NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Rancher, our older dishwasher I'd have to tear apart every few months, plastic straw wrappers from juice pouches usually, how do they get in there!!!
New washer has a removable trap screen, but wife wants old one back, new one takes forever to wash a load.

They do seem to take a long time.

I now rinse everything to get the crud off. Making sure there are no food particles. Some machines have food grinders in them but I feared they'd break and that would be one more thing to worry about.

 

[myfivegirls]

I don't subscribe since there are too many magazines I like. I have bought an issue if it has something I want to read. I find it interesting that while women get the focus on "mens" work, men rarely get the focus if they do "womens" work. Lord have mercy DW has been busy sewing for the GK's. Cooks dinner and does other things, but that's another story.

I've recommended folks share an subscription.

As for your rabbits? I'm sorry you're giving them up. I hope you'll reconsider and just downsize to a manageable hutch. Lots of folks moving to eating rabbit. I've considered some simply for the manure for my compost, but then I'd considered Jacob Sheep too. ( I have no pasture)

I'm not totally giving up on them, simply with our current location (only 3/4 acre, including where the house sits) = lack of space. Plus, being the main person who takes care
of everything, it was getting to be too much. I think the only way they'd "pay for themselves" is if I bred them either year-round or at least late winter to late fall, giving them a break in the coldest months. But, that would require a barn or greenhouse or some structure that would keep them warm enough that they'd want to breed in the cold temps.
Plus, not everyone in the family was happy about picking out all the small rib cage bones, despite very carefully de-boning the meat after it was cooked.
I still have 11 rabbits currently, with not much interest for the rest, but I did have 28, including the young kits.

Gotta go work on the duck's "coop", as the rabbit cages were part of the "walls", but now that they're gone, the ducks wouldn't stay inside their house at night for more than 10 minutes!

 

[Lapeerian]

How much was your fencing?  Where did you buy it?  

I got mine used on the local Ithaca Farmers 2 Farmers Facebook group. $100 for the 164' roll, bought two of them.
I don't have it electrified and there are some that fly over, but very happy with it so far. I no longer find chickens crossing the road (lost one earlier this year to roadkill) or wandering off to the neighbors. The roo and most the hens stay put. I have the coop parked out along the pine trees and the fence extends to the other side, so plenty of shade and digging spots. Grass is growing enough that there is no sign of them wearing it out to dirt. Hoping to refill the massive craters on other areas of lawn that they made this spring. The 200' of fence and a few feet of barn wall still gives them plenty of free range space.

 

[boskelli1571]

I'm not totally giving up on them, simply with our current location (only 3/4 acre, including where the house sits) = lack of space. Plus, being the main person who takes care
of everything, it was getting to be too much. I think the only way they'd "pay for themselves" is if I bred them either year-round or at least late winter to late fall, giving them a break in the coldest months. But, that would require a barn or greenhouse or some structure that would keep them warm enough that they'd want to breed in the cold temps.
Plus, not everyone in the family was happy about picking out all the small rib cage bones, despite very carefully de-boning the meat after it was cooked.
I still have 11 rabbits currently, with not much interest for the rest, but I did have 28, including the young kits.

Gotta go work on the duck's "coop", as the rabbit cages were part of the "walls", but now that they're gone, the ducks wouldn't stay inside their house at night for more than 10 minutes!

I'm currently drawing up plans for rabbit 'A' frames. We decided we want to do meat/fur next year. Soooo.....if you have some decent rabbits hanging out next year, I might be interested

The cuckoo Maran I bought at Chickenstock as a pullet - is getting her crow organized - Drat!! Still, s/he seems respectful of me and the girls, so I may keep him. RIR x cuckooo Maran - what will I get??
If it rains much more, I'm going to get the chickens some water wings!

 

[Glasshen]

I am feeling impatient with the littles. We expect thunderstorms around 8:30, so I thought I'd get everyone in bed before...the grown ups were very reasonable, but the littles want to enjoy the whole pen without the big meanies. Grrrr. I couldn't stay out there, it's been so damp we have tons of mosquitos. Maybe they are ready now...

