Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[wingstone]

Quote: 8 weeks on good friday,, looking to process half then and half on the next weekend
most of these are sold, but I have about 5 that are not tagged already,,,,,,these were never out on pasture or grass, but have been fed ferment for most of the time,,,,,,,,

may be a stupid question that I just have to experiment with but, I had an old amish guy tell me to give the meaties dairy in the last 2 weeks it will add to the meat flavoring,,,,,,has any one ever heard this.........

 

[chiques chicks]

Have you ever wanted a certain breed, than when you finally have them, not really like them.....

I am not sure about these east indie ducks, they have got to be the most skittish ducks I have ever had,,,and stupid as far as ducks go,,,,beautitiful though,   just not sure and hubby really does not like them, he wants me to sell the whole flock of them

Yep, Started with SLW. Lasted less than a year.

 

[barbiegirl]

Boswell, in Somerset area (for now!)

Hi from the Poconos

 

[chiques chicks]

My hubby is talking about meat rabbits also but I want to try it first without having to actually process the animal. I just want to buy some rabbit meat. I can't find any here in the hinterboonies.

find a hunter. Wild rabbit isn't quite the same, but close. If you have a farmers market in the area, like Lancaster has central market, some of the butchers sell rabbit. It can also be purchased online, but is pricey. It's actually expensive almost everywhere.
If you decide to raise them, I started a couple months ago. Mine are all young, most not quite to breeding age, but by summer, most will be breeding, I hope. 6 months is considered breeding age, 31 day gestation, then 12 weeks to slaughter

 

[msladyhawke]

Oh my goodness, I am 507 posts behind. Better go get some coffee...

 

[msladyhawke]

LB:

I bought a kit online....it was cheap stuff....I now use it as a grow out pen.....Don't know kits you were looking at, but, understand the thickness of the walls 9mm is really thin stuff...real sturdy stuff will increase the shipping costs alot...my two cents...

I agree with stake. Perfect as a grow out pen or as a pen to use for a pair or trio if you want eggs from a certain combo of birds. As for a permanent pen, way too cheaply built.

 

[chiques chicks]

I agree with stake. Perfect as a grow out pen or as a pen to use for a pair or trio if you want eggs from a certain combo of birds. As for a permanent pen, way too cheaply built.  

Those TSC coops just look flimsy. Little more than cheap thin lumber and low quality wire.

Purina has a free plan online for a 4x4 coop that is far sturdier. As for a run, some 2x4 and 2x3 wrote should do the trick. Use poultry staples, not a staple gun. I've actually used 1x3 furring strips for a run where I want worried about large predators.

Built a 4x8 coop as a grow out pen a few years ago from furring strips and ⅜ ply. No paint, still sturdy. It's on 2x4 legs and I've moved it at least 3 times. Still in use. Probably cost under $200.

 

[pagumby]

most of these are sold, but I have about 5 that are not tagged already,,,,,,these were never out on pasture or grass, but have been fed ferment for most of the time,,,,,,,,

may be a stupid  question that I just have to experiment with but, I had an old amish guy tell me to give the meaties dairy in the last 2 weeks it will add to the meat flavoring,,,,,,has any one ever heard this......... 

I did read somewhere about giving dairy the last few weeks. Of course now I have no idea where I read it since I have no plan of doing meaties.

 

[fisherlady]

Quote: 8 weeks on good friday,, looking to process half then and half on the next weekend
most of these are sold, but I have about 5 that are not tagged already,,,,,,these were never out on pasture or grass, but have been fed ferment for most of the time,,,,,,,,

may be a stupid question that I just have to experiment with but, I had an old amish guy tell me to give the meaties dairy in the last 2 weeks it will add to the meat flavoring,,,,,,has any one ever heard this.........

I believe they use a dairy type diet to finish off brese in Europe... I know they use it for some cow and other large stock finishing. I have never tried it myself, so can't speak to how well it works, but if you have 5 'left overs' you may be able to separate 3 of them and move them to a milk based feed the last week or two and then you can compare them to standard feed. (with the other 2 spares left with the main group to be your comparison birds)

 

[wingstone]

signs of spring are all over the place on this rainy, dreary day..
got eggs from all the ducks that are old enough,,,first in a long time, they have been sporadic..
got 6 quail eggs today, they ave also been just an egg here and there/
seen 4 deer run across the field, first I seen since fall.

moved a tarp that has been on the ground all winter ??? something viney is growing under it.

this was all within a 1 hour time frame,,sounds like spring to me.