"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[Angelicisi]

Thanks for the info! What makes you want to do 50? Is it about the same amount of work doing more?
His main goal is good food in the freezer that will last us awhile. We will be free ranging the majority of the time and FF feed 2-3x's a day. I do fermented feed now and love it. Saves me $ and helps the birds. I'm expecting end cost to be about $7/chicken.

Remember because they eat a lot they poop a lot. Make sure that you can stand up in whatever enclosure you have for easy cleaning and feeding. At about 3-4 weeks I had to run 2 buckets of fermented feed to have enough for it to ferment while still feeding them. I had 50 for that amount of food. You may want to consider more for your next batch. I have become fond of fryer sized ones and stuff them with rice and head cheese (or sausage). They act like they are starving all the time even though they have full crops... Don't let them trick you, they can eat themselves to death. (Lost one that way.) Have lots of water, if they run out they stop growing. They went threw 16-20 gallons a day the last couple of weeks. They will trample each other for food access. I prevented it by making a trough feeder out of a gutter. They free range really well if you let them and mine love dust baths. Good luck and good eating!

 

[Angelicisi]

We are gonna try the CX. I've heard horro stories but then went to get my rabbits and he was free ranging a batch of 100 and those babies were incredible! Meaty monsters that actually moved and ran! Ok ok they skipped and sometimes somersaulted but were still happy and not breaking bones or in a Dog pile of feces. He slaughters at 10 weeks. I'm going to try it. I HAVE to try a batch his way lol

He wanted to try Meyer freedom rangers somethin or other but the realistic grow out time is much longer and I want the deed done sooner the 1st time around, the reviews for the freedom rangers were better in general but the timing was a lil too long for the project on our end.

Now that you mention that, I remember bringing things like toothpaste, playing cards, nail clippers toothbrushes, combs, paperback books, chewing gum, etc. to school and we put together We care packages for the troops during the Vietnam War are, when I was in high school ! I know times have changed and so do needs, but I think we also wrote class letters to troops, telling them how much we appreciated their actions. Boy that brings back old memories, because it was my senior year and some of the soldiers over there were my age! I had pen pals over there for a long time and they really looked forward to the letters. Times change so much, that nobody even writes letters much anymore. All we get are bills and junk mail and an occasional card from the grand kids! Now they have cell phones and video computers!

you will also need heat lamps and lots of bedding, they poop a lot! I tried 50 last year this time with 50 from Meyers and they didn't even grow feathers for months. They sent some new breed with tall pink or orange legs that were very active, but took 4 months to grow out! Worse experience ever raising chickens. I raised the fast growing meaties, before, several times, but these took forever. I will never order from Meyers again!!!  But I must say they were very active and free ranged well, after they grew feathers at 4 months old, but it was February by then.

 

[Angelicisi]

My elementary class wrote thank you letters to the troops, we gathered basic needs toiletries (deodorant was high on the want list then as well as Mad magazine lol)
It was an awesome project ill always remember. 3 of the soldiers that got the letters while deployed, came to visit after returning and it was like we were seeing Santa in the flesh. So much love and at the time our young minds had no true idea of the wars they have to participate in. Even more respect now

 

[michaelof504]

Sorry to keep posting on this thread about this, but I need to get rid of a 5 month old RIR roo. In my previous posts, I was trying to see to it that he wold be re-homed, but at this point, I really need to get rid of him, so I'll resort to giving him to someone who will use him for a meal. If you're in or around Jefferson parish and want to pick up a big, healty rooster for a free meal, please send me a private message. Also, make sure you're capable o fbringing something to take him away with because I don't have any boxes or pet carries to lend.

 

[Angelicisi]

Wish you were closer
I have a forum I can cross post this for you on that usually works quick. (I'll try for a pet home)

Sorry to keep posting on this thread about this, but I need to get rid of a 5 month old RIR roo.  In my previous posts, I was trying to see to it that he wold be re-homed, but at this point, I really need to get rid of him, so I'll resort to giving him to someone who will use him for a meal.  If you're in or around Jefferson parish and want to pick up a big, healty rooster for a free meal, please send me a private message.  Also, make sure you're capable o fbringing something to take him away with because I don't have any boxes or pet carries to lend.

 

[foreverlearning]

Thanks for the info! What makes you want to do 50? Is it about the same amount of work doing more?
His main goal is good food in the freezer that will last us awhile. We will be free ranging the majority of the time and FF feed 2-3x's a day. I do fermented feed now and love it. Saves me $ and helps the birds. I'm expecting end cost to be about $7/chicken.

I did 50 because it was cheaper overall. Larger amounts from both the hatchery and feed mill gave huge savings. My costs for birds and feed in the end was $2.50 per bird. My birds were on avg 5-7 pounds at processing (some less for my fryer size ones). Bedding will run up your cost real quick hence doing them all at once instead of staggering threw out the year. It was warm enough here that they used an old table top for a roost at night and I would hose it down when I let them out in the morning. The first 2 weeks they were inside with sand as bedding, they even managed to mess that up pretty quick.

 

[foreverlearning]

Have ya'll seen this coop? I think it's cute!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/dr-susess-house

 

[CackedNut]

Have ya'll seen this coop? I think it's cute!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/dr-susess-house

That's really cute!

 

[PrimroseMom1]

...

I'm so jealous!! It's my favorite place!! I loved 10 years in Knoxville and went over the mountain many times for a weekend in Nashville. Yes, please post fotos. Lucky!! Be safe and I'll go with you at least in my heart.[/quote

I love the smoky mountains too. I would go every year if I could. I tried to get a girls trip no takers can you believe that? I have friends that live their. Last time We rented a cabin and had friends meet us there. we went mining we found lots of gem stones. I have a Ruby ring with the ruby we found on that trip. Someone was saying they wanted to learn to weave. Their is a school that teaches weaving. on the grounds is the most beautiful labyrinth. I always stock up an bring back Amish goods. The Amish butter an cheese is so good. I try to bring a years worth back. Then their is sour wood honey delish. Something about the Mountains I always feel good when I'm there. When I go to the Mast General I'll get unique old time goodies for the military care packages. If there's something you want that you miss from there let me know I'll pick it up for you. I'll check my e-mail an the La-yers once a day. Thanks so much for all the well wishes. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll post pic's from the blue ridge park way!!! Pam

You are doo sweet!! I did a girls' trip there once. Actually it was my BFF that lives in Greenville SC and we each brought a grandchild. We had a cabin in the mountains and would drive in to do stuff during the day. I thought about what I'd like you to bring back. Hummm. What I want the most is the smell. Could you bottle the smell and I could take a whiff each day. Lol. I think what I love the most is walking in the mountains next to a stream and letting out all the tension in my body in the presence of silence while breathing mountain air. Mountain air is different.

 

[CackedNut]

www.houzz.com Neat website. I subscribe to the free newsletter. It has everything from "do it yourself" ideas to decorating ideas, as well as, recipes. Today's newsletter had an article on "4 Farm Fresh Chicken Coops". Site might not appeal to all, but has been a source for some great "do it yourself" projects.