Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ochochicas]

I went on a mission trip in October to help a couple cut wood for the winter. She had chickens and when we were stacking wood I saw her chopping block with feathers on it and an axe nearby. I'm pretty sure she did the deed herself as her husband is blind. But maybe he did it. How many of you butcher your own chickens?

I've had to cull a couple of my chicken recently due to illness/injury. What a horrible task to have to do.

In my opinion, it is necessary though, since allowing them to suffer until they starve to death and die on their own is cruel. I know I could never eat my chickens. They all have names and I know them individually.

From my experience, using the ax seems to be the easiest way to cull an adult chicken. The chickens need to be still though, as mine were because they were sick. I don't know how you'd be able to ax a moving target. Some friends of mine were over the other day and saw feathers in the yard and reluctantly asked me what it was. I think they were sorry they had asked. That is farm life I guess. I'm just glad I don't have to do it often

 

[Blooie]

We butcher and eat ours too.

 

[bumpercarr]

I find a very sharp knife or scalpel to be the easiest. Hang them upside down, either in a killing cone or by their feet with rope. They go to sleep. Slit the throat (getting the jugular vein) and let them bleed out. The axe method tends to be very messy and they aren't still, causing a problem with missing. I know it is graphic, but it has to be done. After they've bled out, I slit down the skin on the chest and filet out the breast. Then I remove the legs from the hip joint with some really good scissors. Remove the skin and feathers after cutting off the non-meat part of the legs. My husband usually takes some of the hackle for fly fishing. This is the least messy way for me, there are lots of methods out there, this is the one that I find the easiest to do.

Still, it is very traumatic for me, I can't do it alone. I need the support of either friends or my husband which is why I tend to do several at a time (so I don't have to go through it any more often than necessary). Mine don't all have names, but I know each of them by their personalities and love each of them. I always give them thanks for the food and try to make sure that they are calm and not any more upset by the process than necessary. I always eat what I kill (hunting, fishing or chickens), unless they were euthanized for health, I believe in my core that if you kill it you should eat it. Makes me want to cry when I see the grocery stores throwing away meat....some animal somewhere gave its life for that food.

 

[ochochicas]

If my DH could do it then it might be OK. However, I can not trust him to do it "correctly" and I'm sure there would be mishaps where the chickens end up suffering. For now I have to do the deed for sick chickens and we sell the rest of the cockerels to someone who wants to butcher them themselves.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Wow!! I think this is one of the things I'm wondering about. I love the idea of letting a broody raise chicks.....I mean this is our second time in less than 6 months, lol. But I did try to break up both of them so we could wait for better weather. I couldn't break Olivia at all. Jessica gave up in November and then was back at it before Christmas. I put her back in the coop at nite and the last time I tried that she flew out of the coop and was running around me like a football player to get back to her nest. (Picture her with an egg under her wing, running with her head down...lol). So I gave up and gave her the four eggs. I love it! But I am wondering what i will do if a lot of girls go broody at the same time. And even giving them only a couple of eggs will eventually result in LOTS of extra chickens. So what is the answer? Will they sit happily on nonhatching golfballs if I cant break up their broodiness? Or do I advertise "free chickens" on Freecycle? I guess many could become Sunday dinner? I cannot do that myself...but hubbie would help me out there. But that sounds well i dont know....not appealing to me. What do the rest of you all do who are just in this for a fun hobby? I want the birds to be healthy, happy and live as naturally as possible and raising chicks seems to be what makes some of them happy....but i realize there are limits. I hope I don't sound as if I'm taking this too lightly. LofMc?

Thnx for the response. I think could cook and eat the birds. But not sure about the butchering.....I know my grandparents and parents did this, but I don't know if I could. I have kept from naming the 3 chicks.....partly cause I'm not sure if I am keeping them and partly because I cant tell them apart.

