INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[faerydust16]

7 eggs and counting!!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lovely @faerydust16 !!

Now it's time to train those girls to use their nest boxes so you don't have a perpetual Easter egg hunt!

 

[faerydust16]

Lovely @faerydust16 !!

Now it's time to train those girls to use their nest boxes so you don't have a perpetual Easter egg hunt!

How do I do that?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000
I would love to hear your results. I've thought that I'd do meaties every year, and every year passes and I don't do it

I think I'd have to do a few small batches - maybe 10 at a time - rather than such a large group. I guess I just need to just do it...but every time I'm about to get some, I realize that there's some event coming up that will keep me from doing it (like being out of town, etc.)

Anyhow, what are you thinking - about 6 weeks to processing?

OH...and what has happened to Patrick?

I finally just bit the bullet and ordered 50 of them! I used to do batches of 25 during the warm months. Quit doing it when my Dad had open heart, then Mom started to fail. I process most roosters at 6 weeks, the let the hens go to 8. I know there are a few thread members wanting to come and see how its done. I plan to host a "hands on" demo here at the farm. This will include a free bird to take home that you've processed yourself.
@racinchickins i'm not sure, really miss his posts! I know he has been taking more overseas trips, and racing more. I would love to get some of his Dark Cornish eggs if he still keeps them.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ugh all this rain and being gone at campground. Weeds galore! Spent the morning and this evening weeding the garden. One of the Scovy hens decided to come eat the clover I was pulling up. She is currently broody, but always finds me for a treat when she leaves the nest. She got a few bugs I found and was chowing on the Japanese beetles! She doesn't bother the potato plants, but sure picks off the beetles for me.

 

[JanetMarie]

@JanetMarie

Are they all Buff O's?

I have my babies. 6 of them Doms.

They are all easter eggers. The broody is the actual mom, and the dad is a multi colored barred mix.

Did you get a cockerel?

 

[Leahs Mom]

@JanetMarie
Yep Hopefully just the one!

 

[Indyshent]

Ugh. Maple, the smallest broody turkey hen, attacked me repeatedly after I ejected her from the best to check eggs. Had one infertile egg and three that were dark and almost weightless by comparison. Couldn't get a good look because of lighting, mostly. She didn't draw blood on me but kept jumping, flapping and trying to scratch me. I closed Pancake and Sweetie out of the coop. These girls have lost too much weight with this fruitless brooding. Maple has too, but she was the most zealous about defending the nest, so I'll let her try a bit longer.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

How do I do that?

The easiest way with new hens is placing fake eggs in the nest box. Golf balls work too, or you can place their own eggs in it. Be sure to date the eggs if they are real. I have seen hens lay in rocks before and even try to brood a rock, crazy. Be sure to show them where it is. Sometimes, a good rooster will call his girls and tell them "LOOK its here! A nest! and look it has eggs!" Both my fellas will sit with a hen that's laying, even in the box if its roomy enough. Its usually a mature rooster, I've never seen a cockerel do it.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I am working on the perennial garden also. So far, I have put in blueberry bushes last fall, strawberries this spring, and have Asparagus crowns coming next. I ordered both the Jersey green variety, and the purple! Dad and I both love it, I want it fresh to put in salads.