Maine

[annabananaandfamily]

another question in regards to meat birds- do you think it's cost effective? We are on an extremely tight budget (as I know many are) and we are always wondering if it would be worth it for our familyof 6. What do tou all think?

 

[buckabucka]

I don't think it is all that cost effective. Even if you butcher it yourself, you still have to purchase the chicks, keep them warm, feed them, and grow them out. You can get chicken on sale really cheap. It is more the satisfaction of knowing where your food came from that you are paying for when you raise your own. I have never tried the fast-growing meat birds, though, which might be a little more cost-effective.

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

honestly if you feed nothing but grain probably not . but if you let them range a bit and feed scraps along with grain I beleive so . For me it's knowing what I feed my family is wholesome and healthy that I beleive makes up for any cost difference . The foods you buy in the grocery is force fed hormones to grow fast and cheap . in the long run our children are developing to fast because these are being fed to them through their food source . Their bones and organs aren't growing at the pace the should causeing all kinds of heath issues later in life for them . It's not only meat it's our vegtables and grains also . When you look at the long term effect -- I choose to raise and grow as much of my food my family eats that I can ,in hopes my children will live long healthy lives .~~ Tammy

 

[CranberryCreekFarm]

Quote:
Where is the farm swap?


We haven't tackled butchering here yet. When it is only $3 to have someone butcher, clean, and hand the chicken back to you in a plastic bag, it is hard to resist.


Farm Swap is at the Tractor SUpply Store in skowhegan from 9-1. People bring crafts, animals, eggs etc. Come buy, swap, trade, or sell....

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

well i found a guy in kenduskeag that also prosses chickens and most birds hes on rt 15 has a sign up selling fresh eggs not sure what he charges but he does run adds in the uncle henrys every now and then his place is about 1/4 mile from the corinth town line behind the old store that is now closed i know that his name is dave ill check with him to get a number and price if anyone wants also if i remember right i belive that maple lane farms in charlston does turkeys and chickens to ive had them do a few deer and a moose that my wife and i got back in 2007 they also do about any farm animal you would want done they are good at it too but id still like to learn how to do them my self just to say i know how ive done lots of deer over the year but now i just send them to let them do the work it comes back vac sealed and frozen if you want them to

 

[Speed]

So we've had our new chickens for 2 days and not an egg yet. I'm sure it's due to the transition from their old home to the new home. I've got some plastic Easter eggs I'm putting in the nesting boxes to hopefully show them were to lay. If anyone has any other tips or tricks please let me know. Also Where these hens are older and already laying will it hurt them if they eat grower mash? Or should I put a separate feeder in with the layer pellets for them? I think the thing with not seeing any eggs from the big girls yet is just me being antsy LOL.

 

[klf73]

I am going to be downsizing some of my layer flock. Since dh got me all my "special" breeds I don't have enough room. They will all be from last year, my original flock will still be free ranging....I need to finish my inventory but I know I am going to be getting rid of a black ameraucana quint(1 roo, 4 hens) but they look rough because the california white that is in with them doens't like their beards

They are from Paul Smith but I also need to send some eggs out first so it will be a couple of weeks. I am also getting rid of the california white(california mud right now

), 3 golden lakenvelder, 3 russian orloff(2 hathery, 1 breeder)hens and a blue orp roo with imported blood, not sure percent but he is huge and came from Imogene(who had Bama birds)
I am also weeding down my brooders, have lots of chicks, mostly ee(ameraucana mixed color and ameraucana x araucana) and olive eggers....
I also have some ameraucana chicks, not sure how many roos but it's not looking promising so the person that wanted them, not sure if you would still be interested?

oh, also have 10 week old cockerals(2) silver laced brahmas, they love to be handled and pet but have vulture hocks which is a dq for brahmas...
I also am selling 3 swedish flower hen cockerals, beautiful birds

but I only have 2 pullets and 6 cockerals

 

[TayFray!]

I would like to make it to the swap in skowhegan I Have nothing to sell though!

All I have is 14 chicks which I am keeping, 5 ducklings Keeping, 1 buff orp, 1 white rock, 1 amberlink, 3 americauna, 4 silver spangled hamburg, 4 wheaten old english bantams, 12 meat, some fancy mice, and some eggs!

The only thing I might have sold was some eggs but i dont want to stay there and just sell some eggs!

I am looking for some layers (purebred showable), possibly some bantams, and some ducks!

What should I do??? I live in vienna which is about 45 minutes from skowheagan, I would like to go but I am not sure if it is worth it???

 

[chicketychickchick]

Skowhegan is pretty far for me too. With the current gas prices I wont be going unless I see someone is bringing something I just have to have.

 

[TayFray!]

yeah, im not sure, i may go in the morning and just stop by we will see!!