Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

I have pressure cooker several years old roosters for hours and had the best pulled chicken.

freedom ranger hatchery just had the whole shipment stuck at a PO distribution center for days. Half were dead when po got the animal control involved.
https://www.delawareonline.com/stor...in-truck-at-delaware-post-office/83492401007/

Looks like someone abandoned their truck w/o unloading or notifying the local postmaster and took a long weekend instead.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Have 4 roosters left, 10 hens. Need to reduce the rooster count 2 more tommorow. Will try and get a picture of at least one of the ones I'm keeping. Then look at how I'm goign to increase flock count. Some of these hens are getting old, and between the neighbors and the predators, I'm not getting enough eggs right now to incubate the "extras".

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Obviously, I have not been paying close attention, that I ended up w/ so many Roos, so few hens. But this, I think, is a "pretty boy".

 

[Sally PB]

But this, I think, is a "pretty boy".

He is, indeed!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

12 eggs in the incubator (as of a couple days ago). Fngers crossed.

Getting 5 eggs per day from the remaining 10 hens, one of which I'd like to remove from the project. Given that some of these hens are now 4 years old, that's not terrible - but I definitely need some new birds. Can't keep up with neighborly demand and have replacement eggs for hatching. The incubator breaking last hatch really set things back a bit.

 

[Sally PB]

I really need some new blood in my flock too. I have (3) 5 year olds, (2) 4 y/o, and (4) 2 y/o. We have plenty of eggs for our needs, but not as many to share, as in years past.

Honestly, I thought I'd lose a couple over the winter. I'm not comfortable with more than 10 hens/pullets plus a possible cockerel/rooster. So no chicks until next spring.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I really need some new blood in my flock too. I have (3) 5 year olds, (2) 4 y/o, and (4) 2 y/o. We have plenty of eggs for our needs, but not as many to share, as in years past.

Honestly, I thought I'd lose a couple over the winter. I'm not comfortable with more than 10 hens/pullets plus a possible cockerel/rooster. So no chicks until next spring.

I'd like to be between 18 and 24 hens, 2-3 roosters right now.

Meaning I need at least one more hatch, likely two, before fall.

 

[NanaK]

Given that some of these hens are now 4 years old, that's not terrible

It takes a few years to know for sure a hen is healthy and continues to lay. If any of these 4 yr old hens are to your liking, it might would be a positive thing to hatch some of their eggs. You know they have lived 4 years and have been healthy, laid eggs with a good shell and no reproductive problems.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

It takes a few years to know for sure a hen is healthy and continues to lay. If any of these 4 yr old hens are to your liking, it might would be a positive thing to hatch some of their eggs. You know they have lived 4 years and have been healthy, laid eggs with a good shell and no reproductive problems.

Some of my remaining younger hens will go before some of my originals actually. One is almost all black - which I don't want for my project. Another is thin like a crepe. Turn sideways and she disappears. Not the bodyshape I'm looking for. A third is grey - I've still not decided on keeping or losing her.