Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[chxmama]

Here is Mary Poopins molting at the wrong time of the year, she looks a lot worse than yours.

Lol, poor girl! But I do see a similar pattern with my gray girl so that makes me feel better. Thanks!

 

[chxmama]

Love the eggs!!
Not so much the hawk, I admire your restraint in just taking a picture.

Lol, wanted agood pic before we shooed her away. Didn't matter anyway though cause she comes right back. Not worried b/c I know the girls are safe, only it scares them like crazy and they make quite a racket. It is seeming to affect egg production too so any tips to get her to stay away would be welcome.

Sold 68 of my breeders today to clear out space for next year's stock. I kind of miss them already, but this should lighten the feed bill a bit.It's really strange to have (temporarily) empty pens.
All of my Rhodebars and Marans are gone and not being replaced. The Ameraucanas and Legbars are being replaced with significantly upgraded birds that are growing out now,

Sounds like fun on the horizon. Do love the blue and black maran we got from you tho. The black has a fantastic temperament (blue is more skiddish) and both lay gorgeous eggs.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

So I think I have a temporary coop situation figured out. At the new house there is a carport that is fixed into the ground. We don't have a use for it, because we have another two garages at our disposal. It should be easy enough to just put some welded wire fencing around the exposed bottom and front to enclose it for a month or so until I get a more permanent coop. There is gravel underneath, so I could just hose it down when we're done. It's plenty warm right now so I think it will be a great option for the meantime. Just have to make sure it is fully secured against predators.

 

[fisherlady]

So I think I have a temporary coop situation figured out. At the new house there is a carport that is fixed into the ground. We don't have a use for it, because we have another two garages at our disposal. It should be easy enough to just put some welded wire fencing around the exposed bottom and front to enclose it for a month or so until I get a more permanent coop. There is gravel underneath, so I could just hose it down when we're done. It's plenty warm right now so I think it will be a great option for the meantime. Just have to make sure it is fully secured against predators.

Sounds like a great plan! Watch local sale papers for outside dog kennels, the man door panel in particular would be great to help enclose the carport but still allow easy access.

 

[BullChick]

So I think I have a temporary coop situation figured out. At the new house there is a carport that is fixed into the ground. We don't have a use for it, because we have another two garages at our disposal. It should be easy enough to just put some welded wire fencing around the exposed bottom and front to enclose it for a month or so until I get a more permanent coop. There is gravel underneath, so I could just hose it down when we're done. It's plenty warm right now so I think it will be a great option for the meantime. Just have to make sure it is fully secured against predators.

 

[dheltzel]

Did they all go to one buyer? What will you be focusing on next year?

Yup, a friend I've been selling extra eggs to bought them all. It's a win/win, they want to keep them laying and hatch everything they can, I am not hatching anymore of those this year and was figuring I would just free range any that seemed to have stopped laying and put the good layers into our laying flock.

Next year I should have 6 colors/sizes of Ameraucanas, all much better quality than the blue/black/splash I had the past few years. Also, lots of Legbars and Welbars. For dark eggs, I'm going "all in" on the Welbars, I have not found the others (BCM's and Welsummers) satisfactory. For now, I'm keeping the Bielefelders and likely expanding that flock a bit. The hatching problems with them makes me want to solve it to improve my hatching "skills". I need a challenging breed to make myself better at incubating,

We have a small flock of ducks and peafowl, keeping them. Reducing the turkey flock somewhat. Probably getting rid of all the Midget Whites except for Pilgrim, who can strut around the farm the rest of his life.Clarise, the silver dappled hen also stays for life. of course.

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Sold 68 of my breeders today to clear out space for next year's stock. I kind of miss them already, but this should lighten the feed bill a bit.It's really strange to have (temporarily) empty pens.
All of my Rhodebars and Marans are gone and not being replaced. The Ameraucanas and Legbars are being replaced with significantly upgraded birds that are growing out now,

That's why I started a fodder system! I have oats germinating right now and once I put those ones in a pan to start growing I am throwing in some more oats to start soaking/ germinating you have to let them soak for 12 or more hours. I have 2 hours yet to go.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Did they all go to one buyer? What will you be focusing on next year?

Yup, a friend I've been selling extra eggs to bought them all. It's a win/win, they want to keep them laying and hatch everything they can, I am not hatching anymore of those this year and was figuring I would just free range any that seemed to have stopped laying and put the good layers into our laying flock.

Next year I should have 6 colors/sizes of Ameraucanas, all much better quality than the blue/black/splash I had the past few years. Also, lots of Legbars and Welbars. For dark eggs, I'm going "all in" on the Welbars, I have not found the others (BCM's and Welsummers) satisfactory. For now, I'm keeping the Bielefelders and likely expanding that flock a bit. The hatching problems with them makes me want to solve it to improve my hatching "skills". I need a challenging breed to make myself better at incubating,

We have a small flock of ducks and peafowl, keeping them. Reducing the turkey flock somewhat. Probably getting rid of all the Midget Whites except for Pilgrim, who can strut around the farm the rest of his life.Clarise, the silver dappled hen also stays for life. of course.

How soon are you getting rid of the turkeys?

 

[dheltzel]

How soon are you getting rid of the turkeys?

Looks like time to "set the hook"

I have extra toms I need to get rid of soon. Trying to sell them for meat, but not much interest in summertime.
The breeders I can keep until I find a good home for them. I have 3 breeding groups of the Midget Whites, each tom has 4 or 5 hens. None of them are really skittish, but a few of the hens are very tame and sweet. They love to eat from my fingers and allow me to pet them anytime I want.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

How soon are you getting rid of the turkeys?

Looks like time to "set the hook" 

I have extra toms I need to get rid of soon. Trying to sell them for meat, but not much interest in summertime. 
The breeders I can keep until I find a good home for them. I have 3 breeding groups of the Midget Whites, each tom has 4 or 5 hens. None of them are really skittish, but a few of the hens are very tame and sweet. They love to eat from my fingers and allow me to pet them anytime I want.

So, before the winter? I have to move slow so my husband doesn't freak out. I need time for him to warm up to the idea.