***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ashtree]

@ashtreethe second broody is the splash olive egger I got from you (originally from @HeyBigRhondaq I think). She is my daughter's favorite and she is SO excited about Marshmallow raising babies.

@cscigu, that broody I just referenced has some maran in her (right Ashtree?), and I can definitely see the personality traits you mentioned.

That's super sweet. Im pretty sure her dad was a mean Marans that @HeyBigRhondaq had and named Jeff. I hope I'm remembering that right. Im glad she ended up sweet. I think she was one of the first chicks we ever had a broody raise her "mama" was a calico cochin.

 

[mjgigax]

It has been a while since I have been on the thread. Looks like everybody was watching the storms together. I have been busy hatching. I have hatched Cochins for Muesky while she heals up fro back surgery. She is doing well, is now brooding her chicks and also just finished her Masters in Soecial Wducation at OU.
I still have about 150 chicks in various states of growing out with more in the hatcher and incubator. My hens are slowing down on laying and going broody themselves. Actually I am kind of relieved. 150 chicks- that is a lot of chores everyday.

[/IMG][/IMG]

 

[mjgigax]

A Chocolate Cuckoo Orpington

 

[mjgigax]

A Silkie, Daddy is from Jeannsrie's Silkies and Mama is from OKBetsy's Silkies. I adore my Silkies

 

[Poco Pollo]

A Silkie, Daddy is from Jeannsrie's Silkies and Mama is from OKBetsy's Silkies. I adore my Silkies

Cutie Pie!!!!

I just move three groups of chicks to a large brooder by our barn. The chicks downed a dragonfly and devoured him. They would probably be okay outside

 

[mjgigax]

I have been using these laundry bags to keep eggs separated in the hatcher. They work very well.
Chicks were getting caught under the wire separators in my hatching trays and I lost more than one from them being injured. Plus the wire tray tops wouldn't stay down and chicks were getting mixed up before I could mark them.
I have F1 and F2 Olive Eggers that I want to keep separated as they grow out. I am trying to make some different egg colors with crossing and recrossing blue egg layers and brown egg layers.
I saw some people hatching using the mesh bags that onions come in but Muesky found these bags at the dollar store. They can be washed between hatchings.

 

[Poco Pollo]

I have been using these laundry bags to keep eggs separated in the hatcher. They work very well.
Chicks were getting caught under the wire separators in my hatching trays and I lost more than one from them being injured. Plus the wire tray tops wouldn't stay down and chicks were getting mixed up before I could mark them.
I have F1 and F2 Olive Eggers that I want to keep separated as they grow out. I am trying to make some different egg colors with crossing and recrossing blue egg layers and brown egg layers.
I saw some people hatching using the mesh bags that onions come in but Muesky found these bags at the dollar store. They can be washed between hatchings.

If I need to separate at lock down, I put my eggs into different boxes, with lids, made from plastic canvas. I used fishing line to stitch the edges together. They can go into the dishwasher on the top rack.

 

[ashtree]

I have been using these laundry bags to keep eggs separated in the hatcher. They work very well.
Chicks were getting caught under the wire separators in my hatching trays and I lost more than one from them being injured. Plus the wire tray tops wouldn't stay down and chicks were getting mixed up before I could mark them.
I have F1 and F2 Olive Eggers that I want to keep separated as they grow out. I am trying to make some different egg colors with crossing and recrossing blue egg layers and brown egg layers.
I saw some people hatching using the mesh bags that onions come in but Muesky found these bags at the dollar store. They can be washed between hatchings.

Genius idea!

 

[NanaKat]

 
I want to be NanaK when I grow up!

Ya'll are so sweet! I'm old enough to the grandmother of most of you young folks.

Ditto!

Straw is growing like crazy in all my raised bed gardens.  

.
We pull the straw clumps and lay them on the beds to add to the mulch around the plants. Enough mulch inhibits weeds.

 

[limited25]

Thanks NanaKat ... actually I am a grandmother too ... just didn't expect that, but it is easy to pull and I will just throw it on top of the dried straw (it is really thick and tall/ taller than the tomatoes).

Since I am admitting how "green" I am at all this, I would like to ask one more question.

This is the first year we are buying 1/4 of a cow from a farmer that grass feeds to processing. Although I see cows in pastures not far from where we live, I am clueless about who owns them, so I found a place online that is close to the Texas border. Wanting to buy 1/4 cow every year (said everyone will get equal cuts of meat so that sounds good) but he sent me an email saying that in 2018 he is going to discontinue offering this as it is too much work for him as he is doing it by himself. Said if I pay him a deposit this year for 2018 I will be able to get my order that year, but he didn't mention any of this on his website. I have paid him a deposit for the beef this year and am just waiting for him to process to complete this years order which is supposed to be sometime this month. The deposit wasn't a lot comparatively speaking to total cost so am not anticipating any problems this year.

Where can I find other options for buying 1/4 cow that is grass fed to processing? Or do most farmers grass feed until processing? Should I be uncomfortable about him not putting this information on his website? Would appreciate advice or PM me please. Sorry to ask so many questions, and hope I am not making you uncomfortable by asking.

This question is for everyone.