***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Buster52]

Should mention, we still have plenty of turkeys, so at least we have SOMETHING to tsell at the market when we go.

 

[jcatblum]

Buster you will do well selling turkeys. Lots of people raise chickens, not as many do turkeys. Wondering if you would have better sucess with colored broilers & ducks. Ronnie was telling me his ducks were still laying pretty well so evidently the heat doesn't bother them as bad (thinking all the pond time keeps them cooler). Ronnie had less than 10dz eggs yesterday, so the heat is getting his production too. Maybe we need to do some research on birds that lay best in heat.

 

[Oakieridge]

I wondered about raising our prices, right now we sell ours for $2 a dozen but with feed, the electric to keep the misters going (on a well) and the labor involved it isn't even covering feed right now. We used to get 3 dozen eggs a day now I am lucky if I get a dozen. I am tempted to worm everyone and see if that helps or if it is the heat. They don't act wormy and we just wormed back in Feb. but honestly I don't know what else to do for them. I may try it with one pen and see if it makes a difference.

We are off to church then home to care for birds and then Jackson's birthday party for my family is today. We have a combined party for him and two cousins since their birthdays are 11 days apart. His official birthday isn't until Aug 3rd but he isn't complaining about an early birthday lol.

Everyone try to stay cool today.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Morning, Okies

Buster - I love your egg mobile video. The hens seem happy and healthy.

I went to the Coweta sale last Friday. Prices were inconsistent. Some really nice birds went low and some mediocre birds went high. One never can predict what buyers will offer. This was the smallest group I've ever seen at the Coweta sale, probably because of the heat. I sold a few and bought a trio of barred rock bantams. They have nice barring and will be a lot of fun to have around.

Second cup down. I'd better go finish my morning chores. Have a great Sunday, everybody : )

 

[BlanchardOK]

I know what you mean I don't mind hatchery just for the eggs - I don't show birds and love even my pure breed American mutts.(lol)

 

[BlanchardOK]

On another note after church today headin out to pick up 7 peachicks!!!! I am so excited have their bolder pen ready - chicks come this week from ideal and just excited about it all!

 

[nnbreeder]

I'm lucky, not many poisonous ones in my part of OZ. There are lots of snake removal people around too. It would freak me out having poisonous ones.

If I remember right of the world's 10 deadliest snakes Australia has 9 of them. But with a snake if you stay in open areas and keep your eyes open they can usually be avoided. Insects are another matter though, love the song "Redback on the toilet seat" LOL

 

[Kassaundra]

If I remember right of the world's 10 deadliest snakes Australia has 9 of them. But with a snake if you stay in open areas and keep your eyes open they can usually be avoided. Insects are another matter though, love the song "Redback on the toilet seat" LOL

Plus all 10 of the worlds deadliest spiders and the only venomous mamal on the planet, and that doesn't even count the sharks, jellies, sea snakes and eels out to kill you. (I may watch a tad to much animal planet lol)

 

[nnbreeder]

Christina, glad to hear you are doing Lawton. Lots of rules and a long drive, but good money. I'm in Texas visiting. Got a later start down here yesterday so I drove by the market and it looked busy. Noticed the interesting scenery for the car wash as we drove by, too. Maybe the market should consider something like that to advertise.
We aren't getting enough eggs for the market right now. Our regular customers are buying us out before market day. Don't know how Ronnie does it. We have over 100 layers now and still not producing enough. We will be raising our prices soon and seriously considering $4. Feed is going to skyrocket. Also reconsidering our fall broiler project. We have already sold out of the 75 we ordered for August, and are going to wait and see what happens with feed before ordering more. Might have to raise our prices on those, too. Eggs are SO much easier.

According to the crop reports only 27% of the US corn fields are in trouble and about 25% of the Soy Beans. Shoot we import most of the Soy from Brazil anyways. Acres wise there are millions of acres that have been turned to Corn in the past ten years because of Ethanol production so chances are there are actually more good acres of Corn then there was in the recent past. Corn will go up however because the feed guys will have to outbid the Ethanol guys on the board. The Futures Market is tied to the crop reports.

One of my customers says the crop reports should be outlawed, just because it literally causes panic like what is spreading now.

I was driving around Enid yesterday and the dry-land corn was done, it had already burned up but the irrigated was doing great. In the areas where dry years are common, pivots are the difference between making a crop or not.

The hay-grazer was still fair in the low places but on the terrace tops it too was finished. The beans were a little short but showed no signs of the leaves drying off but there is still a long ways to go on them. The yeilds will be down for sure.

Buster if you have enough room why don't you plant some feed stock yourself? Help to cut down on the feed bill and there is minimal equipment needed to do it. There is a niche market for smaller implements that can be pulled behind 4-wheelers or garden tractors for deer food plots. Or buy whole grains now and then grind them as needed? A grain doesn't lose nutritional value until it's cracked.

Oh and lets see your cats follow a rat or mouse into a hole like a snake can! LOL

 

[nnbreeder]

Plus all 10 of the worlds deadliest spiders and the only venomous mamal on the planet, and that doesn't even count the sharks, jellies, sea snakes and eels out to kill you. (I may watch a tad to much animal planet lol)

And don't forget the Saltwater Croc. LOL

They have lived with all of these critters and have learned to co-exist. Great White gets close? sound the alarm and everyone gets out of the water until it either goes away or is chased away with boats. There are signs warning of the Crocs around pools or rivers where they are but people still fish, boat and generally carry on with their lives. Hey if a body of water can support a 20 foot croc the fishing must be good!