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

[Perris]

I have hatched all my marana with the same humidity as all my other eggs and they have done just fine.

thanks for the reassurance! Now I will be able to sleep tonight

 

[slbenter]

@kelseyk, thanks for that. I pondered the reasons it could be. Let me test my book-knowledge.
Would it be because the chicks are a bit larger, and they need more space in the egg?
The humidity slowing down the air sack increase? That's the only thing I could think of based on what I know without a lick of experience hatching chicks.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Look up field fencing in your local diy store or farm store. We've been putting up the 47" tall and it's dead easy. (We already have barbed wire but we're just putting it on right over-top.) You don't need a lot of wooden posts (maybe just the corners) because it pretty much holds itself up. T-posts work just fine. When you consider the cost for 3-4 strand barbed wire, the two are pretty comparable, but the field fence is SO much better.

One thing though... if you ever plan on turkeys don't get the Red Brand. They'll see that substantial-looking red top edge and consider it a roost. Then they'll hop down on the wrong side and you'll have to go rescue them.

Oh, they do that with plain non- Red Brand fencing too.
And gates, and rails, tree limbs, and holes in the fence... .... then they run the fence line back and forth all day long because they can't figure out how to hop back in!

 

[Vantic]

Next spring? I agreed to no more hatching (unless it just happens on its own.. a force of nature... a happy coincidence...) until next year. Maybe a winter hatch? January? Unless we want to have some around at Christmas when the kids are here...

I guess anytime would be fine. I don't see us doing any large hatches after this one for a while, but I've been contemplating a sportsman. $$ saved would be way more fun.

Well, if you want a sportsman. The next build will be a "better" clone. So do you want a write up of the 1502 clone or the 84 egg machine. I will just sit here and wait for someone to say both...

Better because it will be better insulated with air flow control. So no dead zones and use less electricity (in my artic basement), yet still easy to build and on the pocket book. I ordered their egg trays today as my turner will tilt.

 

[Vantic]

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

Butchering for consumption is loving the animal twice...

 

[AgnesGray]

Well, if you want a sportsman. The next build will be a "better" clone. So do you want a write up of the 1502 clone or the 84 egg machine. I will just sit here and wait for someone to say both...

Better because it will be better insulated with air flow control. So no dead zones and use less electricity (in my artic basement), yet still easy to build and on the pocket book. I ordered their egg trays today as my turner will tilt.

Either or both?? Beggars can't be choosers, right? Whatever I put together will be a large jump in capacity from my NR360s which have admittedly been amazing, just on the smallish side.

 

[Vantic]

Either or both?? Beggars can't be choosers, right? Whatever I put together will be a large jump in capacity from my NR360s which have admittedly been amazing, just on the smallish side.

Excellent, dealer choice. I will be working on the pretty one over the next month. The control circuit is the same for both, so I can write that up separate.

 

[CindyinSD]

Do you use highlands for meat?

I thought we would, but after feeding them all winter I realized we just couldn't keep them all so I sold all but Eden and her heifer calf. Those two are my pets. I may breed Eden to a faster-growing breed this year, for a meat animal. It's hard, though. DH can't imagine eating a calf he knows personally. He eats the chickens and turkeys but won't watch me process them. He might come around. He said before that he wouldn't eat them, but he does, so...

 

[chickiebaby1]

One miracle baby has arrived. One other is pipped.

 

[CindyinSD]

Wow, awesome flock! And you're right... counting them breaks the rules!!! Hahaha!! I was just going through my chicken spreadsheet and updating with all of the newbies as well as what's in the incubator and I try to block out the line number on the left. Have lots of chickens!!



Wonder what their diet is? That makes such a big difference in poop quality and smell.

They eat grass & forage, up until they're sent off for "finishing" before slaughter. I don't know what they're fed before the ranchers bring them to the Natl. Forest allotments. Maybe some supplements (molasses licks--with other things I imagine--vitamins, etc. to help the mothers regain condition and the calves get off to a good start?) I think it's mostly just the fast-growth trait that's bred into them that makes for smelly , but that's only my speculation.

It would be hard to make much of a living on Highlands. That's a two-year grow-out before they're big enough for breeding (some people breed them at one year), or for much in the way of meat production. They're a limited market breed--for people who have the money to spend on boutique beef. I would have kept them all if we had 50 acres instead of 12, and a longer summer than winter instead of mostly winter. We used to have more summer--not sure that's ever coming back. Anyway, we just don't have the land for them.