NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

We had a guy stop by today for eggs, I figured great I can sell another dozen. So I go in the egg fridge and grab a dozen, bring them out to him. He opens the carton and his exact words were "oh hell no. I'm not eating no blue egg!" I tried to explain that it was the same as a white or brown egg, just a different breed of chicken. He then says "you keep your weird eggs no thanks" Everyone else loves the different colors we get but he just wasn't having any of it. Oh well

Chris

I would love to have a blue egg layer, but that would require me to get another chicken, and I'm kinda maxed out at the moment. LOL

 

[Lynzi777]

Ok I know I've said how much I love Gru, but he just made me so much happier I got him! I went outside for a min, walked into the backyard, saw this HUGE turkey vulture fly down from a branch (in the woods) and get something that I'm sure it had it's eyes on, all of a sudden my lovely Gru started clucking away to warn the girls. Love him!

 

[rancher hicks]

I feed eggs back to my hens because they are the perfect food for them. An egg contains all the nutrients they need. I don't do it often but at least once a month.

Rancher what a great idea to put mint around the coops. I know it spreads horribly but its a natural bug repellent. My hens like to have a taste of it when my mom brings me some. Also makes the coop smell nice

I have read that mice don't like the smell so sometimes I cut a bunch and toss it into the run. It grows of course like a weed. Why can't my more useful stuff grow. Like my raspberries, gooseberries and currant?

I figure when I mow it down it will smell nice.

I get the egg thing now. I will most likely start since the eggs in the house fridge don't go fast enough. The ones in the sale fridge I give away if they don't sell.

 

[ke5hde]

Ok I know I've said how much I love Gru, but he just made me so much happier I got him! I went outside for a min, walked into the backyard, saw this HUGE turkey vulture fly down from a branch (in the woods) and get something that I'm sure it had it's eyes on, all of a sudden my lovely Gru started clucking away to warn the girls. Love him!

Such a good boy umbup: Chris

 

[rancher hicks]

I have almost twice as many chickens as I'd like to have. Not only because of the time it takes me but the cost also. Who knew they ate so much. They have about 1/2 acre that I allow them to range on freely and then there's the neighbors huge back yard. I try keeping them home.

I have a garden, so far I've kept it pretty weed free. I need to rehill the potatoes and pick the beans and yellow squash. Probably the chickens will get some of both. I have many kinds of berries that need to be picked TODAY! I've been picking what I have time for, cleaning and freezing them until I can make jams. Yum. My mother has cancer so most recently I've not been home as much as I'd like. (I had to put a fence around the garden because the chickens were eating the little plants)

I have 7 turkeys (are they still poults at 4 months old?) and I need to sell or freeze 4 or 5. They're the big eaters. My son is in the process of building a feather plucker with a blue 55 gal barrel and little fingers. Anxious to see how that works. I mostly skin the chickens.

I guess this has prompted me to sell some of this springs pullets. Craigslist, here I come.

I did feed eggs back that were either cracked or I occasionally ave a ver dirty one and most recently I find new layer, laying eggs on the floor. So, I would just crumble the egg in my hand and throw it down on the ground. Now I have egg peckers. Ugh! Last night I put a wooden egg in each nest hoping they get a bruised beak by pecking it.

I am sorry to hear about your mom. Mine passed years ago. I never thought I'd live to see the day.

Keep in mind that I trade chickens. I'd even trade for frozen berries if you're ever interested in doing so.

Give your mom a hug for me,

rancher

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, have you tried tarps from online that are like 30mil instead of 10mil thick? That's what I'm going to do plus they have a clear one that is resistant to all types of wear. I feed eggs back usually if one is sick/injured but I have 1 barred rock and 2 silkies laying. Any day now for my 6 amber sex links, and another 2 months or more for my other three teens. So I have no surplus of eggs ever in fact I'm still buying them not as many cuz my silkies are awesome layers. I have only 12 chickens and I'm fairly new to this so nothing overwhelming yet. My garden has trifled many types of beans. Tomatoes, herbs, blackberries, and the rest has yet to come. My flowers are great.

I have ordered a tarp, because I wanted a Camo pattern. $31. Ollies does have heavy ones but not big enough for a hoop coop. The sun breaks them down. I usually just add another over the top. They last about 2 years. One hoop coop is in the shade, but one is in the sun. The plan was to move it, but that will mean taking it apart to do so.

I spent the day putting clear panels on the run having realized they are cheaper than the metal ones and the run can use the light. Came out okay. I have another to do. DD has a friend who is giving me some metal panels so it may work out good. I'll try to post pics.

As for the egg feeding back thing? I intend to scramble them up, not give them to the chickens raw.

 

[rancher hicks]

Here are Days 2 & 3 eggs for Helen, the Marans. She used the nest box this morning! Hooray! Shane got a kick out of opening up the backside of the box to discover it! Today's egg (left) was slightly larger and darker than the one yesterday. They are smallish, but not tiny, and the shells are nice and hard.

So now I am officially one of you crazy chicken people, as I have taken pictures of my hen's eggs.

TOB

Congrats.

Her sister hasn't started yet. Soon I hope.

I too crush the shells and mix them with the grit. I crush them with a 2x2 and get them as small as I can. I figure they won't eat what they can't use.

 

[miquwid]

I did a little more work today. Finished the roof and put a second window/vent in. Little does the wife know but it's still going to get painted. I'll have to do it when she's gone, then she can't say no, right ;-) Just to put it in perspective here's a before and after.

Chris

that's so awesome that you're going to paint it what color do you want to make it? great job with the roof.

Here are Days 2 & 3 eggs for Helen, the Marans. She used the nest box this morning! Hooray! Shane got a kick out of opening up the backside of the box to discover it! Today's egg (left) was slightly larger and darker than the one yesterday. They are smallish, but not tiny, and the shells are nice and hard. So now I am officially one of you crazy chicken people, as I have taken pictures of my hen's eggs. TOB

So cool that your girl is laying I love taking pictures too of eggs

TOB I love the chocolate eggs. I'm actually jealous of everyone with their new eggs. It'll be fall or later till I see any new ones. Glass...that's just nasty. We had a guy stop by today for eggs, I figured great I can sell another dozen. So I go in the egg fridge and grab a dozen, bring them out to him. He opens the carton and his exact words were "oh hell no. I'm not eating no blue egg!" I tried to explain that it was the same as a white or brown egg, just a different breed of chicken. He then says "you keep your weird eggs no thanks" Everyone else loves the different colors we get but he just wasn't having any of it. Oh well Chris

So that is kinda funny he was not having blue eggs lol. I would love a dark egg layer and a blue layer. Stopped by Nature Berry Farms and Jim is doing better though he will probably need surgery, but it was nice to see him up and around. when he was first sick he was laid up and his wife had to take care of everything and feed all the birds and she comes back in the house and Jim says did you give them their treats and she's like what treats your lucky I feed the birds and he's like going to garden and you pull the weeds and you give them all the treats they love their treats at night. I love going there and getting my feed from them and seeing all the birds and getting my birds from him. Well here is my son and one of birds.

 

[miquwid]

Rancher have you tried http://www.tarpsplus.com/? I would love to see pictures can't wait. I was thinking about doing the same with the panels. I'm only asking about the tarps so I don't spend money I don't need too. Love the advice thanks again.

Lynzi I'm so happy gru is doing his job good boy!

 

[Lynzi777]

Well here is my son and one of birds.

Cute!!!