Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[BCMaraniac]

Here's my pair. They don't carry themselves as upright as Shamos do, except when on 'alert'. I haven't seen very many oriental breeders at all around here. Mostly what I've seen at shows, chickenstocks, etc are Asil/Asil crosses. I will be sure to keep updates on any crosses I do. I also don't care much about color of meat crosses, but the spangling should produce some interesting babies.

They are really pretty. The spangling will be interesting, I think. Are there several varieties of the Shamos.....I think all of her pairs are different.....I think...

 

[dutchbunny83]

Wow I am way behind on this thread.

Thank you guys for the info on broilers (from about 10 pages ago).

We (by "we" I mean my husband!) processed our 5 turkeys. He skinned them while processing to avoid plucking. We got a grinder attachment for my kitchenaid mixer and we ground about 60lbs of turkey. I froze the necks, hearts, livers, etc in little bags for when I make stuffing (DH's fav). And I boiled the pieces we couldn't get all the meat off of to make a stock and froze all the meat we got out of it as a soup starter. All in all, I don't think we will be doing turkeys anymore! Though DH wants to get 1 Tom and raise it for next Christmas since we will have ALL our family here.

Also my New Year's hatchalong (I cheated & used quail) hatched early. About 40 were running around in the bator when I woke up this morning.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!!!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Here's my pair. They don't carry themselves as upright as Shamos do, except when on 'alert'. I haven't seen very many oriental breeders at all around here. Mostly what I've seen at shows, chickenstocks, etc are Asil/Asil crosses. I will be sure to keep updates on any crosses I do. I also don't care much about color of meat crosses, but the spangling should produce some interesting babies.

I went to see the lady with the Shamos today, and she has the Thailand chickens as well. She also has a Thai/Shamo cross that she is breeding back to a Shamo.....so she is going to get some hatching eggs for me from all three, so that I can decide which I want. She doesn't want to start incubating until April, so she is going to collect eggs for me in March. One of the Shamo roosters had to weigh well over 10 pounds. We are doing some bartering. I am digging up thornless blackberry briars in my patch that are growing in between my trellises.....which I was going to have to move or get rid of anyways, so it is a win for each of us. She doesn't like to sell eggs, because it would affect her ability to sell her chicks, but she knows my interest is in the meat cross aspect of it, not to breed to sell pure bred stock. She is basically letting me have eggs that she was going to just sell to her customers to eat, which is very nice of her. I am going to take her some processed chickens too.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I try to keep my head down on that thread-- too many happy to shoot me down. Or anyone else for that matter. Sheesh. THeir way or the highway.

I have put my order infor bucheyes from a decent breeder, if he accepts my order I guess. Don Schrider runs things a little differently than THAT thread and everytime anyone mentions roational breed, boy the guns start blasting. lol I just can't se the value of a pretty chicken-- even Mr Reese has a roasting chicken , his NH, that are pure bred but not SQ. I know which one I would pick in a heart beat.

As for number of eggs laid-- I can see a fewer number of eggs being judicious when feed is scarce. I have monitored my SS and see a dramatic change in production based on what they have been doing. If I want lots of eggs for a sussex, , keep them cooped with plenty of water and layer pellets. If they are off free ranging all day, they lay fewer eggs that are often too soft but on almost no feed. I had to ask them tocompromise-- so I started letting them out at noon time making them eat their layer pellets to get enough calcium . DIdn't seem to matter that I spread clacium everywhere for them. ANyways, my point is I'm ok with lower production if it come with a far cheaper price.

