a big game and it's easy to when I have never eaten a bird I've raised. However over the last year especially I have seen the necessity of it and that it is a part of their purpose. The fox and coyotes realized it and I had to as well.

We also have our pet birds a mistake DH2B made before we got birds when I insisted that we would have some that I would deem inedible. These birds no matter how old or useless they get they will never be eaten and unless they begin to suffer their end will be natural. The mistake was him not giving me a limit on our "lifers" lol I too hope to someday have elderly chickens living out their lives in our green hard and eating the fruits and veggies we grow.

Now if they're flighty or even dumb it doesn't mean they aren't lifers just because of that.

As far as the cockerals we hatched and sold some birds this last spring and as an honest seller I did my utmost from day one to memorize chicks and guess genders. I then tried to pick these out for buyers that could only have pullets. Turns out my guesses were rather good.

Now that left us with a ton of cockerals we didn't need some of them being incredibly beautiful. Would I love to keep them all? Sure if I could do that and have peace and give peace to my flock. But we can't house that many ladies then of course we would have to hatch more which would mean more cockerals too. Anyone here who's ever been unlucky enough to have a cockeral/roo that was people aggressive, or deliberately rough with the ladies(not bothering to woo them is included), or way over aggressive with another cock can probably relate. I think it makes it easier. It's no way for a flock to be and right now my OEGB roo Mickey is drawing the short straw.

These cockerals have done rather well up to this point we haven't had but maybe two fights aand nothing serious the birds were separated. My worry is for our hens and pullets they have started the gang raping phase and that I won't tolerate. Let me explain from our experiences, most cockerals when they reach maturity and are awash in hormones for the first time go a little crazy and the mature hens or roos put them in their places as they learn to woo the ladies instead of attack them. This is actually kind of cool to see a naturally gentle roo learn. On the other hand with so many of them it can become total anarchy and roving bands of cockerals will run from hen to pullet gang raping as they go. This is our first experience with this and not one we like at all we worry about possible injury to our hens, because of this we have identified the main culprits(2 white rocks and a cuckoo Maransalso a couple of our mixes) and continue to identify culprits and have penned those ones up until such time they meet their end. After reading and observing I do believe that aggressive rough cockerals offspring do tend to inherit at least some of that aggression and roughness. Therefore these become culls. I am excited to restore complete peace to our flock and to further get the boys numbers down and give the girls a break. I am excited to not have to deal with the bad boys and yes to be able to try the fruits of our labor. Being in the city and having small numbers I can understand how this could be incredibly difficult to wrap your brain around. I will also say that these cockerals are eating us out of house and home and yes we are in the hole on them as far as Cornish X would be much much cheaper to raise however because they free range and move around and live healthy happy lives I feel this is a good option. They now have a purpose. In the future we may try some Cornish X or we may try some freedom rangers(or something similar). For now in the weeks and even months to come our freezer will be full and I will have the peace of mind knowing that our cockerals had good lives and we fed them so that in turn they could feed us.

It hasn't been easy this first time and I have distanced myself from the boys from as early as possible until choosing who will be kept. Trying to think of them as future food wasnt the easiest thkng for me in the beginning. In the future going forward I do hope it will grow easier but not to the point that I'll be cold. We have had some great meat bird possibilities this year the white rocks are huge! We also have some of our former slw roo/our black Orpington pullet/hens(the chicks are 25% English and massive).

Eventually we want to be able to raise and sell a couple heritage DP birds as well as a few breeds just for fun or for selling chicks etc. We have a friend with heritage RIR so we may start with those next year. After our trip to Mother Earth News Fair this last July and visiting the booths and seeing the talks about the heritage animals and how things used to be etc etc we have more than ever been interested in preserving the heritage breeds. It amazed me that people used to walk into a butcher shop and order a chicken by breed and age based on what they wanted to do with it.

Sorry I'm done ranting it's just something to think about. I've also learned so much about cooking them and the flavor differences that I can't wait to try them. Anyone else have any opinions about the flavor differences? Or anything?

 

[Faraday40]

@chickendreams
This summer was the 1st time I processed a few birds. (I should say I "helped" process them.) Two hens HAD to be put down due to quality of life issues. The sweet, gentle roo was much nicer than most cockerels I've seen, but he had a tiny flaw in his comb. (the last point made a small V, so probable sprig) I knew I could not breed or sell him & even a free home was impossible to find. If someone was going to take him & simply eat him, I might as well put him in my freezer. The decisions are logical but caused me the same pain that you're feeling now. In the end, it had to be done.

