NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tough Old Bird]

Congrats Grandpa!



My BO hen has spurs as well! I noticed them about a week before she started laying. They are definitely getting bigger.

AND, after what feels like forever (1ish weeks) I got an egg today!

Yes, CONGRAT'S GRANDPA HICKS!

Many blessings on Baby Donovan!


And Sunnyside, I'm happy you finally got an egg!

Today was a good egg day here, too! 3 for my laying 3. Yippee!



TOB

 

[Cass]

Mother Earth News did a "study" on the best way to store eggs. They used store bought eggs (fresh from the production farm) and fertile eggs for each way of preservation. The stored them several ways: in dry sand, coated in oil, in a cool place, in the kitchen and in the fridge. The eggs that lasted the longest were the fertile eggs kept in the fridge. They discontinued the "study" a little over 6 months into it because all ways of preservation yielded bad eggs by that point, except the fertile eggs. They were still going strong.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Mother Earth News did a "study" on the best way to store eggs. They used store bought eggs (fresh from the production farm) and fertile eggs for each way of preservation. The stored them several ways: in dry sand, coated in oil, in a cool place, in the kitchen and in the fridge. The eggs that lasted the longest were the fertile eggs kept in the fridge. They discontinued the "study" a little over 6 months into it because all ways of preservation yielded bad eggs by that point, except the fertile eggs. They were still going strong.

Interesting Cass ...Thanks for sharing that ....

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Rancher : Keep us updated as to what you choose ... I would like to try some older breeds also ...
Congrats on the Baby Grand Boy

 

[Metella]

I'm going to have some breeder quality Buckeyes next spring .... Perhaps we can switch roos if you decide to breed them also. I am not doing it for show - but for a good farm chicken.

I hear the Buckeyes can be good mousers too ! and that is something I need here - I have always had a mouse and mole problem. I hate outside cats because they nab native birds also. And they just don't respect boundaries.

 

[marquisella]

To help prompt hens to lay, feed them cabbage. It helps, don't know why.

 

[rancher hicks]

Mother Earth News did a "study" on the best way to store eggs. They used store bought eggs (fresh from the production farm) and fertile eggs for each way of preservation. The stored them several ways: in dry sand, coated in oil, in a cool place, in the kitchen and in the fridge. The eggs that lasted the longest were the fertile eggs kept in the fridge. They discontinued the "study" a little over 6 months into it because all ways of preservation yielded bad eggs by that point, except the fertile eggs. They were still going strong.

Can I assume they were "unwashed" eggs?

 

[rancher hicks]

To help prompt hens to lay, feed them cabbage. It helps, don't know why.

I had read that Cabbage and those in that family are not good for chickens. Poisonous in fact. Keep in mind there are varying opinions out there so even the "experts" disagree. I've grown cabbage and Brussels sprouts and they never bothered them.

However I have dumped a head in the compost and they ate it. This is what I mean by the "experts". Lets ask Stonyhill.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I'm going to have some breeder quality Buckeyes next spring .... Perhaps we can switch roos if you decide to breed them also. I am not doing it for show - but for a good farm chicken.

I hear the Buckeyes can be good mousers too ! and that is something I need here - I have always had a mouse and mole problem. I hate outside cats because they nab native birds also. And they just don't respect boundaries.

Do you already have Buckeyes, Metella? I know someone on here has a flock and raves about the breed. I have also read how Buckeyes are known for their vermin control benefits. I have mice nesting in the roof of my chicken's outdoor pen, between the metal mesh and the corrugated roof itself. I had to move my waterer and feeder because one nest was right above them and I would find droppings every day.

This is a problem on different levels, but I would have to tear down the metal mesh sheathing to get to the nests which would be a HUGE pain; and the mice would just come back. I have seen chipmunks hanging out in the pen with my big opera divas, but they must be devoted PETA advocates, because they don't react in any way, especially aggressive. They won't eat slugs or even worms. I call them city girls, and here they are out in the country...Stony's chickens would laugh them "off the farm."

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Mother Earth News did a "study" on the best way to store eggs. They used store bought eggs (fresh from the production farm) and fertile eggs for each way of preservation. The stored them several ways: in dry sand, coated in oil, in a cool place, in the kitchen and in the fridge. The eggs that lasted the longest were the fertile eggs kept in the fridge. They discontinued the "study" a little over 6 months into it because all ways of preservation yielded bad eggs by that point, except the fertile eggs. They were still going strong.

Cool info. I used to freak about eggs being left out for a while. Since I've been on BYC and read a few things like the info you shared, I've learned so much of what I'd heard over the course of a lifetime about eggs and chickens was not true, or at least had another side to ponder. It's fascinating to wonder what it is about the fertilized eggs that enables them to retail their viability the longest. It would make sense from a survival point of view, but you have to wonder what is the literal chemical change that causes the longer "shelf life" once the eggs are fertilized. Science project!

LOL!

TOB