my first meaties raising experience-with pictures now 1st post:-)

[sonew123]

Quote:
I totally understand-Dont like it but understand LOL Yes burger-40lbs please???? See you bright and early Sunday what time should we expect you???

 

[Dacy Meadow Farmer]

Quote:
I totally understand-Dont like it but understand LOL Yes burger-40lbs please???? See you bright and early Sunday what time should we expect you???

I spoke too soon. Got home tonight and we lost one of our layers (as long as it is not the same one that just dissapeared for 4 weeks and came back with 11 healthy chicks last week!) and we lost one of the Freedom Rangers. Probably a heart attack as it was on its back in the coop. Probably a stressful day with the rain etc. I think they have grown a little faster than expected and I should have processed the roosters this weekend. We live and learn. So 1 out 31 isn't too bad. I dont count the one that had a heart attack when my daughter came running around the coop and literally scared it to death. Died of a heart attack right there in front of her.

If it was just me I'd be there at 6am, but with the kids I'll shoot for 8-9 am. Cant wait!

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I totally understand-Dont like it but understand LOL Yes burger-40lbs please???? See you bright and early Sunday what time should we expect you???

I spoke too soon. Got home tonight and we lost one of our layers (as long as it is not the same one that just dissapeared for 4 weeks and came back with 11 healthy chicks last week!) and we lost one of the Freedom Rangers. Probably a heart attack as it was on its back in the coop. Probably a stressful day with the rain etc. I think they have grown a little faster than expected and I should have processed the roosters this weekend. We live and learn. So 1 out 31 isn't too bad. I dont count the one that had a heart attack when my daughter came running around the coop and literally scared it to death. Died of a heart attack right there in front of her.

If it was just me I'd be there at 6am, but with the kids I'll shoot for 8-9 am. Cant wait!

OOH Sorry on the chickenfront:-( AWESOME--read the first post on the chickenstock thread it has all directions adn photos of what to look for to get hear Drive safe and see you guys soon

 

[sonew123]

Well week 7 is here and birds are all doing well-they are nasty dirty and smell to high Heaven-it has been raining non stop again their run is mud-they are muddy no matter how much fresh hay I lay down for them and their coop box has to be cleaned everyother day. This has been so tiring to do-FR next year for sure!!! It is supposed to stop raining towards end of week thank good ness cause Chickenstock is this SUnday!!! I dont know how many we are going to process Sunday but It wont break my heart to keep them another week or so to grow out better. I had to switch to layer pellets with them as feed store was out of their food! SO they have been on pellets for a few days and are now eating fine-I actually had to hand feed most of them so they would try the food?? They wouldnt touch the layer pellets all day when I gave it to them-they have to have been starving!!... ding bats

 

[sonew123]

I lost another meatie today--Dh found it in coop--and because of all the nasty rain it stunk bad its sooo humid here now too:-( I decided to have all of them butchered this weekend at chickenstock-I am not waiting to let any grow out now-Its becoming too much and I dont want to see them dropping like flies with problems:-(

 

[DelcoChix]

Sorry to hear of your loss--what a shame, to be so close to the end. We are on day two of much needed rain in central Ohio--it's been so dry we hadn't mowed our yard in four weeks, finally cut it last Saturday due to weeds. I don't blame you for not waiting any longer--no need to risk losing any more at this point. Best of luck in the final step! I'm hoping to find the time to post a 'summary' of our (dd and myself) first experience raising meaties...an eye opener for us newbies, but we made it!
Dawn

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

you must be going crazy! I have apx 150 people coming to my house on Sat eve but (with the exception of a few stragglers) the majority will be going home that night . . . and I'm going crazy . . . nuts like us

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

"Is willing to accept that she creates her own reality except for some of the parts where she can't help but wonder what the hell she was thinking " . . . d.andreas

found that one appropriate

 

[bburn]

Post lots and lots of pictures of your Chickenstock! I have finally read this entire thread and found it really interesting.

Lots of luck and hope your chicken and dumplings turn out.....make SEVERAL batches of the dumplings....they are just that good and just that easy to whip up!!

You are a brave woman for hosting this thing.....just the kind of thing I would jump in to!

beth

 

[bburn]

Post lots and lots of pictures of your Chickenstock! I have finally read this entire thread and found it really interesting.

Lots of luck and hope your chicken and dumplings turn out.....make SEVERAL batches of the dumplings....they are just that good and just that easy to whip up!!

You are a brave woman for hosting this thing.....just the kind of thing I would jump in to!

beth

**** you know, I built a tractor...my husband is a carpenter also and lots and lots of freebie stuff laying around. Our mountain is rocks and you can hardly dig a hole, much less a fox or racoon dig a hole! But this thing is heavy. I can move it because I put wheels on the back and a rope that I step into and walk it where I want it to go. But I think it is pretty much predator proof. Hardware cloth and pvc for the arches. I feel like mine are safe in it.....it is the extra now for when someone needs some timeout and will use it later for when I bring new hens home to keep them separate for a while and come spring if someone goes broody. But it works and I think would be safe for you.