NY chicken lover!!!!

[Framac]

I wish I could get it at a mill or delivered even. I really do need to check it out. I get it at TSC and $47 would be a great deal. What's the protein? Mash or Pellets?

For what the gas would cost it just isn't worth driving to Vernon.

I believe the protein is 18, and it is a mash. I use to get Gales (in Bouckville) but i find that Richardsons is not as fine(less dust). It works for me as I work in Oneida, and get it at lunch when I do a Yogurt run.

 

[featherz]

Time for a truck Featherz?

aww, so cute!

yes, its because they deliver on a truck that go's through NY. that's why you had such bad luck with the eggs.

Haha, yes, hubby would love a truck. But we already have two cars - unless I find a cheap truck, not willing to tack on another payment. I do have a Jeep, but even in my jeep it's not worth the trip to amsterdam - and my chickens weren't happy with the extra dusty mash they have anyways.

You are probably right about the eggs! Although my other NY shipments were not broken, they had lousy hatch rates - and they were from trustworthy people that packed well, so it wasn't their fault. Eggs shipped from the west and midwest have much better rates for me.

 

[rancher hicks]

So tonight we get home from work just to pick up a couple things before heading over to my parent's for mom's b-day. I noticed that the horse fence was off a couple step in posts. Horses spent the day inside out of the heat, but didn't want to deal with it in the dark when we got home. So I go hook the fenceline up and come back up the hill to get going. As I am walking past the chicken run/pasture, I notice a strange pile of rocks. I go back to look. Imagine my surprise/disgust at finding a huge pile of eggs that were hidden in the weeds. I've done a couple walk throughs before, but not over to that spot. And I've been watching the girls for squatting, haven't heard egg songs, couple combs have gotten bigger/pink, but not bright red. I did a quick egg count from what I could see on top of the dirt. 50... I've been waiting to see my first egg and I find a pile of 50... No clue how old they are and we have had some hot humid days, so first thing tomorrow morning I get to go bag up 50+ beautiful brown eggs to toss in the garbage (which thankfully picks up tomorrow).

No white or colored eggs, so those girls are still slacking. Excited that they are finally laying, but very upset that I missed my first egg (or the next 50 for that matter) and we still don't have the nest boxes complete. I did put the extra large litter box in the coop last week for them to use until I get the boxes done this weekend; tossed 3 of the eggs from the top of the pile into the litter box. Very irritated with myself for not being more vigilant.

At least we know we don't have any egg eating predators nearby... Got a picture of them, I'll see if I can get it loaded this weekend.

ETA, got the picture:

Well I've been searching for such a pile somewhere from my Barred rocks. I'm getting 2-4 eggs a day from 10 hens and that is not acceptable. I know they go into the woods and I've found some holes where they dust but no eggs. I'll have to do a more intensive search. I like to lock them in the run for the first half of the day but that hasn't helped.

 

[featherz]

Well I've been searching for such a pile somewhere from my Barred rocks. I'm getting 2-4 eggs a day from 10 hens and that is not acceptable. I know they go into the woods and I've found some holes where they dust but no eggs. I'll have to do a more intensive search. I like to lock them in the run for the first half of the day but that hasn't helped.

I've been getting fewer eggs lately too (yesterday I had TWO from one coop that has 18 of age chickens in it) - however, I got most of my answer last week when I saw all the feathers around the yard. I have stealth molters that just haven't dropped the external feathers yet - they still have nice pink combs but the feathers are falling off quick. Only hit me when my broody orange chicken turned into a mess a few days ago.

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm sick of broodies. I gave the Sussex some eggs last night and candled the maran hens eggs. I think there may be five good eggs our of 12.

I don't know what's going on the but Dels don't seem to be fertile. I only have three hens in there with a rir and a frizzle and two roosters, you'd think things would be better.


I want to ask, is there anyone here who plucks their own birds? And is there anyone here with a "Chicken Plucker" set up?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Rancher--we just skin them out. Did that with Mr. Big and will be doing that tomorrow with the 2 murderers/serial rapists. Since we are doing so few, its just easier. I hope you find those eggs you are looking for. Barred rocks can be very sneaky...I know...I have 9 of them!

So I set up the wire dog kennel in the coop so I can grab the murderers/serial rapists and throw them in there tonight after they go to roost. They will be dispatched tomorrow morning. After the initial screaming of "omg, what is she bringing in to our house!", the nosey terrorists were all inside giving it a good look-see. I wonder if they will realize that whoever goes in never comes back??? Anyways, that will leave 4 roos, which is 2 too many but ideally if we can get them to the grownup stage, we will have a better idea as to who is a good roo and who is crock pot material. We are keeping 2 for the 19 hens in case something happens to 1 of them. How old are they before they pass out of the jerk/rapist stage anyways? Mine are at 18 weeks now and still jerks.

Cooking Mr. Big tomorrow in the crockpot. Any advice/suggestions? Recipes? Hes been sitting in the fridge since tuesday so he should be nice and tender.

 

[Henicillin]

Cooking Mr. Big tomorrow in the crockpot. Any advice/suggestions? Recipes? Hes been sitting in the fridge since tuesday so he should be nice and tender.

I used a packet of the Hannaford knockoff of Good Seasons Italian dressing when I cooked up Rosco (stupid rooster - stupid, delicious rooster..). I also cut a couple of big onions into chunks, smashed some garlic cloves, and threw in some wilting celery stalks and getting-soft carrots for flavor, and added maybe a half-cup of apple cider vinegar to the water. It was really good, and had us eyeballing Captain Morgan for weeks.

 

[rancher hicks]

These recipes sound good.

I asked about plucking and all that cuz i'm eyeballing the "Chicken Plucker" thing. A bit steep at $195 and I suppose I can find some barrels on CL. I would want a set up so I don't have to set up and tear down for each event.

I got a BR roo that has Dinner written all over him but I have to hatch his replacement.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Just picked up some feed today. 200 pounds 2 months ago cost 38.00, today it was 47.00. I think I might have to downsize more than I would like to.

Where do most people get their feed. I get it at a feed mill in Vernon Center.

We get ours at the same place. Prices are going to get worse on a lot of things because of the drought out west. Meat prices ar going to drop as farmers sell off their herds because they can't feed them and then they will sky rocket after that initial flooding of the market.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

There is a feed mill in Boonville, too. They sell mash which my chickens waste. I believe the $ is 9.50/50lbs.. So I go to TSC for the crumbles.