I went on a mission trip in October to help a couple cut wood for the winter. She had chickens and when we were stacking wood I saw her chopping block with feathers on it and an axe nearby. I'm pretty sure she did the deed herself as her husband is blind. But maybe he did it. How many of you butcher your own chickens?

Fisherlady and Bumpercarr gave very sage advice, Since you specifically asked me, I'll share what I've learned to add color to the landscape as I have a different set up and needs and some unique approaches (and I had a little time for fun today being in the holiday mood).

I am a small hobbyist/backyard farmer and have to stay smaller as I am on limited property...about 1/3 of an acre...while I might dream of seeing it differently, the family still also wants to live on some of it (while a country girl, I fell in love with a city boy, so I live among geeks on old farm land that is now suburbs). Thus I have about half of my yard devoted to chickens (an excellent small area livestock), the other half to general backyard purpose (though the family is gracious as the birds can often encroach on that part as well...the chickens LOVE the outdoor 3-D chess board...wish I could get a photo of them lined up on it, but they always come running when they see me).

We also have need for lots of eggs since several in the family have gluten intolerance and food sensitivities, but they can eat eggs and non-grain breads rise beautifully with eggs. This means I need to keep a flock that is at optimum laying ability. That means I need to change over my birds every 2 years. Different breeds vary, but most birds have slowed significantly by 3 years of age.

Hard facts: I need fresh organic eggs. Feed is expensive. Space is limited. (But Ohhhh, I do enjoy chickens)...

Since we burned a coop down with a heat lamp a number of years ago, I have gone exclusively to using broodies as I don't DO heat lamps anymore, especially not in the garage, attached to the HOUSE, with that kind of fire risk

(and hubby really hated his nice motorcycle getting dust on it...fair enough).

I also enjoy animal husbandry, as stated being a country girl with ranching and chicken farming in my family, and having raised up one daughter who took after me loving the farm life (We did Guide Dog Puppy raising, Vet 4-H studies, and backyard farming together so she could become a Vet Tech, and now organic farmer with new hubby). But, alas I, uhem, as I've hit middle age,

uhem, now have a bad back so I can't do the "heavy lifting" or strenuous activity I used to do, and my geeky husband is cheerfully limited to building coops and the occasional shovel and lift....butchering is NOT in his blood, nor my other children who are geeks like their dad.

So what on earth do I do to regularly "turn over my flock" in a "friendly way" under my own steam, using broodies to keep my numbers limited but optimal?

I keep half my flock in commercial layers or a vigorous egg laying breed who hardly ever (if ever) goes broody. Then I let no more than half of my flock be "heritage" breeds or specialty breeds with colorful eggs, who are not noted for brooding (this has worked for me in my area...@fisherlady , you've simply hit the well spring...I think brooding magic is in your local water.

).

Next, I keep only one or two broodies of the annoyingly frequent kind, to do the hatching/mothering, using seasonal broodies only as they work in. If not, I set them on golf balls if need be as I never break a brood if I ever want to use that hen for brooding again. I work in small batches, setting no more than 6 eggs or so at a time (okay, I break that rule sometimes, but try to hold myself back...I visualize my face on the 11 o'clock news, it helps). I then set about 2 to 3 times a year with my regular broodies/seasonal ones. Now I am constantly raising the next generation of layers....but alas also some roosters, who will need to be dealt with, but I am only having to deal with 1 or 2, sometimes 3, roosters at a time so it is easier to do something with them. (As I am finding the "perfect" breed, I may do more).

On the really nice breeds, those special egg color birds, hatched from eggs from good breeders, I've been able to place an ad on local chicken swap forums and sell my roosters or find a home (people were eager for my BCM boy and paid for him.) The others...your barnyard mixes and generic layers...several feed stores will take them to give to people (check your local feed store option), or better, I choose breeds that have enough meat on they boys so there is something out of the roosters. (Enter that "perfect" breed search...good layers, meaty boys.)

But what about butchering roosters in the middle of a geeky family who won't help you (and you need help)?

