Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[SilkieSensation]

I understand it as well. I know the recommended space for my birds but typically make smaller coops with bigger runs. I've found mine actually benefit more from having a smaller sleeping area, especially in winter. Their body heat keeps them much warmer when they have less space to heat. The key is plenty of ventilation along the eves. In warmer weather the windows all stay open to help keep the space cool. Just because the "experts" reccommend something does not mean it is what is best for your particular flock.

 

[chiques chicks]

30 years ago I worked in production poultry. Grew up around agriculture, so I, too, understand both sides.

LMP- awesome, egg to egg. I know you are excited!

Wing - with your amount of birds, do you do anything for frostbite, or let nature take its course? I Aimee if I do nothing it will leave scars, but heal in time.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Come on, danielle.... Chicka needs a friend of the same breed!! I thought it was easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission.... Hehehe!

Okay...I only posted that "saying"..I do not personally live by that statement...thank you very much, so please forgive me

....you wait till I get down that way...

I have been watching the Farm Show on TV all morning...man, I wish I could go this year...something to work for next year!...They have a "all Mushroom" stand..it better be there next year cause I now know where I can eat!!

...watched the auctioneer finals, the Norwegian rabbits judging..cattle, (all kinds)..pigs...gosh, I guess home does have one of the best seats, cause there would be no-way to see all that at the same time. I have family that does the "sheep to shawl"...and Dairy cows..of course

..hahaha, I know a bunch are in the 4-H stuff to..too much to mention...Welp, I have a ton of things to do today, but not getting anything done..hahah kinda like yesterday, I have "Butt Stuck" syndrome....it also seems to act up when I sit on the couch and Todd has the TV on

...I feel like the little Amish kids that used to show up at our house when their mom needed something( spices-whatever)...they would just stare at the TV...never try to have a conversation with kids that are hypnotized by the tube!!!...haha ,so funny...we always gave them cool pops..they loved to visit

!!
Hope everyone is enjoying the "warm-up"...it is all about perspective!!

...watch out tonight, as everything that has melted, will most likely freeze up again tonight.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

HA! makes me think about christmas day when family was here. I dont remember how it even came up but we got into the discussion of Mother falling in the chicken run and being unconscious and the chickens eating her. gasps, not me her.... they wouldn't do such a thing, your chickens are so nice!

muwhahhaaaa ummmm mother, chickens are beggars and if I fall and die in my run they would start pecking and eating me in less than 24, she has been upset ever since! LOL

edit to add: my older sons where here and they then proceeded to mom that what is left of the bodies I feed to the dogs....... ha ha ha

...I make very large "pits" in the garden for us to add "things " to during the Fall & winter..then we just cover up in the spring and plant...well, right now it kinda looks like we have a area for any wayward company ...hahaha..ie: family who overstay their welcome...

To everyone who replied, I broke my ankle last year, just after I started. It is a steep walk down the hill and I have repeatedly fallen. After my wife broke hers, I wasn't going through all that crap and walked it off. I just saw my doc again and he said this one is not broken. "stretched Perotoneal Nerve" in my calf causing the numbness and drop foot/limp. It will come back with time two -three weeks. It was easier when I was a younger strapping man, with a bronze tan and svelte body., LOL, now I'm just and old man enjoying his chickens, whose a lot wiser, but still going up and down that hill twice a day. Thanks for the concern my chicken cohorts!

..anything thing can happen at any age...it is the recovery time that gets A LOT longer as we age..that is for sure. Be careful out there!! , Is there any way you can move things closer or make steps..something?! Stay well!!

Be careful with aquarium heaters. I've used them in aquariums a lot and I can imagine the chickens drinking all the water (or it developing a leak). Then the glass heater will get very hot and melt through the bucket, maybe even fall to the bedding and start a fire. Or, if the glass is partially exposed to the air and the glass is hot (while it's heating) and you dump in a bunch of cold water -- CRAAACK ! Then you have water and live electricity in your water bucket, never a good combo.

Consider a livestock tank heater instead. I little more expensive but no glass to break and probably UL tested when run dry (or at least they should). I'm all for saving money where you can, but not if it compromises safety.

