Show off your Delawares! *PIC HEAVY*

[Inkheart]

Quote:
If you were closer i could perhaps help you out on the Cochins - friend has BEAUTIFUL large fowl ones - from breeders but he doesnt show -sadly he had to omany roosters and sold one at an auction - impressive bird - went for one dollar! GRRRR

 

[HorizonSon]

ONE DOLLAR?!

I'm aiming for LF Golden Laced Cochins. I'm going to order 20 hens and 5 cockerals; same order ratio as my Delaware order. But I only intend on keeping 8ish hens and two cockerals; the rest will be gifted to three local families. My many flock will be Delawares, for eggs 'n' meat. My intent is to have the Cochins incubate, brood and raise small clutches throughout the year... The idea is to get to a point where I can process one chicken (on average) per week, year round. This keeps the birds fresh and eliminates concerns regarding freezer space

I figure I won't be onto full swing of things until Spring of 2012. That's assuming all goes perfectly

 

[HorizonSon]

Here's a pic from today: five week mark! Should give you a good idea for their size: three 2x6s stacked up = 4.5+ inches.

 

[Serrin]

They're looking wonderful David! Definitely some nice round bodies in that bunch. You'll be sure to have at least a few good birds to work with this summer! And I see more than one with that whole Dellie mind control look in their eyes!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I can keep most of my chickens

I think I have figured out a way to do it!!!!! I will still need to get rid of a few, but will keep most of them by growing some feed in a cold frame and sprouting some things for them to get more out of each bag of feed. I have been reading over on SS about sprouting grains, and I have plenty of space, so I may as well give it a try, right? Building a cold frame TOMORROW and see how far it will go to reduce feed costs over the next month, then will go from there

Anyway, just thought I'd share.....

Wish me blessings for a decent harvest

 

[kathyinmo]

Cindi, that is WONDERFUL news!

I am so so happy to hear that! Ohhhh, I do hope it works ..... sure it will! Heck yes, it will! It will work, it has to!

 

[HorizonSon]

Cindi; that's most excellent... I, myself, am pursuing a complete self-sufficient flock via growing and cultivation

Look into growing duckweed in a small man-made pond of source. Do some reading on it.

Best wishes!

 

[Serrin]

Oooh Cindi!!! Of course I'll keep you and your flock/family in my thoughts and prayers! All of the good Karma and wishes I can muster are winging their way to you immediately!

I sure hope this will work for you and be the answer you need to keep as many of your chickens as possible.

Have you thought about approaching the produce manager of your favorite grocery store for their expired produce? Lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, things of that nature? They may be able to hold on to all of that stuff for you to pick up two or three times a week. It's worth a try!

Oh! Just had a thought! How far away is the nearest commercial bakery to you Cindi? We have a Franz Bakery right down in the Spokane Valley. We go there every few months and get an entire shopping cart full of baked goods, mostly bread, hamburger and hot-dog buns, Kaiser rolls and the sort, all for about $5 I think was the price, the last time we picked any up. The chickens absolutely love it! They usually gobble it up like it's going out of style!

You could even check at your local restaurants and such to see if they have a barrel for their food scraps from the prep kitchen. Ya never know till you check!

Good luck on everything you try!

 

[Inkheart]

Yes and i have a friend who gets for his goats - all the greens and beggies and so forth that are trimmings - almost expired etc. Just ask the produce dept at your store and see if they do things like that as well ! In my thoughts !

 

[X2Farm]

Oh Cindi YAY!!! Congrats Girlie! I'm so happy for you!!! Good luck with the sprouting! I'll be interested to see how that goes, so please keep us posted!!!