***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

I have 19 chickens according to the egg collection today....three were pullet eggs from the CW pen.

Anybody know whether it is okay to use pullet eggs in the incubator or is it better to wait until the eggs are a little bigger? One of the pullets is the Blue Columbian that has been bred back to her daddy Beau.

We really need to do freezer camp this week since there are some 4 - 5 month old roos that are ready. Babysitting tomorrow with the grandkids so will have to do it Wednesday. May have to do it early over several mornings while it is still cool.

We are moving the herds around because of the grass shortages on some of the pastures. And are having baby calves this month..10 already. Only 6 more cows to calve this year.

Prices have dropped on feeder calves due to the corn crop failure. This means the prices on feed is going to go up...both on corn based and hay. We are trying to gather hay for this winter and are already seeing the prices rise on round bales. With Arkansas experiencing the drought hay will be moving across state lines.

Will be watching the chicken feed prices over the next few months too....

 

[nnbreeder]

Hmmm, I may have to do some research on this. I have the room for a few cattle so I had never really considered the smaller ones. Thanks.

SDS

And those of you buying cattle start buying hay right now before the prices jump any more then they already have. Since the press has been screaming drought I have watched round bales go from 45 dollars a bale to 85 dollars a bale on the internet. and if we have a hard winter it could double from there.

There is a lot of hay around, you see it everywhere but remember that ranchers are re-stocking what they have used up for about the last five years and there isn't any extra around.

Even if you can plant wheat or rye in the pasture you will have to feed a low quality straw of some type to prevent bloat from the rich pasture. A friend of mine always says too that it takes a lot of Alfalfa to produce a gallon of milk.

On the SW Kansas Craig's List there are bottle calves NW of Amarillo Tx that are selling for 25 for Jersey and 75 for Holstien crosses. There should be a lot of cheap cattle up in Co and the areas hard hit by drought, some will be finding their way here as the prices are better.

 

[nnbreeder]

I have 19 chickens according to the egg collection today....three were pullet eggs from the CW pen.

Anybody know whether it is okay to use pullet eggs in the incubator or is it better to wait until the eggs are a little bigger? One of the pullets is the Blue Columbian that has been bred back to her daddy Beau.

We really need to do freezer camp this week since there are some 4 - 5 month old roos that are ready. Babysitting tomorrow with the grandkids so will have to do it Wednesday. May have to do it early over several mornings while it is still cool.

We are moving the herds around because of the grass shortages on some of the pastures. And are having baby calves this month..10 already. Only 6 more cows to calve this year.

Prices have dropped on feeder calves due to the corn crop failure. This means the prices on feed is going to go up...both on corn based and hay. We are trying to gather hay for this winter and are already seeing the prices rise on round bales. With Arkansas experiencing the drought hay will be moving across state lines.

Will be watching the chicken feed prices over the next few months too....

I switched to all stock pellets as a filler for mine, only 7 dollars a bag at Atwoods and a 50 pound bag to boot.

 

[nnbreeder]

Oh and Kat most smaller pullet eggs doesn't have yolks, just candle them before setting to make sure.

 

[Kimbroe1981]

We'll keep an eye out for hay. We're only getting 1 right now, but who knows when we'll get a bull.

 

[nnbreeder]

. Why are some roos so gentle and nice and others are such buttheads??

Because we, er I mean they, can be. LOL

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh and Kat most smaller pullet eggs doesn't have yolks, just candle them before setting to make sure.

LOL LOL people at work call me Kat, I read that and thought I'm not setting pullet eggs????? Took me a minute to figure out who you were posting to.

 

[Kassaundra]

Cathie, that sucks about the tires, does NOT sound fair at all.



Gunmama, I love the names

They're tiny faces are just adorable and those necks crack me up.
I'll probably never jump off the "Feathered Legged, 5-Toed Bearded Rumpless" bandwagon long enough to get NN's so I'll live that saga through you all.
ETA: My Bantam Faverolles started laying a week or so ago, they were barely over 4 months when they started. They've got the cutest tiny eggs!

I have 5 toed, bearded, top hatted NN's.

 

[nnbreeder]

We'll keep an eye out for hay. We're only getting 1 right now, but who knows when we'll get a bull.

Why get a bull? straws of semen for artificial insemination are usually pretty reasonable and much cheaper then keeping a bull. Plus you have your choice of probably hundreds of bulls.

 

[nnbreeder]

I have 5 toed, bearded, top hatted NN's.

Between you and I we could build her a chicken of her dreams. LOL