I found the nearest butcher who takes live birds and gives them back in nice neat little packages...especially the one that has a coffee shop nearby where hubby can sip on his latte with his laptop while the dastardly deed is done.

It only costs me about $3.50 to $4.00 per bird depending upon which butcher I use (okay and the cost of a large Mocha)...a little bit of a drive (a pretty country drive, time with my hubby)...all in all it is a good Saturday's work. My Rhodebar and Buckeye projects produced some really nice hens (can't tell yet on laying as they just started), but also produced some really nice roosters that were GOOD eating. I may repeat those projects as said, I have been trying to find my ideal breed for good laying hens, good eating roo's.

But what about all those female chicks? You can't keep adding, even slowly, to your flock with them, and keep your sizes down. You have to be realistic, not overly sentimental (except for that special one who will always have a home with you)...You have to do something with the older layers, or you become the nutty lady the news reporter talks about when the county comes in to seize a horrendous amount of animals off the property....

Well, as to my older ladies, I've done different things. It is actually pretty easy to re-home 2 year old layers, as there is still a decent year left in them. (Typically at year 2, layers will reduce by 25% of laying, at year 3, by 50% of laying). Craigslist and Freecycle are good places to place an ad, if you need to, but I've not even had to go to strangers, yet, so this is what I've done.
All in my original flock went down with the burnt coop so no issue with the older hens that year...but I would NOT recommended that procedure though.

My next aging layers went with my daughter as a wedding gift (yup...blessed my daughter with a start up flock, got rid of my old birds...they toted birds, in a trailer, all the way across the USA to hubby's farm after the wedding).

For the next aging ladies, I put out an announcement on my church e-list, and I had several people lining up. From that announcement I have been blessed with a person (now friend) who owns large property and likes the larger size eggs the older hens lay (though less in number, they typically go up in size as they age). Therefore, as my girls approach 2 years, I give an email shout out to this gal, and we connect. I even got pet carriers so I can easily re-home birds periodically (I've got a new top-loading one for Christmas that I can't wait to try out!). We call her homestead farm the "Happy Hen Retirement Farm." My older hens spend their lives there blissfully free ranging until they die of old age, or get picked off by a coyote or hawk. She just lost her total flock (half of it my birds) from a coyote(s) who jumped the fence one night and kept coming back until it/they cleaned her out. Not a feather left. Fortunately I was ready to re-home 6 of my aging birds, so she now has a new starter flock of decent, though not prolific, layers.

I am now waiting for my new broodies to come into brooding. I would normally be brooding already this time of the year as I need to hatch now so that my new girls are laying by June to keep my egg numbers up and prevent a lag in my hen cycle...this year that didn't happen with the loss of my faithful, annoyingly frequent, set your clock by it, Silkie Oma-San to a Coooper's hawk.

Hopefully this new veteran Silkie (dubbed the Queen Mum) will step up to the plate, er nest, and the bantam Cochins will take her example.

My eggs sales have been off this winter (too many specialty breeds with over eager hatching last year, pretty eggs, lower numbers) and I've got to keep the hen cycle going!

Hope this helps with ideas for what to do to stay small but think big.

Happy New Year!
Lady of McCamley

 

[vpatt]

I have read some of the posts on the butchering threads ....I understand keeping animals for meat but it isn't making me feel good thinking about.

 

[A6chickenhome]

I have read some of the posts on the butchering threads ....I understand keeping animals for meat but it isn't making me feel good thinking about.

I started my dual purpose flock early 2014 with the intention of butchering for meat when the time comes. I haven't done any butchering yet as my birds are still young and laying tons of eggs. I keep going over it in my mind so hopefully I will be mentally prepared when the time comes. I think it helps not to name them, which my daughter did with all the hens we have now

 

[vpatt]

Fisherlady and Bumpercarr gave very sage advice, Since you specifically asked me, I'll share what I've learned to add color to the landscape as I have a different set up and needs and some unique approaches (and I had a little time for fun today being in the holiday mood).