Since my flick is already a menagerie of mis-matched birds with no 2 the same she would fit right in around here. Too bad the trip is so far.
Here is what I found with my meaties:
Cornish cross are by far the fastest growers but also encounter the most health isdues because of the fast growth. I found that putting them in with other birds kept them more active & from gaining weiht too rapidly. This greatly reduced flip & leg problems. You can order all pullets to solve the crowing issue, but I had all males & they reached butchering size before crowing. Hens tend to be a bit smaller. I liked them best for meat quantity & growth rate. They eere also easier to pluck.
I also did red broilers & black broilers. The roos grew pretty rapidly & got nearly as big ad the cx. They took about 3-4 weeks longer to reach weight & the hens never did get as big as I would have liked them. They were much healthier & more active than the cx. Drawbacks, a bit harder to pluck & some had dark spots from the dark feathers once plucked. They did have better flavor than the cx but never got as big. I grew them 4-8 weeks linger than the cx.

thank you Silkie!...Cornish X's are looking like the go to meaty,....Putting them in with the Turkeys to start with..then they will go into their own pen...gonna have to think of ways to get them "moving" a little more...hahhaa, got it!! THE DOG!!! hahahhaa..he would never hurt them, but he loves to visit!! hahahahha

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I know! I found brown eggs at Redners the other day that said "Farm Raised" "Vegetarian Diet"

I'm picturing rows upon rows of Production RIR's in a factory being force fed carrots and cracked corn. Poor things!

That's like when they try to force the all real meat dog food on us. First thing a wild animal eats is the guts and brains and stuff like that. We are the only animals that go first for the muscle I think. People are silly. (not that I have anything against a big juicy cheesburger) I just love how marketing and media tries to brainwash us into the newest fad. Sad part is our animals suffer for it.

so do we-suffer...what do you think they add or give to these animals to "make-up" for what they are NOT getting naturally....what is a "wonder" chicken at Weis markets huh?...never saw a breast on a chicken ever look like that naturally...no wonder so many people are suffering from so many digestive issues/diseases...not to mention asthma...could go on & on, but you get the idea.
We are supposed to "work with" nature. In our attempts to change what is natural, we have only created more harm than good. Because views are so limited, only seeing the immediate "profit"...the Larger picture of what the outcome will be is more often just ignored..to the detriment of all. Sorry, went on a little ride there...you all know this, it is trying to re..educate others who don't see or for one reason or another don't want the truth, that is the real/true issue.
Knowledge is power...tell me the truth..even it is going to upset me, even it is going to hurt. I always want to venture into life with eyes wide open..knowing exactly what I am walking into or walking from.-Danielle

....Good Mornig All!! hahaha...

I always shake my head every time that I see the Perdue chicken commercial where they say they feed only a vegetarian diet. Chickens are anything but vegetarians ~ they are little dinosaurs!

...velociraptors!!

I cant believe they have these chicks priced this high for hatchery stock, DH is still debating pricing our hatch but I can tell you it wont be 47 a chick! They are amazing looking birds with the crest and big combs and have the gorgeous blue eggs, I am sure they will sell as many as they can get too. I wonder how does one get to be on the list to sell eggs to hatcheries LOL

That is ridiculous...sorry, jmo...not even breeder quality?..crazy man, crazy...

 

[wingstone]

30 years ago I worked in production poultry. Grew up around agriculture, so I, too, understand both sides.

LMP- awesome, egg to egg. I know you are excited!

Wing - with your amount of birds, do you do anything for frostbite, or let nature take its course? I Aimee if I do nothing it will leave scars, but heal in time.

I let nature do it's thing.....

I only ever had 1 bird that lost it's comb,,,,,he was fine afterwards, just funny looking...

and are you kidding, do you know how long it would take me out there if I treated each bird everynight that the temps dip down.......I would need frostbite treatment....

 

[wingstone]

LMP.....when I get the pics for Blarney, I will try to get a few of the CX that hatched on dec 16....you can get a visual of what they will look like......it ain't pretty....

are you planning to process yourself, or take them out ....you are welcome to stop by when you are in the area if you need a processing class.

and I do grow wonder chickens,,, this is my selling point,,,,,I grow large birds, not what you see in the store,,,,I sell around the 9 pound mark.......you can't buy that at the store,,,,,feeds a large family with left overs



as far as what is in your food that is bought,,,,,most would starve if they knew.

 

[chiques chicks]

I know it's early, but....
Seems a lot of people are talking Turkey this year. What breed are people looking at getting? I was pleased with my red bourbons and would love to get some again. I'd be breeding my own if they hadn't all been toms. I'm more than willing to hatch some if anyone knows a source of eggs. I had very bad luck with shipped eggs last year, got like two hatches per dozen or worse. If I can find some local, I'd be very happy

 

[wingstone]

I know it's early, but....
Seems a lot of people are talking Turkey this year. What breed are people looking at getting? I was pleased with my red bourbons and would love to get some again. I'd be breeding my own if they hadn't all been toms. I'm more than willing to hatch some if anyone knows a source of eggs. I had very bad luck with shipped eggs last year, got like two hatches per dozen or worse. If I can find some local, I'd be very happy

this may seem strange, but the beat turkey hatch I ever had, the eggs came from the auction at root's..

I have no clue what breed they were, maybe a mix....but they were tasty..

 

[chiques chicks]

This is sacrilege living where I do, but I never go to Roots, lol. I may have to find a regular to look for some for me.