"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[kuntrygirl]

Thanks mzstre. My old Tom is getting old and I have to keep him around as long as I can. I"m sure he suffers from the same things that older people suffer from like arthritis and things like that, so I have to make him as comfortable as possible when he has no control over the situations (bad weather) that he is put in.

I'm excited about my possible plucker. That would be a great money maker for someone who had the time to build them and sell them. It would be cheaper for customers to buy it from that person rather than buying the pluckers that sell for $500.00 and up online.

 

[mzstre]

HEY EVERYONE! I am in northwest Louisiana. I want to add a better breed of what i need to my flock this year and would love to hear some of your ideas. I have done tons of research, but opinions are always helpful!
So, I started with 4 Gold Sex Links, 2 black Austrolorps, 1 Rhode Island Red, 2 Leghorn hens.
Then a Faverolle and thepic below for roosters....(unknown breed if anyone knows)

Also one Japanese and one Sebright Bantam hen, and one Booted Bantam Rooster (that we have for 'why not').

First it was just for eggs, Then I bought an incubator and hatched 67 chicks last year. After the neighborhood dogs, hawks, etc killing a bunch and me processing 15 new roosters myself,
I have only the following left: all the Bantams plus a new Rooster and 2 hens who wont come out of the woods;
Hens:
1 Black Austrolorp, 1 Leghorn, 2 Gold Sex Linxs, and 17 new hens and the above unknown breed rooster.

I need more meat birds that lay eggs well yet don't take forever to mature to broiler size, can take Louisiana heat, and I can still incubate their eggs and continue my flock myself.
Don't ever want to have to buy chicks again and don't care if they never go broody since I use the incubator. I need to fill my freezer yearly and still have eggs to use/sell.
Ideas on what breed to look for/buy?

I have a small flock of Basques (Euskal Oiloa, Marraduna Basque). We processed several of the extra boys last year and were pretty satisfied. They are excellent foragers and have been consistent layers. They aren't super meaty, but they are very thrifty to feed if they get to free range. They are very friendly birds too.

I have a nice sized group (2 cockerels and 8 pullets) of White Bresse. I should be able to give you more information on them by summer. They are supposed to be the ultimate meat bird and early and consistent layers. I am amazed how hefty they are at 7 weeks.

 

[mzstre]

All of you who have gone through the NPIP certification...I need some info. I have an appointment in February for testing, and I was advised they only test for Pullorum. I thought they tested for AI as well. Any idea how to get that testing done and what the cost might be?

Brandy

 

[catdaddyfro]

HEY EVERYONE! I am in northwest Louisiana. I want to add a better breed of what i need to my flock this year and would love to hear some of your ideas. I have done tons of research, but opinions are always helpful!
So, I started with 4 Gold Sex Links, 2 black Austrolorps, 1 Rhode Island Red, 2 Leghorn hens.
Then a Faverolle and thepic below for roosters....(unknown breed if anyone knows)

Also one Japanese and one Sebright Bantam hen, and one Booted Bantam Rooster (that we have for 'why not').

First it was just for eggs, Then I bought an incubator and hatched 67 chicks last year. After the neighborhood dogs, hawks, etc killing a bunch and me processing 15 new roosters myself,
I have only the following left: all the Bantams plus a new Rooster and 2 hens who wont come out of the woods;
Hens:
1 Black Austrolorp, 1 Leghorn, 2 Gold Sex Linxs, and 17 new hens and the above unknown breed rooster.

I need more meat birds that lay eggs well yet don't take forever to mature to broiler size, can take Louisiana heat, and I can still incubate their eggs and continue my flock myself.
Don't ever want to have to buy chicks again and don't care if they never go broody since I use the incubator. I need to fill my freezer yearly and still have eggs to use/sell.
Ideas on what breed to look for/buy?

Howdy

and welcome to the layers thread and

your rooster in the picture is an EE or what's called and Easter Egger a hatchery rendition of an Americana. There are many breeds that would serve your purpose well white and barred Rocks, RIReds, New Hampshire, Delaware these are just a few of whats called dual purpose breeds look for that description and whatever color or pattern suits your fancy and go for it.

Jeff

 

[Jipus5]

From what im reading, Rocks only get 6 to 7.5 pounds, though they do mature a lil early. RIR take too long to mature,Delaware are under consideration, White Rocks seem awesome as well as the Dark Cornish. Its the taking 6 months to mature (& feed) that gets me. Black Austrolorps seem ok too though I have only used mine for eggs so far. New Hampshire Reds sound good as well. I think the ability to lay eggs,(200 or more per year) and handle our heat waves and thicken up good within 4 months....? My idea anyway......