I am a small hobbyist/backyard farmer and have to stay smaller as I am on limited property...about 1/3 of an acre...while I might dream of seeing it differently, the family still also wants to live on some of it (while a country girl, I fell in love with a city boy, so I live among geeks on old farm land that is now suburbs). Thus I have about half of my yard devoted to chickens (an excellent small area livestock), the other half to general backyard purpose (though the family is gracious as the birds can often encroach on that part as well...the chickens LOVE the outdoor 3-D chess board...wish I could get a photo of them lined up on it, but they always come running when they see me).

We also have need for lots of eggs since several in the family have gluten intolerance and food sensitivities, but they can eat eggs and non-grain breads rise beautifully with eggs. This means I need to keep a flock that is at optimum laying ability. That means I need to change over my birds every 2 years. Different breeds vary, but most birds have slowed significantly by 3 years of age.

Hard facts: I need fresh organic eggs. Feed is expensive. Space is limited. (But Ohhhh, I do enjoy chickens)...

Since we burned a coop down with a heat lamp a number of years ago, I have gone exclusively to using broodies as I don't DO heat lamps anymore, especially not in the garage, attached to the HOUSE, with that kind of fire risk

(and hubby really hated his nice motorcycle getting dust on it...fair enough).

I also enjoy animal husbandry, as stated being a country girl with ranching and chicken farming in my family, and having raised up one daughter who took after me loving the farm life (We did Guide Dog Puppy raising, Vet 4-H studies, and backyard farming together so she could become a Vet Tech, and now organic farmer with new hubby). But, alas I, uhem, as I've hit middle age,

uhem, now have a bad back so I can't do the "heavy lifting" or strenuous activity I used to do, and my geeky husband is cheerfully limited to building coops and the occasional shovel and lift....butchering is NOT in his blood, nor my other children who are geeks like their dad.

So what on earth do I do to regularly "turn over my flock" in a "friendly way" under my own steam, using broodies to keep my numbers limited but optimal?

I keep half my flock in commercial layers or a vigorous egg laying breed who hardly ever (if ever) goes broody. Then I let no more than half of my flock be "heritage" breeds or specialty breeds with colorful eggs, who are not noted for brooding (this has worked for me in my area...@fisherlady , you've simply hit the well spring...I think brooding magic is in your local water.

).

Next, I keep only one or two broodies of the annoyingly frequent kind, to do the hatching/mothering, using seasonal broodies only as they work in. If not, I set them on golf balls if need be as I never break a brood if I ever want to use that hen for brooding again. I work in small batches, setting no more than 6 eggs or so at a time (okay, I break that rule sometimes, but try to hold myself back...I visualize my face on the 11 o'clock news, it helps). I then set about 2 to 3 times a year with my regular broodies/seasonal ones. Now I am constantly raising the next generation of layers....but alas also some roosters, who will need to be dealt with, but I am only having to deal with 1 or 2, sometimes 3, roosters at a time so it is easier to do something with them. (As I am finding the "perfect" breed, I may do more).

On the really nice breeds, those special egg color birds, hatched from eggs from good breeders, I've been able to place an ad on local chicken swap forums and sell my roosters or find a home (people were eager for my BCM boy and paid for him.) The others...your barnyard mixes and generic layers...several feed stores will take them to give to people (check your local feed store option), or better, I choose breeds that have enough meat on they boys so there is something out of the roosters. (Enter that "perfect" breed search...good layers, meaty boys.)

But what about butchering roosters in the middle of a geeky family who won't help you (and you need help)?

I found the nearest butcher who takes live birds and gives them back in nice neat little packages...especially the one that has a coffee shop nearby where hubby can sip on his latte with his laptop while the dastardly deed is done.

It only costs me about $3.50 to $4.00 per bird depending upon which butcher I use (okay and the cost of a large Mocha)...a little bit of a drive (a pretty country drive, time with my hubby)...all in all it is a good Saturday's work. My Rhodebar and Buckeye projects produced some really nice hens (can't tell yet on laying as they just started), but also produced some really nice roosters that were GOOD eating. I may repeat those projects as said, I have been trying to find my ideal breed for good laying hens, good eating roo's.

