July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[FortCluck]

I do and don’t have ducks and geese! I don’t personally own any. Never wanted to deal with the baby mess and we don’t have any ponds or anything! My neighbor however has a momma duck with 9 ducklings and 7 baby geese that make a beeline for my yard as soon as he lets them out in the morning! Don’t know what the appeal is in my yard. I don’t let my chickens free range at the moment do to predators but these little buttheads are here every day and boy do they make a yucky mess! They poop way more than any of my chickens ever did and it’s huge. It’s like walking in a minefield anytime I want to go outside. And they have found their way into my garage which is great! Had to use a shovel last night to get rid of all there poo! gonna have to get something to keep them out until we can get a garage door.

I’d be so pissed at my neighbor... I believe everyone should keep their animals on their own property!

 

[SnapdragonQ]

I think it is too late for me! I'm looking at incubators, now!

You have now been turned to the dark side!

 

[igorsMistress]

I heard that skinning them is easiest

If all you're using is the breast then no need to skin. Just cut, gut and the skin peels back from the breast, reach in and pull it out. Super easy and quick.

 

[igorsMistress]

I do and don’t have ducks and geese! I don’t personally own any. Never wanted to deal with the baby mess and we don’t have any ponds or anything! My neighbor however has a momma duck with 9 ducklings and 7 baby geese that make a beeline for my yard as soon as he lets them out in the morning! Don’t know what the appeal is in my yard. I don’t let my chickens free range at the moment do to predators but these little buttheads are here every day and boy do they make a yucky mess! They poop way more than any of my chickens ever did and it’s huge. It’s like walking in a minefield anytime I want to go outside. And they have found their way into my garage which is great! Had to use a shovel last night to get rid of all there poo! gonna have to get something to keep them out until we can get a garage door.

I would be a bit po'd and tell my neighbor I'll be having duck and goose for the holidays if it doesn't stop. That is so rude!

 

[FortCluck]

If all you're using is the breast then no need to skin. Just cut, gut and the skin peels back from the breast, reach in and pull it out. Super easy and quick.

Think they want the whole bird because the cut them in half and cook with onion and butter. I’ll figure it out. Mine are 7 weeks and I don’t want to butcher any. They’re so friendly

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Does anyone have any ideas what the FCR rate is on a quail? The larger ones (coturnix?)

What feed do they need to A. raise for meat, and B. keep a group for eggs?

 

[igorsMistress]

Think they want the whole bird because the cut them in half and cook with onion and butter. I’ll figure it out. Mine are 7 weeks and I don’t want to butcher any. They’re so friendly

We used the whole bird for a while. I am allergic to them and my chickens so I got rid of the quail. We did all 60 in a day so the breasting was easier and faster. We aren't really growing out chickens for food much either, just eating the boys and I sold all my pullets.

My quail weren't friendly though, I avoided them so I wouldn't get attached, but I loved to sit on my patio and listen to them.

 

[igorsMistress]

Does anyone have any ideas what the FCR rate is on a quail? The larger ones (coturnix?)

What feed do they need to A. raise for meat, and B. keep a group for eggs?

Oh goodness, I had 60 birds at one time and it took forever to go through feed. I gave mine scratch and they had plenty of bugs in the garden to forage. I think one 50# bag of food lasted at least 2 months and there were always finches and sparrows getting into it as well. I fed gamebird starter.

 

[FortCluck]

We used the whole bird for a while. I am allergic to them and my chickens so I got rid of the quail. We did all 60 in a day so the breasting was easier and faster. We aren't really growing out chickens for food much either, just eating the boys and I sold all my pullets.

My quail weren't friendly though, I avoided them so I wouldn't get attached, but I loved to sit on my patio and listen to them.

So you have no chickens either or you still have some. I’m allergic to the dander but when it’s outside I’m fine. Inside gives me breathing issues.

 

[TheBajan]

I've never weighed eggs to check them, just candled. Do you have a chart you use to help determine if they're on track?

Yes. I created a spreadsheet to track their weight because I wanted to know if my humidity was on track. I'm using a DYI incubator that I built last month and did my first test hatch. Since I'm so new at this, it seemed like weighing them was the best way to know where to keep my humidity level.