 

[rancher hicks]

I'm not totally giving up on them, simply with our current location (only 3/4 acre, including where the house sits) = lack of space. Plus, being the main person who takes care
of everything, it was getting to be too much. I think the only way they'd "pay for themselves" is if I bred them either year-round or at least late winter to late fall, giving them a break in the coldest months. But, that would require a barn or greenhouse or some structure that would keep them warm enough that they'd want to breed in the cold temps.
Plus, not everyone in the family was happy about picking out all the small rib cage bones, despite very carefully de-boning the meat after it was cooked.
I still have 11 rabbits currently, with not much interest for the rest, but I did have 28, including the young kits.

Gotta go work on the duck's "coop", as the rabbit cages were part of the "walls", but now that they're gone, the ducks wouldn't stay inside their house at night for more than 10 minutes!

This hoop gets so hot in the summer I had to put an exhaust fan in. It gets the sun so stays warmer than my wooden coop. If it's 80 outside it may be 100 inside. Broodies hatching egg have a hard time of it. Most don't make it if it's too hot. I have a back door that is covered with hardware cloth so it can be left clear.

 

[Gramma Chick]

. Gramma your chicks could make great little horror movie out that clip-

They heard me go in from the cellar..I hadnt even opened the bilco yet ...LOL

Start the chicks off right on the game layer feed <- did you mean game bird starter feed ? as chicks shouldnt have layer

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Morning all. Babies greeted me at the door of the coop so I guess the scary part is over. Splash is still miffed and couldnt wait to get out this am. She better get over herself soon.

This year I started all my chicks on turkey starter/grower. It's 22 % protein and I think they are much better and healthier this year. The ones I brought to chickenstock were on it. Anyways, I switched my layers and silkies over to turkey pellets at 21% protein and I think they look better. The non gmo feed was good for my allergies but I saw a decline in laying somewhat. Now laying has gone back up. I do have a bucket of oyster cell in the coop for them as well. I seem to be tolerating these eggs ok so it's a win win. Cheaper too.

Have to put in the nest pads today and do a little maintenence around the coops. Have a good day everyone!

 

[myfivegirls]

Soooo.....if you have some decent rabbits hanging out next year, I might be interested

I don't want to keep any rabbits over this next winter, especially since I wouldn't have anywhere to keep them, as the cage unit they spend the winter in has already been sold.
My "plan" is that whoever isn't sold by fall will be processed. What a meant by "I'm not giving up on them" is that perhaps in the future,
if we find another home that has adequate space for them & extra "hands" to help with the daily chores, then I'd consider starting to raise them again.

Quote:
I would only use the greenhouse or hoophouse in the winter, to help provide a little extra warmth. Def. not in the summer, as rabbits are very heat sensitive, essentially anything over 75*, they start to get stressed. My "dream idea" for the summer would be a shady established orchard, where they could be "pastured in tractors".
It's been a good learning experience with the rabbits, and the baby kits are adorable once they start growing fur. I had no problem processing them once they're older and "eating me out of house and home" , but when I tallied up what I'd spent on them thus far, there's no way I've gotten that much meat out of them.
But, for now I'll be content with all the chickens, ducks & turkeys.

 

[Stuffedcritter]

The rabbit cage I like best three feet high, pallet bottom with chicken wire over it, chicken wire wooden frame, shade tarp with over size window on top. Great wooden cubed boxes (parts come in ) cut small hole place bedding. With pallet bottom haven't had any problems with sore feet, place it where I want the compost drier easier to clean. Rabbits love to barrow main doe run is on black top with bedding in the run, past tunneled out four feet ate all the cone flowers. Got some going on ten years (can't kill a blue eyed rabbit) been off commercial feed two year now ( lost five to bad feed) local mixed hay,herbs, free choice pink salt oyster shell, ac water, DE, maple, stage horn, apple branches. nothing worse then getting bag of feed home only open it fine mold.

Four chicks out fifteen eggs not good number but we'll take it with learning curve. Should of used larger nesting box, cooler weather, pine shavings over hay shaft.