Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[BirdbyGavin1103]

22 birds went to freezer camp today,,,at 9 weeks 3 days they weighed out between 8 and 8.75 pounds ...not bad for a days work ...let you know how the blood shed went after I stop bleeding......WWHHooops,,,lost my common sense for a few second and lost some skin. (and yes could have made a sailor blush)

Wow. I think I'll be getting a plucker. It took me 4 hours to do my 4 the other week, and I plan on getting a few more before it gets too much later in the year.

doesn't everyone have numerous fridges...main kitchen fridge,,,overflow basement fridge, and of course the old egg customer fridge out in the barn,,(hope no one comes looking for eggs in the next couple days)

Just need to get the egg fridge. Ya think a mini/bar size one would be an ok size if I don't have too many people asking for eggs?

hair ties will also be coming along next week,,hopefully she will not bring the one's that the dog was modeling.

LOL, I did that to my dogs all the time when I was little.

Quote: I don't know what other people's ratio is but I am trying to make sure I have at least 9 (max 12) girls for each roo. Some of my extra boys will be going to freezer camp as soon as they are big enough.

Chicken lips!

LMAO. When I was little I'd always ask for chick lips at our butcher.

I'm having a nice little stroll down memory lane today LOL

 

[wingstone]

Quote: cornishX, they got huge, we did feed fermented from day one and they did not have a lot of fat on them......as for what we do with them,,,,we eat a lot of chicken and also have customers that buy 10 to 15 at a time...have another 75 freedom ranger meaties right now...

Quote: I don't know what other people's ratio is but I am trying to make sure I have at least 9 (max 12) girls for each roo. Some of my extra boys will be going to freezer camp as soon as they are big enough.

Chicken lips!

LMAO. When I was little I'd always ask for chick lips at our butcher.

I'm having a nice little stroll down memory lane today LOL
we started with a dorm size fridge under the roof of the front porch,,,it worked great for awhile, if you keep it stocked you end up with a loyal customer base, tat grows by word of mouth...

the plucker and fryer made so much difference we are discussing ways that we could safely rent the equipment out to help others,,,we are concerned if this is a hazard tough.

 

[fisherlady]

cornishX, they got huge, we did feed fermented from day one and they did not have a lot of fat on them......as for what we do with them,,,,we eat a lot of chicken and also have customers that buy 10 to 15 at a time...have another 75 freedom ranger meaties right now...
we started with a dorm size fridge under the roof of the front porch,,,it worked great for awhile, if you keep it stocked you end up with a loyal customer base, tat grows by word of mouth...

the plucker and fryer made so much difference we are discussing ways that we could safely rent the equipment out to help others,,,we are concerned if this is a hazard tough.

We know what you mean about renting it out.... we got the plucker and even a propane heated dunking tank for scalding that can do up to 4 birds at a time. We don't need something that big for most of our processing so far. But had such good sucess with the meat bird project this year that we are probably going to double or triple the birds next year. I'm not sure what type of legal mumbo jumbo/hoops you would have to jump through for renting it out though. And how to recoup losses if/when someone doesn't follow directions with it and causes damage.

SilkieSensation... you need to send me a note about when you need to do your processing. You are only a couple hours away from me and I could bring some of my stuff down for the day and give you a hand getting your birds done. I work weird shifts and usually have a day or two off through the week so if you want to do them on a weekday we can work something out pretty easy.
Sharron... I don't think you are very far either... same offer!

 

[wingstone]

Quote: this is one of the things we were thinking,,,,,would it change the legal aspect of renting equipment if one of us goes with it......hubby is very good at fixing things and now that he has the plucker in front of him, he is sure he could just build another one,,,,so our concern turns to would people take the time to disinfect properly.......we may give it a try and just rent out to people we know....

 

[missydcpc]

cornishX, they got huge, we did feed fermented from day one and they did not have a lot of fat on them......as for what we do with them,,,,we eat a lot of chicken and also have customers that buy 10 to 15 at a time...have another 75 freedom ranger meaties right now...
we started with a dorm size fridge under the roof of the front porch,,,it worked great for awhile,  if you keep it stocked you end up with a loyal customer base, tat grows by word of mouth...

the plucker and fryer made so much difference we are discussing ways that we could safely rent the equipment out to help others,,,we are concerned if this is a hazard tough. 

I think you should just do people's at your place. I'll bring my chickens, you show me/watch me and then the equipment never has to move and you are sure that it's used the way it's supposed to. I know that there are people who take them and drop them off...but you're right, I have no idea as to the legal mumbo jumbo. PS, I'd be willing to pay for this opportunity! Have entirely too many roos, and have purposely not gotten meat chickens yet, as I didn't want to take on butchering them without the proper equipment.

 

[wingstone]

This is how we would go if the property was 100% ours, we would know everything was done the way we wanted and washed up each time....unfortunately my mother in law has gotten paranoid in age and is not comfortable with folks walking around,,,,I have stood out in the rain for 15 minutes trying to get her to unlock the door, and she just does not know who you are even though she see's you daily.

 

[stake]

Today's follies...jail break.....This morning one of my neighbors kids rings my door bell frantically to tell me that my chooks have gotten out....(yes, there is a small gap at the gate that I was plugging with a piece of firewood)....so I find a couple under my neighbor's bushes...and a few more a couple of doors away....so with some crumble in hand I have to do the pied piper. No small feet getting chickens to chase after you for 50+yards...c'est la vie...

 

[nbenevento]

Hey everybody, would anyone want some 9 week old French Black Copper Marans cockerels? I have them on Craigslist for $5 each because I don't want them to be snake food or something but if someone from this site wants them, you can have them for free. I just have too many and I need to get rid of 4 of them. I live about 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh if you want them. Please PM me if you do. Thanks.

 

[wingstone]

Today's follies...jail break.....This morning one of my neighbors kids rings my door bell frantically to tell me that my chooks have gotten out....(yes, there is a small gap at the gate that I was plugging with a piece of firewood)....so I find a couple under my neighbor's bushes...and a few more a couple of doors away....so with some crumble in hand I have to do the pied piper. No small feet getting chickens to chase after you for 50+yards...c'est la vie...

please take video of this for a tutorial..

 

[Reyvaughn]

I am thinking about revamping my flock again.

I took all my birds to Maryland and came back with way more than I wanted to. Of course, my main sellers are my Ameraucanas and all of the ones I have are under 3 months and all mine until they grow out. I thought for sure the chocolates would be a huge hit! No. A lady bought 2 chicks just to get her best hen off the nest. Now, people did want bantam Cochins, but not boys.

I think I want to get Marans again. I need another LF breed. I'll keep my LF choc/mauve Orps going because I really want a flock of Mauve for my own entertainment. Of course, the Ams will stay. I am back to considering selling off the Mille Fleur Cochin project again. I like them, though... I want to continue with the chocolate bantam Cochin project because I am sure they will sell when I get them looking good. And, again, my own entertainment.

What do you guys think I should do for my new LF breed?

Oh, and I have a pair of Tolbunt Polish I am pondering selling. If you are interested, pm me.