She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[WalnutHill]

Just did a quick candle on top of all 32 eggs in my bator, and I have excellent development in at least 26!! Possible 6 clears, but too early to be sure. Bad news is 3 of those possible clears are out of the 4 silver sebrights. One is definitely developing. She actually wasn't sure on their fertility anyway, so I knew it was possible. All 6 japs looks great!

Very cool! Best of luck for a stellar hatch!

 

[WalnutHill]

I can't wait to have a garden that big. That's about the space my coops take up, and my garden is half the size.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Yea its a very strange experience!! I keep wondering if my Spot Check is broken

LOL

 

[FridayYet]

Sure, you say this after I've spent a week reading and I'm 5500 posts in...

That's ok, I've learned a lot reading and will keep reading.

I'm one of those who reads every post in a thread, too! Welcome to the insanity.

Temp stability??? What's that???? LOL

Very cool! Best of luck for a stellar hatch!

X 2. Can't wait to see how it goes!

 

[WalnutHill]

Next spring don't be surprised if I don't pick your brain about turkey breeds. My nephew thinks he wants to do turkeys. I said I know just the person to talk to...lol (Not that he listens to me anyway...lol)

Turkeys are fun. Once he determines how much space he has, whether he will be able to confine them in a covered outdoor run, and what his goal is (raise them just to eat them and not overwinter, or raise them year after year as a family) it will be easier to help guide him.

Fall is the cheapest time to buy hens, spring for toms. Unless you want to start with eggs or babies, it's pretty hard to find hens for sale in the spring. Those that survived the fall cut are generally kept for breeding.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Sure, you say this after I've spent a week reading and I'm 5500 posts in...

That's ok, I've learned a lot reading and will keep reading.

Quote:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...ou-or-your-family-eating-toxic-food-dyes.aspx

Here, GA and anyone else interested. Food coloring effects^

Ahhh, Dr. Mercola. Thanks.

Sure, you say this after I've spent a week reading and I'm 5500 posts in...

That's ok, I've learned a lot reading and will keep reading.

I think the kid's gonna be alright.

Quote:

Msg is the best! Asians use it all the time. And they have a longer life span than Americans....lol!!!!

Oh...the first one that hatched has pasty butt!!! Poor thing struggles to poop.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching them. I'm happy to be visited by turkeys... except when I'm trying to start some new grass, but that was well taken care of with fencing around it. I'm not the least bit worried (well, ok... maybe just a tiny bit, but not enough that it's gonna alter my life style) about AI and the wild bird population. I can't keep my flock in a bubble, and if AI starts killing off the wild bird populations, we'll have much more to worry about than that, IMO. Turkeys carry a less virulent strain of Mareks dz. So, I conside them to be a health benefit for my flock.

My flock is working up a homogenized lasagna garden in my green house. I put in the layers, and they churn them up. I have dry leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, and leaves. Will add some chicken litter as well. It's about 10" deep now. and when I close the building in for the winter, I'll top off the growing beds with a couple of inches of top soil. BTW, they work for scratch!!!

Interesting thoughts about the wild birds and Turkeys.
That's super cool about your lasagna! I've been reading a good bit about it and think it's the way to go for us. We just bought a huge tiller last year, but it's so BIG and sq ft, no till gardening just makes more sense to me until we have enough land to require a real tractor, like Mr. Bigflock up there--even then. . .

We are currently working on a plan to start a breeding program. I think we are going to choose the same layout Carroll Abbott(The Chick Innkeeper) uses for our breeding runs. Maximum security, covered runs, measuring about 5'x25' each with about 5 runs to start with and three sided coops at each end for laying and winter shelter.

Then we are going to run new fencing around about a half acre of grass and 1 1/2 acres of woods for our free-ranging layers, which will be Rhodebars, Australorps and mixes. I'm excited. I can't wait for fall! Nothing like working in that kid of weather!

Also thinking about building a few tractors to grow out meat birds. They go for 30 bucks a processed bird around here. Hoping we can grow out around 50 every few months and help with the income a bit.

Edit: Looks like it's time for bed. Night all!

 

[WalnutHill]

I just had an odd encounter with my turkey. Went outside and she was in the back corner of my yard, acting strangly. Head was white as ash, neck was all red. Tail feathers were kinda fanned out. As I walked closer to her, I heard a deer blow and looked beyond the wood line to see 2 deer take off. I'm wondering if there was a wild turkey out there also and she was in a sexual mode?? Does that sound normal for a turkey hen? She's 22 weeks old.

Chances are that she saw the deer and perceived them as a potential threat. Hens go into a defensive/aggressive mode when startled. Even if she is accustomed to seeing deer, perhaps they were behaving in ways that were unfamiliar to her. My hens do that quite often. They will even stalk each other, I guess they are just practicing.

 

[WVduckchick]

Very cool!  Best of luck for a stellar hatch!

Thanks!

 

[WVduckchick]

Chances are that she saw the deer and perceived them as a potential threat.  Hens go into a defensive/aggressive mode when startled.  Even if she is accustomed to seeing deer, perhaps they were behaving in ways that were unfamiliar to her.  My hens do that quite often.  They will even stalk each other, I guess they are just practicing.

Oh good! She acted fine after that, and color restored to normal, I just couldn't tell if it was sexual or what. The deer were out maybe 50 yards past my fence. I see them out there alot, but its usually early morning when the birds aren't out. But they would still be able to see them from the runs when I'm not home.
Thanks!

 

[RubyNala97]

Thanks! Other than it tipping alot further than I expected, its awesome! Has maintained 32-34% humidity the whole week without any water, so I'm pleased. Temp stability is the bomb!!

That's great to hear! My humidity has been the exact same and temp has stayed steady at 99.9. I can't believe I have lockdown tomorrow night!!!

Sure, you say this after I've spent a week reading and I'm 5500 posts in...

That's ok, I've learned a lot reading and will keep reading.

Lol. A brave one! Welcome to the thread!

GA: My brother and dad both have instant reactions to MSG, that's why we quit eating it and several other things. So your allergy to it isn't unusual, I believe. I think most people react to it, maybe not instant or obvious, but over time it will effect.
As for the food coloring, it's made in a lab and a factory. And people put it in children's food, candies, canned goods, cereals, etc. that can't seriously be good for anyone. I'll try to find a link for you later about it
Sugar free drinks and candy, they're sweetened with aspartame which is a brain cancer causer.

Frmboyinthecity, you're a brave soul to read all those posts. Hope you enjoyed it

My grandmother has reactions to msg too. Gets very sick from it and swells up pretty bad. She checks everything to make sure it's not in there. A lot of Chinese restaurants have stopped using it and put a big sign up that says "no msg" around here.