Sparrow Ministries - 01-06-2012 Cleaning room done!

[MIKE555444]

Part of the new flock arrived on April 15th 2011. This is a new flock of about 45 ISA Brown pullets and a few white egg layers.

There will be 10 RIR pullets delivered on 06/08/2011 and I also have 10 Cuckoo Marans Pullets and 5 Cuckoo Marans Rosters that will be part of our breeding project for next year to be delivered 06/08/2011.

Here are a pic of the ISA Browns

 

[faykokoWV]

Mike,

There are several of us in the area that are always looking for a way to use our excess rooster. Do you think anyone on your egg delivery route would be interested in roosters for the stew pot?

If we ever get our tax return, I plan on ordering some more cartons for you! Glad your ministry is still going strong

 

[MIKE555444]

That is a great idea!!

My biggest problem with meat birds/roosters is I’m not sure most people are knowledgeable on how to clean and process these birds properly. That means I would probably processed them myself and give them the finished product. If you personally end up with some you would like to donate then let me know and I may see if I can work it out and get them in the hands of someone who needs them. However I don’t have anywhere to raise meat birds right now and I am not prepared to put out request for donation until my current projects are done(Major new building). Great idea!

We have changed cartons... and I know they are more expensive BUT the paper ones were ruined the first time food was spilled. The new cartons have proven to last so much longer and have in effect been cheaper and cleaner in the long run. If you want to help in that way but cannot invest that much money then let me know and maybe we could somehow go in “partners” to buy a case. You have been so kind in helping and we are bless to have your prayers as well.

Thanks you and God Bless!

 

[MIKE555444]

We have set a date to begin the “barn raising”. We will begin at daylight on Saturday, May 14th (rain or shine) and work until dark or until we run out of materials. I hope that means we could actually get this building under roof. I know I have several friends who are suppose to be there along with my brothers and there wives who will be cooking. Anyone living near us is welcome to join. I expect to have plenty of help and I expect this to be a fun day for everyone and also accomplish a good cause.

This building will a 16’ x 24’ and will be used to house 50-75 hens for the winter. The first flock of 54 chick are growing fast and will need a new home soon.

Prayers are appreciated...

God Bless!

Mike

 

[MIKE555444]

As we should have guessed the "barnraising" had its snags LOL. We had some trouble geting the foundation just right and after a slow start we got a big storm that took out the electricity. A neighbor was able to loan us a generator and we got back to work olny to get the floor and one wall up. We will try again on this Saturday. I'll try to get some pics before late evening next time blah

We had to make a very tough decision. I sold all of my adult hens and they will be picked up on Friday. First of all most of these hens were hatched in December (my mistake) and spent there entire pullet life under a heat lamps without the option of being outside the very small coop all winter long(also no fresh grass during the winter). Despite all my efforts ... Under these conditions I don’t feel like they got a fair healthy start. So we had 40-45 red sex-link and buff orpington hens that were laying between 15-20 eggs a day. Some of these are approaching around 2-3 years old and I know there egg laying will only get worse. I really needed the space for the new flock right now if I want them to be good healthy layers in the fall. As hard as we have been trying the new building is just not going to be ready in time to get this new flock of 54 out of the 4’ x 7’ coop they are in now and I don’t want this new flock to endure an unfavorable environment that might effect there health and laying later. So that’s why I sold out all of the older hens.

Once the new building is done I will be able to have a large 24’ x 16’ building for the main layers. Then as I raise a replacement flock each year or so I will have the original building as a spare. This 8’x 16’ building which has a 25’ x 30’ outside fenced area will give plenty of room for the new flock each year until they are ready to be merged to the main flock or till they replace the main flock.

I hope to find reasonably price farm fresh eggs that I can buy to supplement the loss of my eggs. At least until fall when the new flock will begin to earn there keep. Pray that the Lord will provide a source for me that is affordable.

God Has Blessed! Praise the Lord!

Mike

 

[PoppiesChicks]

I have just found this thread for the first time and I think this is an amazing idea! I just love that you are helping families and getting God's word out at the same time. What a great idea! Praise the Lord! And many prayers going your way!

 

[MIKE555444]

Progress on the new Sparrow Ministry Building... WE ARE FINALLY UNDERROOF!!!

This is gonna be a nice size building

I'm so thankful for Gods Blessing. We hope to be using this building by fall but there is still alot of work to do before winter. There are three windows to install which we already have. Still need to buy and bury 150 ft of heavy gauge electrical wire. Still need to plumb in water and buy some kind of an old sink for egg washing. We already have a refrigerator for the storage room. We will need to purchase about 20 more sheets of plywood for the interior walls and decide rather or not we will insulate it. We have to build one interior dividing wall and install two doors(of which I already have one). We also need to buy and install about 150' of 6' tall chain-link fence. Then of course there is painting and nests/roosts to build. Before fall we will need to run two 30' runs of gutter to keep the extra water away from the hens.

Think I'll have enough to do this summer?

Praise the Lord!

 

[steveandval]

Wow what an awesome thing to do!! and God will so bless you for it too. Wonderful idea! now that is what being a follower of Jesus is all about!

 

[Farm_Maven]

I just read all the posts in this thread from front to back! Mike, what you are doing is awesome. What a wonderful way to spread the Word! I know the credit goes to God, he is only using your hands(Chickens)

to accomplish this Ministry. And the cogs and sprockets are going to work in my head on how to distribute my surplus when my flock starts laying.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

I love this! I was planning to stock the food pantry at church with my extras but you know I am in a community that needs the good news! Thanks for this inspirational idea! Your cartons are really cool too!