But what about all those female chicks? You can't keep adding, even slowly, to your flock with them, and keep your sizes down. You have to be realistic, not overly sentimental (except for that special one who will always have a home with you)...You have to do something with the older layers, or you become the nutty lady the news reporter talks about when the county comes in to seize a horrendous amount of animals off the property....

Well, as to my older ladies, I've done different things. It is actually pretty easy to re-home 2 year old layers, as there is still a decent year left in them. (Typically at year 2, layers will reduce by 25% of laying, at year 3, by 50% of laying). Craigslist and Freecycle are good places to place an ad, if you need to, but I've not even had to go to strangers, yet, so this is what I've done.
All in my original flock went down with the burnt coop so no issue with the older hens that year...but I would NOT recommended that procedure though.

My next aging layers went with my daughter as a wedding gift (yup...blessed my daughter with a start up flock, got rid of my old birds...they toted birds, in a trailer, all the way across the USA to hubby's farm after the wedding).

For the next aging ladies, I put out an announcement on my church e-list, and I had several people lining up. From that announcement I have been blessed with a person (now friend) who owns large property and likes the larger size eggs the older hens lay (though less in number, they typically go up in size as they age). Therefore, as my girls approach 2 years, I give an email shout out to this gal, and we connect. I even got pet carriers so I can easily re-home birds periodically (I've got a new top-loading one for Christmas that I can't wait to try out!). We call her homestead farm the "Happy Hen Retirement Farm." My older hens spend their lives there blissfully free ranging until they die of old age, or get picked off by a coyote or hawk. She just lost her total flock (half of it my birds) from a coyote(s) who jumped the fence one night and kept coming back until it/they cleaned her out. Not a feather left. Fortunately I was ready to re-home 6 of my aging birds, so she now has a new starter flock of decent, though not prolific, layers.

I am now waiting for my new broodies to come into brooding. I would normally be brooding already this time of the year as I need to hatch now so that my new girls are laying by June to keep my egg numbers up and prevent a lag in my hen cycle...this year that didn't happen with the loss of my faithful, annoyingly frequent, set your clock by it, Silkie Oma-San to a Coooper's hawk.

Hopefully this new veteran Silkie (dubbed the Queen Mum) will step up to the plate, er nest, and the bantam Cochins will take her example.

My eggs sales have been off this winter (too many specialty breeds with over eager hatching last year, pretty eggs, lower numbers) and I've got to keep the hen cycle going!

Hope this helps with ideas for what to do to stay small but think big.

Happy New Year!
Lady of McCamley

I will need to work on this, lol. In theory I believe completely in what everyone is saying. It is just that it hurts me to think of actually doing it. But like I said my hubbie and his dad will do it for me, I'm sure. They raise and butcher pigs every year. I have never been attached to the pigs and I don't understand what others see in them as pets. I love bone broth, chicken soup and roasted chicken and I've never had an issue buying the meat......until I realized that I need naturally raised meats because of my health. So I will sort it out. I cannot afford to buy all my meats naturally raised so this is the perfect opportunity for me to have good, healthy chicken in the freezer. Thank you all for your encouragement!
And happy new year to you all!

 

[bumpercarr]

Fisherlady and Bumpercarr gave very sage advice, Since you specifically asked me, I'll share what I've learned to add color to the landscape as I have a different set up and needs and some unique approaches (and I had a little time for fun today being in the holiday mood).

I am a small hobbyist/backyard farmer and have to stay smaller as I am on limited property...about 1/3 of an acre...while I might dream of seeing it differently, the family still also wants to live on some of it (while a country girl, I fell in love with a city boy, so I live among geeks on old farm land that is now suburbs). Thus I have about half of my yard devoted to chickens (an excellent small area livestock), the other half to general backyard purpose (though the family is gracious as the birds can often encroach on that part as well...the chickens LOVE the outdoor 3-D chess board...wish I could get a photo of them lined up on it, but they always come running when they see me).

