North Carolina

[Hollowoakfarm]

Totally exhausted and sleep deprived again today. Had to get up at 1:45 to be able to get DS and his gear to Charlotte to catch a plane to Vietnam. Drove home, let all the critters out, then came to work. Two meetings today that I can't avoid. My brain is sluggish and thinking is a chore. I'm sucking down some caffeine trying to shake it off for a couple more hours.

dutchbunny, I would think if your chicks were Mt. Healthy chicks and carrying salmonella, you'd know it by now! That stuff doesn't wait around.

Welcome to the new folks! Jump right in!

OH! got home late last night, well after dark to lock up the birds. Found a rat snake about to feast on one of my quail. My light startled the bird, which made the snake grab prematurely, so all it got was feathers. It was pretty easy to get the snake off the bird. This one I popped into a snake bag, and we took it on the road to Charlotte this morning. Somewhere along the way we pulled over and evicted it. No bird eaters allowed!

 

[carolbeau]

Finally picked a date for Class #2.

Chicken Processing Class:

https://www.facebook.com/events/617259821701029/

If anyone is on the fence about this, I highly recommend it. The first class was my first exposure to this at all and I was confident enough afterward that I was able to process one of my own roos a few weeks later with no issues. No more worries about straight run chicks and I think my husband is even coming around to the idea of us raising our own meat birds some day!

 

[doubleatraining]

If anyone is on the fence about this, I highly recommend it. The first class was my first exposure to this at all and I was confident enough afterward that I was able to process one of my own roos a few weeks later with no issues. No more worries about straight run chicks and I think my husband is even coming around to the idea of us raising our own meat birds some day!

YAY Thank you! I'm so glad you came to the first class. We had a lot of fun! Let me know when you are ready to add some meat birds to your flock.

 

[StarMeKritten]

If anyone is on the fence about this, I highly recommend it.  The first class was my first exposure to this at all and I was confident enough afterward that I was able to process one of my own roos a few weeks later with no issues.  No more worries about straight run chicks and I think my husband is even coming around to the idea of us raising our own meat birds some day!  

I really wish it wasn't a 2 hour drive for me. I have extra cockerels. I'm not opposed to processing them, but its a little intimidating because we haven't done it before...

 

[haTHOR]

Anyone here have experience with Smokey Mountain Poultry in Waynesville NC?

 

[carolbeau]

Let me know when you are ready to add some meat birds to your flock.

Yep. I think it will be when my silkie goes broody again. She has chicks now though, so not in the immediate future.

 

[starlingdaly]

OH!  got home late last night, well after dark to lock up the birds.  Found a rat snake about to feast on one of my quail.  My light startled the bird, which made the snake grab prematurely, so all it got was feathers.  It was pretty easy to get the snake off the bird.  This one I popped into a snake bag, and we took it on the road to Charlotte this morning.  Somewhere along the way we pulled over and evicted it.  No bird eaters allowed!

What a coincidence! I just saw a rat snake eating guinea eggs so I merely grabbed all the eggs (not yet being sat on) and left the snake to go about his business around the compost pile (there are LOTS of mice around there which is probably what attracted him to begin with). We are moving in 16 days so I figured it wouldn't be worth the trouble of relocating him. If I find him in my chicken coop though....

Also, my MIL found a baby copperhead under a recliner IN HER HOUSE and she totally freaked out and even now is exaggerating how big it was.

But it really seems like prime time for snakes!

 

[starlingdaly]

Anyone here have experience with Smokey Mountain Poultry in Waynesville NC?

@jtbass2756 bought from them recently!

 

[jtbass2756]

Anyone here have experience with Smokey Mountain Poultry in Waynesville NC?

I have purchased some BCM and silkies....loved working with them...They were so good!

 

[FVRM]

Can snakes eat 2-3 month old pullets? I live next to a swamp and I still haven't seen any snakes but im worried.