Oh and BTW they are all organically fed and are fully pastured all day, every day.

 

[catdaddyfro]

From what im reading, Rocks only get 6 to 7.5 pounds, though they do mature a lil early. RIR take too long to mature,Delaware are under consideration, White Rocks seem awesome as well as the Dark Cornish. Its the taking 6 months to mature (& feed) that gets me. Black Austrolorps seem ok too though I have only used mine for eggs so far. New Hampshire Reds sound good as well. I think the ability to lay eggs,(200 or more per year) and handle our heat waves and thicken up good within 4 months....? My idea anyway......

Oh and BTW they are all organically fed and are fully pastured all day, every day.

Yeah it all depends on what stock you get. My Barred Rocks get a little bigger than the info you've posted but you can't go to the feed store and get these ones either. I just sold a 16 month old BR here the other day and I'm sure he was 10-11 lbs. My RIR boys will be a year old here in a couple of months they are probly around 8lbs now and have got aways to go still yet, my NHs are about an 8 lb. bird they are right on que for the standard weight. Yes these heritage types do grow out slower than factory types but that is one of the keys to getting a good textured meat and it has taste too, LOL. Delawares would be a good enough choice too if you get some good ones I'll tell you up front that the ones Ideal or any hatchery and the feed stores have will not suit you needs for them to be meat birds in a few months though youll have to get some from somebody that has been working with them to improve their type. I have some Del hens from Ideal they lay like proreds and other good hatchery layers but they don't have much to them sort like the same body as sexlinks and proreds.

Jeff

 

[La Mike]

I believe they charge a small fee for AVI test


Hi all
Benn missin yall lol
Busiern a one legged man in a butt kikn contest around here. Trying to read back and see what yall been doing


Welcome to all newbies and jipus5 your just down the road from me These folks in here are great

 

[kuntrygirl]

I believe they charge a small fee for AVI test


Hi all
Benn missin yall lol
Busiern a one legged man in a butt kikn contest around here. Trying to read back and see what yall been doing


Welcome to all newbies and jipus5 your just down the road from me These folks in here are great

There is My Mike! Howdy partner!

LOL @ Busiern a one legged man in a butt kikn contest around here. That's why I miss you so much when you're not here.

Mike, do you have any crested ducks? Someone contacted me because she lost her male and she was looking for crested duck. I only have 1 but he ain't going nowhere. I would hate to inflict his wrath on another unsuspecting varmint. He is a TERROR! The evil doll Chuckie from the movies is a saint compared to this little rascal of mine. :/

Don't stay away so long Mike.!!!

 

[catdaddyfro]

I believe they charge a small fee for AVI test


Hi all
Benn missin yall lol
Busiern a one legged man in a butt kikn contest around here. Trying to read back and see what yall been doing


Welcome to all newbies and jipus5 your just down the road from me These folks in here are great

How do there Mike

and jipus there you go this man can hook you up with some chickens that would fill you bill I'm sure, an he's practically your neighbor and I know he knows and probly has some of which are good to fit your setup. huh Mike?

Jeff

 

[La Mike]

What are Jalapeno Poppers and how do you make them?

It was easy, I softened some cream cheese and mixed it with some shredded sharp cheddar & bacon bits. I bought 8 jalapenos, put on rubber gloves, sliced them in half lengthways & removed the seeds and splines (that piece the seeds stick to inside). Stuffed each half with the cheese mixture; wrapped it in 1/2 a won-ton wrapper (I had some leftover in the fridge, but you could use egg roll wrappers or even phyllo pastry too). I sprayed a pizza pan with cooking spray, put the peppers on it & spritzed them w/a light coating of cooking spray & baked them at 350 for about I guess 15-20 minutes, until they were light brown. They were delicious!


Celie I feel so bad for you w/your goose situation - and all those turkeys! - I am scared to death of turkeys - I'd be freaking out all those little monsters!

mbmess could not agree w/you more -- ready for some dry weather here too!

Well the wind just shifted to the north & it's getting darker so guess I'd better dash into town & top off my gas tank before it starts raining again. We'll have to leave early in the morning for LSU w/Mal. The weather won't be great & I'm taking the Interstate instead of my usual route since I"m worried about flooded roads.

I wrap em in bacon