"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[LemonMeringue]

Everybody is eating and drinking fine, no signs of any other issues either. What is the best temp for 8 week olds? The box they are in is not completely closed, there's wire on parts for ventilation and the heater is working well but maybe I need to turn it up a bit. Idk. Tks for the help.

95 degrees for the first week. Then reduce it 5 degrees each week. So at 8 weeks minimum of 60 to 65 degrees should be fine. They have enough feathers now to handler that.

 

[Cody A]

Everybody is eating and drinking fine, no signs of any other issues either. What is the best temp for 8 week olds? The box they are in is not completely closed, there's wire on parts for ventilation and the heater is working well but maybe I need to turn it up a bit. Idk. Tks for the help.

I put mine in the coop with no heat after the recent polar vortex. They're 8 weeks old now. They've been fine, have plenty of feathers and each other to stay warm.

 

[Cody A]

I have been coming on here for a year. Even before I got chickens. Seven months before. I feel like I have learned an immense amount of info. BUT, if I ever say anything to offend anyone or make you think I'm getting above myself, you have my permission is say two words. Rooster Cull.
That says it all. Never have I made such a production of anything. Thank you Jesus, I was alone on the property.

This was the single rooster in the Cobb 500 breeders rescue. He was about 15 months old and about 15 lbs. Big heavy bones. I was going to try something new and use the broomstick method. Now, I'm 67 and me and him did not agree at all. I had him bound and covered in a towel and when I tried to pull up. Nada. He struggles and I went flying backwards.

Pitiful. I managed to get back up and retrieve him. And I had no other way planned except to do it like the lady on youtube. Wrapped in a towel in my lap. I cut onle side of the throat and he was bleeding fine so I didn't bother with the other. After 3 minutes, I thought, wow, this was easy, he didn't even struggle. Then he raised his head and looked around. Not laughing anymore. I had to do the other side and hold him while he thrashed around mightily. Finally it was done and I began to peel him. I was only going to do the breasts and thighs and legs but he was so big I couldn't cut through the bones. I managed to fillet the legs and one thigh and the other came out whole. I have about 6-7 lbs of meat but I think I'll be keeping the hens forever. And ever. Amen.

You would be right if you think I'm not ever telling my family.

Oh dear lord Linda. I had to google "The broomstick method" Glad you are ok. Hope you enjoy your hard earned meal. Cody

 

[Ron Skekel]

That makes me rethink my new hobby!!! I just don't have it in me to do it, cuddos to those who can.

Don't worry your not alone. I haven't done the deed yet either.I am thinking now that I'm breeding it may come to it. If you have too many roosters it's sell or off to freezer camp. I wouldn't try the broomstick method I watched Amish do it. There is a video on you tube where a woman calms her bird then she dispatches him with out a peep. For now I'm with you but that day may come. Pam

 

[MamaKitty913]

Hi to my fellow La peeps!

I've been thinking about ya'll and praying for everyone. LindaB you cracked me up!! lol. For I too tried the broomstick method (it looked sooo easy peezy) So I huffed and I puffed and I pullled broomstick came off a bit so no "deed" done. So I repositioned the broomstick all the while talking to the poor dear. I pulled back to far fell a bit backwards, and gave a harder pull... and I fell backwards, the poor things head was on one side of the broomstick and his body ran across the yard as I sat on the ground, traumatized! Ah, but alas I was not alone and my family after making sure I was okay, busted up laughing to tears! The dirty birds, lol! And as some of you mentioned the chicken math I found out today that I really have no chickens!

I have 4 Tom Turkey's 6 Guinea fowl, 1 goose, 61 birds from 12 to 9 weeks old, and 8 8 month old birds (6 that currently give me eggs almost everyday). It seems that a chicken is not a chicken until after 1 year of age... I get the egg before the chicken lol! And now for the best part of chickens... pictures lol!










The 1st photo of our BLRW (Blue Laced Red Wyandotte's) these are great birds I love their personality, and along with our Cuckoo Marans they IMHO are some of the best conversationalists around! They were being moved in a dog pen to their NEW breed specific pen. So excited I'm getting about 30 more and choosing the best of these for a pullet breeding pen (maybe rooster's too we shall see). The next few are the Blue Andalusians, with Red the feather eater (1 of our EE males photo bombing in front). The Black Austrolourps came to see us with the Blue Andalusians in the third picture. And the picture with my GS (and foot lol) is the grow up pen/yard. we built with reused fencing, pallets, one role of harware 1/4" ($86.00 ) misc hardware laying around screws ($24.00 OUCH but used box for this house and 2 more so it's good!) Reused windows and tin and fence posts - GOD is good! Total cost around $130.00 We will be putting in nesting boxes so the mismatched boards mark the spots lol! I put a better picture so you'd see the fencing and netting. I got deer mesh from TSC to cover the top and keep turkey's from jumping in it was on clearance for $20.00. My birds are pretty much watched through out the day so it would give them a chance at running away from hawks and things. 1 of the Guinea's in the dog run/Guinea house, they free range in groups of 4 leaving 2 in (usually my hope hen lavender) and her twin lavender (hope boy)! A picture of the Royal Palm and his faithful compadres the Red Burbon Boy's A snake in the hen house I killed - I was so brave Ya'll would have been proud! And a last grainy picture of my Welsummer boys 2 stay (if they are nice) and the rest are going to the freezer camp, they are nice so far but only 13 weeks so we shall see. Thanks to everyone for helping us get this far and I'll be lurking unless you PM me and want to see more pictures lol! Happy Holidays we shall be eating our own turkey or maybe one mean ol' goosie for Christmas. God Bless us all Creatures great and small

 

[topdog24]

TD, I've been anticipating your hatch. Looking forward to see how it comes out for you. Aren't you breeding for specific colored eggs?

