Minnesota!

[nordicacres]

I was originally going to raise and eat Bert's toads. But a combination of Bert's foot injury and poor hatches has forced me to change plans. I am now raising Bert's toads to lay eggs I can hatch next year. I will call them 2nd generation toads.

I am impressed with Bert's babies considering the experts on here told me CX's were infertile and the babies would look nothing like a CX.  They look pretty Cx ish to me.

You are absolutely correct. They do look like CX! Thanks for sharing pictures . We're getting meat birds mid-July or August and maybe I will have to experiment, too! It would be nice to be able to grow our own rather than rely on a hatchery.

 

[scandiafowl]

Hanging out under the current bush.

 

[Rhetts]

I have confirmation today of what I have been suspecting since about week 3 for these new birds of mine (currently 15 weeks). The silver laced polish pullets my daughter picked are indeed cockerels. They were crowing today. I only ordered 2 and they are both males. Fantastic. Confirmed roo count is officially 11.

Oh and the Lakenvelder is the top dog rooster in the flock right now. I have no intentions of keeping him but will that mess up the flock dynamics until a new rooster decides to take over or should I not be too worried about removing him? Of course he alerts the flock when something is near, he goes between the hens and whatever he is protecting them from until the coast is clear. Hoping the roos we ordered in the breeds we liked will mature and step up to the flock leader plate once the Lakenvelder is gone. Can 4 roosters live peaceably together in one flock of about 32 hens since I now have to keep the polish roos?

 

[Rhetts]

We're getting meat birds mid-July or August and maybe I will have to experiment, too! It would be nice to be able to grow our own rather than rely on a hatchery.

We were talking of getting meat birds then too. We want to keep costs to a minimum. We are going to try letting them range and forage in an area of their own on top of feeding them feed. Keep us updated, Nordic, on how it goes. I know my DH is super interested in learning as much as we can to make our first meat birds attempt successful. He also is trying to figure out feed to dressed bird ratio and what week is best for processing.

 

[duluthralphie]

I know I say this over and over, I think starve em and free range them is the way to go.

I am thinking of ordering some soon, too.

I will raise them slow and free range as much as possible keeping them for 11-13 weeks so I get giant birds. I love the taste of the big guys, they are so juicy.





It took a while but we got all the little guys back in their brooders for the night. The three BB were being difficult.

 

[nordicacres]

We were talking of getting meat birds then too.  We want to keep costs to a minimum.  We are going to try letting them range and forage in an area of their own on top of feeding them feed.  Keep us updated, Nordic, on how it goes.  I know my DH is super interested in learning as much as we can to make our first meat birds attempt successful.  He also is trying to figure out feed to dressed bird ratio and what week is best for processing.

Our plan is to start them in a chicken tractor (days) and we'll see how that goes. There is a sectioned off area in the coop under the poop board that we can keep them in at night or in inclement weather. They will free range in their own area once they are bigger (4 weeks or so?). We will do all fermented feed in order to keep feed costs (and smells down). Someone on this thread recommended it and I'm loving it (and so are the chickens). Last time we butchered at 7 weeks, 3 days. I think I would like to let them grow longer this time. Maybe 8-10 weeks? I would assume they would grow a little more slowly using this method.

I can't decide between Welp, Hoover's, or Central Hatchery in NE.

 

[holm25]

Ralphie could u call your toads babies salamanders?? It seems like it would be fit for them. Glad to here u got home safely and your birds r doing good!

 

[Cluckies]

No, it doesn't. Dark, almost black feet.

Quote from "Mypetchicken"
Because so many chicken breeds can be superficially described the same way, we need a lot of information to make a reasonable guess. For instance, when we get an email asking for chicken breed identification help, but the only detail provided is that the hen is black… well , it isn’t a question we can answer with any reasonable assurance of accuracy. There are numerous breeds that can be black or mostly black, including

• Jersey Giants
• Australorps
• Black Copper Marans
• Easter Eggers
• Ameraucanas
• Sumatras
• Cochins, etc.

On the other hand, just knowing the comb type can help narrow the field considerably and help with chicken breed identification. For example, a single comb would narrow the above list to four breeds (Jersey Giants, Australorps, Black Copper Marans, Cochins). Lack of feathered legs would narrow the list to two (Jersey Giants and Australorps). And knowing the skin is white rather than yellow would mean that the most reasonable guess would be that you have an Australorp. (Jersey Giants are also much different in shape and size than Australorps! But that difference might not be apparent, depending on the age of the bird.)

 

[Cluckies]

Ralphie, thanks for sharing the pics, they look so nice!

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Thanks Cluckies. I will try that next. I have an antibiotic gel for the eye I am trying now.

Also, great place and nice looking Chickens Ralph!