Ohio people w/ meaties.

[Brunty_Farms]

Weather sucks!! Broilers outside are small.... the ones I kept in are about a pound to two pounds heavier. Crazy what weather will do to broilers.

I'm in the same boat, gardens need planted and this time last year we were well into summer by now!

 

[Mallory]

I agree with all of you about this awful weather. I was looking at my photos from early April last year, and by then all of the trees had bloomed and were rich and lush in color. This year? Oh no. We've had a few random days of season-appropriate weather but for the most part it might as well still be winter out there! I couldn't stand it when I went to take the garbage out on Monday to find there was SLEET. I was so annoyed.

I am eager to start work on the garden out back, and get building the coop. But with two kids who need to be within eyesight and earshot, having them out for any long length of time just wouldn't be right. My dog, however, is LOVING all the pooling water in the back yard. She has to stay outside right now because every time she's let out she can't help it but go galloping through it! I have never known a dog to love water as much as her. lol Please spring, get with it, because my dogs stinky and your putting off my chickens and I'm wanting to weed and plant!!!!!!

 

[bigredfeather]

I think next Spring I am going to raise ducks instead of meaties! They will feel more at home on my pasture/pond than these meat birds do.

 

[Blaineiac]

My meaties are still inside, thankfully. But I'm looking on Ebay for some floaties for my hogs. still in the winter pen, and not sure if I'll get anything to grow in it this year. I'll definatly be starting from scratch, which might not be all that bad. Good news is that I've heard of some mushrooms being found. Heading out now to hopefully "pick" more than "hunt" some.
Blaine

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Where at in Ohio? I'm way north by Cleveland and they are a little slow up here, haven't found any yet.

 

[Blaineiac]

Mt. Gilead, Just shy of 2 hours down 71 from Cle. I saw some pics from Mansfield which is 20 min north. I was taling about this on another site, and a guy mentioned that the ramps were going crazy. I had never heard of them, looked them up, and I'm loaded with them. It's a wild leek. I saw them in NYC selling for $2.50 for a bundle of 10. I've eating them 3 times since Sat, and not that bad. Sauteed in bacon grease with the greens til just warm, they are about like Green onions. I'm thinking a pizza with Buckeye bacon, asparagus, shrooms and ramps. I cure my loins and smoke them, hence "Buckeye bacon". My GF is from KY and I make them call it Buckeye Bacon before they get any. Good Luck, And I would really like to check out your farm some time Jeff. I own 55 acres of woods, 50 is forest, so I'm trying to do what I can on my 5 acres.
Blaine

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Ya, I figured south... we are almost there. As for the ramps, they are everywhere and love them. We sell them from the farm and at markets and it's $3.00 / bundle, morels are $75.00 / pound and you can't keep them in, LOL.


"Buckeye Bacon".... love it!


I can tell you if you have 50 acres of woods, I would start pig farming I would do just about anything for 50 acres of woods!! I'm going to be looking here soon for some wooded property to do just pigs on. 5 acres will produce a lot, you will be surprised. Make sure you do turkeys for Thanksgiving, they are a big seller.

 

[bigredfeather]

It sure was nice to have a warm, sunny, DRY day yesterday! The broilers acually looked happy. I swear that I could tell they grew yesterday. Mine are at that 5 week point where they should be really putting on the weight. Sounds like after the next 2 days, we will see some sun again.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Quote:
How old are your meaties? Mine have been outdoors for the last 3 weeks, with no heat lamps (they went out at 5 weeks). So far growth looks good, with the plan being to butcher this Monday (I may let a few live a few more weeks, just out of curiosity as to how big they will get). But I am central/western Ohio, and you are up on the northern border (and near water/lake effect). So I imagine you could be colder than us.

We did get a nice day of (chilly) sunshine yesterday, but now its back to cold/windy rain.

Sorry for the delay in answering. They are 3 weeks now and yesterday was the first day they moved away from the lamps, so I shut them off. I had to turn the lamps back on because we are still in the upper 40's at night. Yea we have that saying cooler by the lake. It is like 20 degrees cooler.

 

[Country Parson]

I butchered at 8 weeks exactly, and a neighbor just butchered at 8 weeks, 2 days. His were inside, bought at the same TSC, and fed the same food---and were on ave. 1 lb heavier than mine.