 

[RockerHen]

I went to see the lady with the Shamos today, and she has the Thailand chickens as well. She also has a Thai/Shamo cross that she is breeding back to a Shamo.....so she is going to get some hatching eggs for me from all three, so that I can decide which I want. She doesn't want to start incubating until April, so she is going to collect eggs for me in March. One of the Shamo roosters had to weigh well over 10 pounds. We are doing some bartering. I am digging up thornless blackberry briars in my patch that are growing in between my trellises.....which I was going to have to move or get rid of anyways, so it is a win for each of us. She doesn't like to sell eggs, because it would affect her ability to sell her chicks, but she knows my interest is in the meat cross aspect of it, not to breed to sell pure bred stock. She is basically letting me have eggs that she was going to just sell to her customers to eat, which is very nice of her. I am going to take her some processed chickens too.

What luck! I love the idea of bartering. Just a word of caution, though, if you happen to raise up the orientals to maturity-I don't know about Shamos, but I know my Thai male is highly rooster-aggressive, as that is the way they are bred to be. I can't let him get to other male birds--indeed, I let him freerange once without making sure my other roosters were secured, and he very nearly killed (not just beat up, he was actively trying to kill) my Marans rooster within just a few minutes. Thankfully, I intervened in time. He was fine around other males as a younger bird, but once his 'big boy' hormones kicked in, wow. Total intolerance for other males. Just a heads-up, in case you haven't raised gamefowl before. Other than that, they're great. Extremely intelligent birds and excellent at foraging. Now it's just a waiting game for the pullet to begin laying. The cockerel has been mating her, so she's not too terribly far off. I've heard they're great broodies as well, I'll have to see how they compare to the ultimate broody machines-my silkies. Eager to start my many projects.

 

[BCMaraniac]

What luck! I love the idea of bartering. Just a word of caution, though, if you happen to raise up the orientals to maturity-I don't know about Shamos, but I know my Thai male is highly rooster-aggressive, as that is the way they are bred to be. I can't let him get to other male birds--indeed, I let him freerange once without making sure my other roosters were secured, and he very nearly killed (not just beat up, he was actively trying to kill) my Marans rooster within just a few minutes. Thankfully, I intervened in time. He was fine around other males as a younger bird, but once his 'big boy' hormones kicked in, wow. Total intolerance for other males. Just a heads-up, in case you haven't raised gamefowl before. Other than that, they're great. Extremely intelligent birds and excellent at foraging. Now it's just a waiting game for the pullet to begin laying. The cockerel has been mating her, so she's not too terribly far off. I've heard they're great broodies as well, I'll have to see how they compare to the ultimate broody machines-my silkies. Eager to start my many projects.

Yeah, I know about the territorial aggressive nature......they need a girlfriend only.....lol. Greta(the Shamo lady) has them penned in pairs. She lets them out, one pair at a time. She has one that she petted and he protects her now. He stays right with her when she is out, but if someone comes to visit.....like me......she puts him away because he has been aggressive toward visitors. I think he needs a girlfriend.

 

[Chambertin]

Happy new year everyone
Hope you and your birds have a great party!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Hope everyone has a happy new years!!!!

We are up to 73 quail hatched, though I've lost 3 of the babies.

Myrtle Beach SC (2 hours from me) was running a bunch of last minute specials on hotels with rooms open so we are headed down there to ring in the new year They have lots of fireworks and stuff going on for the kids.

Hope everyone has a safe & fun night!!!!! Best Wishes for 2014!!!

 

[ronott1]

Hope everyone has a happy new years!!!!

We are up to 73 quail hatched, though I've lost 3 of the babies.

Myrtle Beach SC (2 hours from me) was running a bunch of last minute specials on hotels with rooms open so we are headed down there to ring in the new year They have lots of fireworks and stuff going on for the kids.

Hope everyone has a safe & fun night!!!!! Best Wishes for 2014!!!

Have a great time!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hope everyone has a happy new years!!!!

We are up to 73 quail hatched, though I've lost 3 of the babies.

Myrtle Beach SC (2 hours from me) was running a bunch of last minute specials on hotels with rooms open so we are headed down there to ring in the new year They have lots of fireworks and stuff going on for the kids.

Hope everyone has a safe & fun night!!!!! Best Wishes for 2014!!!

awesome!!!!Happy New year!