***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[TipihlowLadies]

They were Pioneers from Murray McMurray. They list them as a dual purpose but you'd definitely have to ration the feed to keep them as laying hens.

I have not tried that breed the Cornish cross breed they gain weight so fast they will break legs and have heat strokes if you don't feed them and can free range them they do much better

 

[h2oratt]

Gentle showers today....
Chickens are all staying inside.
Babies are hatching under two hens and in the incubator.

We have kept up first time heifers and 2nd time cows in the lot to watch for problems with calving.  We have two in the lot now.  One had her calf on 5/7 and the other lost a calf on 5/9.  Both cows had to have help birthing.  The one with the live calf (317) is a first time mom and has yet to let the calf suckle unless she is in the squeeze chute.  The cow that had the dead calf (384) has been in the squeeze chute to let the calf suckle also. The cow 384 has raised one calf and has now been licking the calf and  also stands still for the calf to nurse.  We  had been alternating the cows in the chute until one of them accepted the calf.  
Now that 384 is accepting the calf, we have milked out 317 and have been saving the milk for the freezer until needed by another baby.  She has a lot of cream in her milk so we wash her bag each time and I've reserved some of the milk for the kitchen.  Yesterday I made butter from the cream from the milk from the day before and last night, I made 4 quarts of yogurt from the milk.  There is a full gallon of milk separating in the fridge from last evening's milking.   One of the benefits from having a good milk producing line of cows.
We will reduce the amount of milk retrieved over the next several days to allow 317's bag to reduce the milk production and put her in the new calf pasture.  We doubt she will allow any of these babies to suckle. 

Oh I am so jealous. Raw milk and cream. Yum

 

[Kassaundra]

I have not tried that breed the Cornish cross breed they gain weight so fast they will break legs and have heat strokes if you don't feed them and can free range them they do much better

I'm trying to grow out a few CX females specifically to breed them w/ my little naked chickens. Trying to get nakeds that grow big fairly quickly for meat that doesn't have to be plucked.

 

[CLSranch]

I'm trying to grow out a few CX females specifically to breed them w/ my little naked chickens. Trying to get nakeds that grow big fairly quickly for meat that doesn't have to be plucked.

Interesting idea. Definetly worth a shot. Even if they are ugly, it doesn't matter if they are just dinner.

 

[Kassaundra]

Interesting idea. Definetly worth a shot. Even if they are ugly, it doesn't matter if they are just dinner.

I think my little "nakeds" will help beautify the CX,

 

[CLSranch]

You'll have to work on the wardrobe. Little naked bums on giant feathered drum sticks

 

[Poco Pollo]

I'm trying to grow out a few CX females specifically to breed them w/ my little naked chickens. Trying to get nakeds that grow big fairly quickly for meat that doesn't have to be plucked.

How are the girls doing? Rationing feed will be your best way to keep them longer. If the CC don't work for your project, consider trying Freedom Rangers. They're slower than CC but will be hardy and of good size.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

I'm trying to grow out a few CX females specifically to breed them w/ my little naked chickens.  Trying to get nakeds that grow big fairly quickly for meat that doesn't have to be plucked.

I had some make it for two year's they lay excellent eggs and a lot of double yolks

 

[Poco Pollo]

Can someone identify these? Each stalk has thorny stickers along its length. Little pink and purple puffs are blooming all over the pasture. The yellow on the tips nearly glows, making them look like tiny fiber optic cables light them. The free-range birds ignored them. Usually, new flowers are taste tested.

 

[dunnmom]

Se

Can someone identify these? Each stalk has thorny stickers along its length. Little pink and purple puffs are blooming all over the pasture. The yellow on the tips nearly glows, making them look like tiny fiber optic cables light them. The free-range birds ignored them. Usually, new flowers are taste tested.

Touch me not. That's what it looks like to me. It has a lot of different nicknames, but I'm not sure about it's proper name. Edit: I just looked it up. It's called sensitive briar. Supposedly if you touch the leaves, they react. In the mimosa family.