Muddy’s homestead expansion journey!

[Molpet]

Same, I stopped playing around with chickens awhile ago, surely makes it easier come wackachic time. I put down my favorite chicken of all time this year. Was one of my originals (blk jersey giant)
Something was wrong and I wasn’t gonna let her suffer.

Yeah hormonal trouble maker is one thing, a long time friend that provided is difficult. I had to put down a couple hens. Sad day
Original plan was to harvest spent hens. Hasn't happened. I have a retirement home going on lol

 

[R2elk]

If I handle them I find it's emotionally difficult for me to wack them. So I let the broodies raise them. This one was from a broody that showed up last August with 7 chicks about a week old.

I will say when I incubate and give the chicks to the broody to raise, it's a lot calmer at harvest time.

The only time I handle mine is transferring them from the hatcher to the brooder, again when they go from the brooder to a new home or the grow out pen or when I capture them for transfer to a new owner or when they are on their way to the chopping block. Mine are never pets nor are they treated like pets.

I also only harvest one at a time.

 

[R2elk]

This guy was frantic to get away, I had been pretty sure from the get go he was dinner..... I think they can tell. His hatch mate I am keeping as backup until I decide on this year's cockerels . He comes running up when I feed, stands between my feet eating out of the bucket.

None of my poultry will approach me except for turkey hens that are hollering for me to open a gate for them.

 

[Molpet]

The only time I handle mine is transferring them from the hatcher to the brooder, again when they go from the brooder to a new home or the grow out pen or when I capture them for transfer to a new owner or when they are on their way to the chopping block. Mine are never pets nor are they treated like pets.

I also only harvest one at a time.

That's enough handling to help...even my chicks from the incubator given to broody are tamer.
I harvest one or two at a time. I had 2 locked up the night before because they were in a crate looking around. I just had to shut the door..
Chasing birds down really gets everyone upset

 

[R2elk]

That's enough handling to help...even my chicks from the incubator given to broody are tamer.
I harvest one or two at a time. I had 2 locked up the night before because they were in a crate looking around. I just had to shut the door..
Chasing birds down really gets everyone upset

I just caught and turned 12 adult guineas over to their new owner. Number thirteen refused to go in the coop and is hiding in the junipers. Should have worn a dust mask.

 

[R2elk]

I have a broody turkey hen. Didn't write down when she went broody. Saw some movement in her hest box. Checked on her and she started talking. Looked in there and there is a chicken chick. One of the chickens snuck an egg in the turkey's nest.

 

[muddy75]

@muddy75 what the heck since you moved you are all out farmer now. You getting your front teeth pulled also?
Are you expecting a food shortage? End of world? Food will always be there. Just remember water is key. You on a well?

We may dig a well before its over but yeah I'm full-on micro-farming. One of the next projects is to build a hydroponic fodder system integrated with a tilapia grow-out

 

[R2elk]

I have a broody turkey hen. Didn't write down when she went broody. Saw some movement in her hest box. Checked on her and she started talking. Looked in there and there is a chicken chick. One of the chickens snuck an egg in the turkey's nest.

Found in a turkey nest today.

 

[Molpet]

Found in a turkey nest today.
View attachment 3527894View attachment 3527895View attachment 3527896

Lonely only

 

[R2elk]

Lonely only

It has been removed along with another chicken egg.