Okies in the BYC The Original

[osukrazykate]

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I have some RIR, but they are not laying yet. I am raising them as all naturally as I can, no medicated feed, free ranging and all the scraps from my organic garden. But when I start having eggs come from them and confirm their fertility you can have some. Where are you located? I am in between Stillwater and Tulsa, not too far from Sand Springs, but I also have family in Norman.

Kate

 

[faerielady]

Quote:
I have some RIR, but they are not laying yet. I am raising them as all naturally as I can, no medicated feed, free ranging and all the scraps from my organic garden. But when I start having eggs come from them and confirm their fertility you can have some. Where are you located? I am in between Stillwater and Tulsa, not too far from Sand Springs, but I also have family in Norman.

Kate

Oh it'll be a bit before I can get any... gotta build two more coops. After that, tho... don't be surprised if you get a PM. I'm outside OKC.

 

[osukrazykate]

So I am curious to see what others have to say about this. I have been wanting to do everything as all natural as possible with my chickens.

Including hatching eggs.

I have already hatched my first set of eggs a few weeks ago and had a really high hatch rate (14 out of 17) by using my hens to hatch them once they went broody. But my addiction is about to get the best of me and I am so wanting to get a brooder, because I can't wait for spring or for any of my hens to go broody so I can hatch more eggs. I really am having a hard time not buying or making an incubator.

What are everybody's thoughts?

Kate

 

[osukrazykate]

Quote:
I have some RIR, but they are not laying yet. I am raising them as all naturally as I can, no medicated feed, free ranging and all the scraps from my organic garden. But when I start having eggs come from them and confirm their fertility you can have some. Where are you located? I am in between Stillwater and Tulsa, not too far from Sand Springs, but I also have family in Norman.

Kate

Oh it'll be a bit before I can get any... gotta build two more coops. After that, tho... don't be surprised if you get a PM. I'm outside OKC.

Ok sounds good! Maybe we can trade eggs.

 

[Buckguy20]

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I like using broody hens but there are drawbacks there. I let any of mine that go broody hatch their eggs but I have found I can't depend on them to be broody when I want/need them to be. Plus I have a few that won't hold the nest long enough.

 

[Sooner]

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In SE Oklahoma, many schools ARE out all week because there are so many kids deer hunting.

Just as God intended!

LOL I am ready, I want to grind so I can make jerky!!!

 

[silkielovr]

about broody verses incubator..[ I haven't learned to "quote" yet] I think the incubator is probably the best, but more work and also much more work in the cold weather after you hatch the little darlings.
YOU now are mama and have to care for them and keep them warm and safe.
Drawback on the broody hens is that sometimes they leave the nest or fail to stay with the whole nest of eggs after a few hatch. They are so proud of the babies they take them of and let the other eggs chill and die.
Also if you have a nice large hen siting on a bunch of small breed chicks sometimes she will step on them.....I know my Silkies are so tiny and so delicate they got stepped on and it broke my heart!
I just feel better and not such a nervous Mama if I am in control with the incubator!
Cheryl

 

[faerielady]

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Ok sounds good! Maybe we can trade eggs.

Oh you wanted MFCs didn't you? Mine will be laying in the spring... I have two trios.

 

[silkielovr]

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Ha! I think I figured it out! Do you GRIND your meat before making jerky?????
I never did...I just sliced it real thin and it was great, won't it fall apart if ground???

 

[Buckguy20]

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Our friend has this thing that squishes it out into uniform pieces, is that what you mean?

Yes, that is what I have but the meat has to be ground first and my meat grinder bit the dust. I have an antique cranking one but I haven't wanted jerky bad enough to use it.