Story of our raising and hatching own to process of mixed flock

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I personally don't eat meat, but I do know our own birds are tougher than the store bought ones. Most are cooked in the slow cooker here.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Got the run cleaned out and no more separation pens. Big Guy(we finally gave him a name other than 'the rooster' so we knew which one)

He's doing really well with the girls. Have only witnessed two chases, and I've watched the cameras religiously to monitor. He even sings with them in the nest, calls for treats or goodies, alerts to dangers(they are fully enclosed top and sides so I'm not sure what he sees haha <I'm being funny, we live in a semi wooded area with neighbors dogs and wildlife> )

Next spring we'll hatch more from this group. Even with slower layers and 2yo hens, I'm still drowning in eggs lol

Slow roasting a bird now but it's the one I picked up from my dad and I didn't realize he was older so yeah

I was hoping to find a hen to add /or eggs of a fast growing meat to add and mix but haven't found anything close to us yet we'll figure it out

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Technically we cooked one up, but he was the one from my dad, 1.5yo. I think Rhode Island Red ? Not sure. He was shorter than our guys but rounder.

Brined him for a day before slow cooked him until he's meat fell off. Have done tacos and BBQ so far, have extra to do dumplings too. He tasted pretty good, like chicken.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Our new ladies are laying! Cute tiny colored eggs! Except the Light/Buff Brahma, but she has a nice bloom to hers.

Not sure who is laying which, but love the colors!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Congratulations, those first eggs are always so exciting to find.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Did it not post the picture?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Those are pretty.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

For my own reference in case I delete photos lol

Two of our new eggers came from the same hen yet we have 4 different egg colors one day I'm gonna catch them in the nest and know which one lays which lol

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Yes. I set 18 eggs. Yes, my incubator holds 30. Not only did it take a while to collect these, have pullets and molting girls, I don't have enough room for 30 at the moment for an overwinter raise. I will come spring when I butcher whatever hatch from this group.

I have time to get myself a nice butcher knife set, and maybe some kind of cutters for heads/throats. I have the rest planned out for self butchering--skinning and a bucket.

This time I used my yarn scale to play with weighing them. And my son made me some dividers (found it through a post here, i will get it linked soon).

Maticoopx 30. Govee recalibrated with Boveda 75% cigar calibrator.

I still have my 12 Kebonnix (and eventually plan to use both but hoping to find fast growing meat birds first, not having much luck)

Yay! (Shh... lol) all the Bs, are Buff Bahamas with our Buff Brahma roo will be fulls so may even sell a few.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Doing more reading, or re-reading of maticoopx threads (i swear ive read them all several times) im going to test position of eggs. Since these are my backyard variety Im not out anything but time really.

3 angled with divider
3 straight up

Temp 99.5
Humidity 50% vents open (hmmm) im also not used to such an open space having used my kebonnix several times prior