We also have need for lots of eggs since several in the family have gluten intolerance and food sensitivities, but they can eat eggs and non-grain breads rise beautifully with eggs. This means I need to keep a flock that is at optimum laying ability. That means I need to change over my birds every 2 years. Different breeds vary, but most birds have slowed significantly by 3 years of age.

Hard facts: I need fresh organic eggs. Feed is expensive. Space is limited. (But Ohhhh, I do enjoy chickens)...

Since we burned a coop down with a heat lamp a number of years ago, I have gone exclusively to using broodies as I don't DO heat lamps anymore, especially not in the garage, attached to the HOUSE, with that kind of fire risk

(and hubby really hated his nice motorcycle getting dust on it...fair enough).

I also enjoy animal husbandry, as stated being a country girl with ranching and chicken farming in my family, and having raised up one daughter who took after me loving the farm life (We did Guide Dog Puppy raising, Vet 4-H studies, and backyard farming together so she could become a Vet Tech, and now organic farmer with new hubby). But, alas I, uhem, as I've hit middle age,

uhem, now have a bad back so I can't do the "heavy lifting" or strenuous activity I used to do, and my geeky husband is cheerfully limited to building coops and the occasional shovel and lift....butchering is NOT in his blood, nor my other children who are geeks like their dad.

So what on earth do I do to regularly "turn over my flock" in a "friendly way" under my own steam, using broodies to keep my numbers limited but optimal?

I keep half my flock in commercial layers or a vigorous egg laying breed who hardly ever (if ever) goes broody. Then I let no more than half of my flock be "heritage" breeds or specialty breeds with colorful eggs, who are not noted for brooding (this has worked for me in my area...@fisherlady , you've simply hit the well spring...I think brooding magic is in your local water.

).

Next, I keep only one or two broodies of the annoyingly frequent kind, to do the hatching/mothering, using seasonal broodies only as they work in. If not, I set them on golf balls if need be as I never break a brood if I ever want to use that hen for brooding again. I work in small batches, setting no more than 6 eggs or so at a time (okay, I break that rule sometimes, but try to hold myself back...I visualize my face on the 11 o'clock news, it helps). I then set about 2 to 3 times a year with my regular broodies/seasonal ones. Now I am constantly raising the next generation of layers....but alas also some roosters, who will need to be dealt with, but I am only having to deal with 1 or 2, sometimes 3, roosters at a time so it is easier to do something with them. (As I am finding the "perfect" breed, I may do more).

On the really nice breeds, those special egg color birds, hatched from eggs from good breeders, I've been able to place an ad on local chicken swap forums and sell my roosters or find a home (people were eager for my BCM boy and paid for him.) The others...your barnyard mixes and generic layers...several feed stores will take them to give to people (check your local feed store option), or better, I choose breeds that have enough meat on they boys so there is something out of the roosters. (Enter that "perfect" breed search...good layers, meaty boys.)

But what about butchering roosters in the middle of a geeky family who won't help you (and you need help)?

I found the nearest butcher who takes live birds and gives them back in nice neat little packages...especially the one that has a coffee shop nearby where hubby can sip on his latte with his laptop while the dastardly deed is done.

It only costs me about $3.50 to $4.00 per bird depending upon which butcher I use (okay and the cost of a large Mocha)...a little bit of a drive (a pretty country drive, time with my hubby)...all in all it is a good Saturday's work. My Rhodebar and Buckeye projects produced some really nice hens (can't tell yet on laying as they just started), but also produced some really nice roosters that were GOOD eating. I may repeat those projects as said, I have been trying to find my ideal breed for good laying hens, good eating roo's.