I made the arrangements with a friend & we just took care of it. I could not eat them right away, but that's what freezers are for. When I did cook them, I can definitely say that I treated the meals as very special occasions. After all, the bird gave his/her life for us to enjoy it, so I could not waste There was no way the dogs were going to eat the left-overs & I even used the bones for soups. Because you have a lot of birds to process, you'll have to make up a plan on how to process them. Inviting an experienced friend is always helpful.

I have no problem selling or giving away chicks. It's easier for me to see cute fluff-balls as temporary treasures. However, the decision to rehome a pullet over 5 months is very hard. Right now I have many very beautiful, friendly females, and I feel I should get the number down a little more. I have some 2 yr old orps that I should sell, but I doubt anyone would pay for a chicken that old - especially since they're probably going to molt soon. I am asking myself, "Should I process them & hatch new in the spring?" I don't know the answer. In other words, I'm going through many of the same thoughts as you right now. I think everyone does. After all, if we didn't love our chickens, we wouldn't be keeping them.

 

[jerseyridgearts]

Thanks ChicagoClucker. I've turned down two possibles. One guy seemed too interested in whether the roos fight....the other responder couldnt make her mind up whether she planned to eat them. Im starting to do chicken math.... Maybe I nust need more hens instead of fewer roosters?

Well, I did it....brought home a new (to me) mixed flock last night and a pretty Welsummer Roo. The Barred Rocks are going....one of the BR roos had the audacity to fly at me this morning...they are being moved into the old goat stall so the new flock can get settled. Then they are gone - gone - gone. Poor things. Out of six, 3 are definitely roos and I think two more may be - pretty poor odds.

A friend with a farm (and some hogs) is being gifted with all the BRs...and maybe a couple of the Red Star Girls.....Once the BRs are gone I may get more....the family I bought from is moving and must get rid of their birds.

The weather has been crazy - hard driving storms passed through here on their way to Chicagoland....hope this summer weather doesn't mean a harsh winter....

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Well, I did it....brought home a new (to me) mixed flock last night and a pretty Welsummer Roo. The Barred Rocks are going....one of the BR roos had the audacity to fly at me this morning...they are being moved into the old goat stall so the new flock can get settled. Then they are gone - gone - gone. Poor things. Out of six, 3 are definitely roos and I think two more may be - pretty poor odds.

A friend with a farm (and some hogs) is being gifted with all the BRs...and maybe a couple of the Red Star Girls.....Once the BRs are gone I may get more....the family I bought from is moving and must get rid of their birds.

The weather has been crazy - hard driving storms passed through here on their way to Chicagoland....hope this summer weather doesn't mean a harsh winter....

Congrats on the new flock and for rehoming all the cockerels. I have ordered eggs a couple of times, and have only hatched cockerels, so I feel your pain.

Good luck on the new group and post some pics, I would love to see the Welsummer roo!

 

[Junibutt]

Just adding couple of videos to the story:

Just an update on the "non-broody" momma and the chicks. She is still taking care of them and now they are very attached to her. The older one is 10 weeks now and the younger just over 8. Momma has now started sleeping with them on the run floor instead of the roost because the chicks are afraid of others and they don't follow her there.

Meanwhile the real broody started laying and abandoned her chicks about a week ago so I moved them all to the main coop. I was hoping the non-broody mama will adopt them as well but she did not and in fact does not let them mingle with her 2. It remains to be seen as to how long she will take care of the ones she is in-charge of.

 

[chickendreams24]

@Junibutt
That's so cool!

@Faraday40
How are the chicks have you been able to sell any?

One of the little CL cockerals has been breeding girls it's crazy but I've seen it. Don't worry it was older pullets in there with them.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Just an update on the "non-broody" momma and the chicks. She is still taking care of them and now they are very attached to her. The older one is 10 weeks now and the younger just over 8. Momma has now started sleeping with them on the run floor instead of the roost because the chicks are afraid of others and they don't follow her there.

Meanwhile the real broody started laying and abandoned her chicks about a week ago so I moved them all to the main coop. I was hoping the non-broody mama will adopt them as well but she did not and in fact does not let them mingle with her 2. It remains to be seen as to how long she will take care of the ones she is in-charge of.

I think its great and rather sweet that she became attached to the 2 youngsters. Keep us updated as to how long she stays with them. I find this quite interesting!