Not yet, this is a trial run, i dont want to risk loosing the time and effort put into the specific colored egg layers until i have got a hatch under my belt and tested my incubator and proceedure. The real test will come probably in Feb and March, i have to finish this guest house project before i will have the time to concentrate on my project, I am a mechanic, not a carpenter or electrician, so it takes quiet a bit of extra time to get things done to my satisfaction, The Cream Legbars will be pure if they hatch, the blue and green are EE mix, some should be olive eggers and actually could end up with several colors, wont know until May, my EEs are just starting to lay, I have only definate ID on 2 of the 4 that are laying, once i establish each ones egg color, then i will know what Rooster to put over them for the following hatch, I actually have an olive egger laying now but it is a light olive, the French Black Copper Marans over her will produce dark olive eggs, i am waiting for her system to get developed before making that matchup, her eggs are really small, not good candidates for a good hatch. I am getting there, although at a snails pace


This match will produce the dark olive egger

 

[MamaKitty913]

Hi Terry I have 11 SLW keeping a few but can spare a few. Let me know. they are 9 weeks old vaccinated for Coccidosis and Meraks. I'm putting some attention to some other breeds so I don't need that many of these.

 

[campingshaws]

Loved hearing my rooster crow this morning, then I walked by the back door and saw chickens on the porch. Apparently I forgot to close the run when I went out for head count.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Hi to my fellow La peeps! I've been thinking about ya'll and praying for everyone. LindaB you cracked me up!! lol. For I too tried the broomstick method (it looked sooo easy peezy) So I huffed and I puffed and I pullled broomstick came off a bit so no "deed" done. So I repositioned the broomstick all the while talking to the poor dear. I pulled back to far fell a bit backwards, and gave a harder pull... and I fell backwards, the poor things head was on one side of the broomstick and his body ran across the yard as I sat on the ground, traumatized! Ah, but alas I was not alone and my family after making sure I was okay, busted up laughing to tears! The dirty birds, lol! And as some of you mentioned the chicken math I found out today that I really have no chickens! I have 4 Tom Turkey's 6 Guinea fowl, 1 goose, 61 birds from 12 to 9 weeks old, and 8 8 month old birds (6 that currently give me eggs almost everyday). It seems that a chicken is not a chicken until after 1 year of age... I get the egg before the chicken lol! And now for the best part of chickens... pictures lol! The 1st photo of our BLRW (Blue Laced Red Wyandotte's) these are great birds I love their personality, and along with our Cuckoo Marans they IMHO are some of the best conversationalists around! They were being moved in a dog pen to their NEW breed specific pen. So excited I'm getting about 30 more and choosing the best of these for a pullet breeding pen (maybe rooster's too we shall see). The next few are the Blue Andalusians, with Red the feather eater (1 of our EE males photo bombing in front). The Black Austrolourps came to see us with the Blue Andalusians in the third picture. And the picture with my GS (and foot lol) is the grow up pen/yard. we built with reused fencing, pallets, one role of harware 1/4" ($86.00 ) misc hardware laying around screws ($24.00 OUCH but used box for this house and 2 more so it's good!) Reused windows and tin and fence posts - GOD is good! Total cost around $130.00 We will be putting in nesting boxes so the mismatched boards mark the spots lol! I put a better picture so you'd see the fencing and netting. I got deer mesh from TSC to cover the top and keep turkey's from jumping in it was on clearance for $20.00. My birds are pretty much watched through out the day so it would give them a chance at running away from hawks and things. 1 of the Guinea's in the dog run/Guinea house, they free range in groups of 4 leaving 2 in (usually my hope hen lavender) and her twin lavender (hope boy)! A picture of the Royal Palm and his faithful compadres the Red Burbon Boy's A snake in the hen house I killed - I was so brave Ya'll would have been proud! And a last grainy picture of my Welsummer boys 2 stay (if they are nice) and the rest are going to the freezer camp, they are nice so far but only 13 weeks so we shall see. Thanks to everyone for helping us get this far and I'll be lurking unless you PM me and want to see more pictures lol! Happy Holidays we shall be eating our own turkey or maybe one mean ol' goosie for Christmas. God Bless us all Creatures great and small

Those Wyandottes are going to be really cool looking once they are feathered out. I saw a rooster someone was rehoming not that long ago and he was stunning. Thanks for the pictures!

 

[LemonMeringue]

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