But what about all those female chicks? You can't keep adding, even slowly, to your flock with them, and keep your sizes down. You have to be realistic, not overly sentimental (except for that special one who will always have a home with you)...You have to do something with the older layers, or you become the nutty lady the news reporter talks about when the county comes in to seize a horrendous amount of animals off the property....

Well, as to my older ladies, I've done different things. It is actually pretty easy to re-home 2 year old layers, as there is still a decent year left in them. (Typically at year 2, layers will reduce by 25% of laying, at year 3, by 50% of laying). Craigslist and Freecycle are good places to place an ad, if you need to, but I've not even had to go to strangers, yet, so this is what I've done.
All in my original flock went down with the burnt coop so no issue with the older hens that year...but I would NOT recommended that procedure though.

My next aging layers went with my daughter as a wedding gift (yup...blessed my daughter with a start up flock, got rid of my old birds...they toted birds, in a trailer, all the way across the USA to hubby's farm after the wedding).

For the next aging ladies, I put out an announcement on my church e-list, and I had several people lining up. From that announcement I have been blessed with a person (now friend) who owns large property and likes the larger size eggs the older hens lay (though less in number, they typically go up in size as they age). Therefore, as my girls approach 2 years, I give an email shout out to this gal, and we connect. I even got pet carriers so I can easily re-home birds periodically (I've got a new top-loading one for Christmas that I can't wait to try out!). We call her homestead farm the "Happy Hen Retirement Farm." My older hens spend their lives there blissfully free ranging until they die of old age, or get picked off by a coyote or hawk. She just lost her total flock (half of it my birds) from a coyote(s) who jumped the fence one night and kept coming back until it/they cleaned her out. Not a feather left. Fortunately I was ready to re-home 6 of my aging birds, so she now has a new starter flock of decent, though not prolific, layers.

I am now waiting for my new broodies to come into brooding. I would normally be brooding already this time of the year as I need to hatch now so that my new girls are laying by June to keep my egg numbers up and prevent a lag in my hen cycle...this year that didn't happen with the loss of my faithful, annoyingly frequent, set your clock by it, Silkie Oma-San to a Coooper's hawk.

Hopefully this new veteran Silkie (dubbed the Queen Mum) will step up to the plate, er nest, and the bantam Cochins will take her example.

My eggs sales have been off this winter (too many specialty breeds with over eager hatching last year, pretty eggs, lower numbers) and I've got to keep the hen cycle going!

Hope this helps with ideas for what to do to stay small but think big.

Happy New Year!
Lady of McCamley

Loved reading this, made me laugh and made me cry. I lost my whole flock last spring as well. Neighborhood dogs. I looked at it as an opportunity for me to focus on one breed, prior to that I had layers and dual purpose, decided to stick with dual purpose large fowl Brahmas. Boy can they eat though! If you ever need heat again, take a look at the EcoGlow. It won't set any fires.

Everyone's set up is a little different, so the way you "dispose" of excess birds has to be a little different as well. I wish I had a butcher nearby, that would relieve the heart ache a little that I have every time I set up to cull.

Another option is to get in touch with your local 4-H groups and FFA. I've had some success rehoming some birds with them, generally I give the birds to the kids for free that are good enough for them to show at the fair but don't fit into my breeding program.

I started my dual purpose flock early 2014 with the intention of butchering for meat when the time comes. I haven't done any butchering yet as my birds are still young and laying tons of eggs. I keep going over it in my mind so hopefully I will be mentally prepared when the time comes. I think it helps not to name them, which my daughter did with all the hens we have now

One of the difficulties with dual purpose birds is that they don't lay as much. What breed are you working with, sounds like yours lay quite a bit!

Found this in the cypress next to the runs today. If you look closely, you can see the dove under his tail. One of the good things about raising Brahmas is that it takes a big hawk to grab one.

 

[bumpercarr]

Here is a pic of one of my cockerels, he's about 9 months old. This should give you an idea of their size, when I say that the hawks pretty much leave them alone. He's weighing in at just under 10 pounds right now.