On a happy note, my family is enjoying watermelon and so is my flock. It hits the spot in this heat. My Chinese geese and white ducks have pink faces again. But they are heading to the pools to wash off, lol.
were doing the same here

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On a happy note, my family is enjoying watermelon and so is my flock. It hits the spot in this heat. My Chinese geese and white ducks have pink faces again. But they are heading to the pools to wash off, lol.
I never have, but plan on it in the future. Yard bird tastes so much better than store bird. I haven't decided if I want to skin the chicken or go ahead and pluck the feathers. Skinning would be easier, but the skin is the best part of a yard bird.Is there anyone here that can't cull their birds for any reason at all? I can't do it. I've culled 2 birds in years.. I just can't do it
I never have, but plan on it in the future. Yard bird tastes so much better than store bird. I haven't decided if I want to skin the chicken or go ahead and pluck the feathers. Skinning would be easier, but the skin is the best part of a yard bird.
If I was rich, I would buy one of those pluckers!![]()
Just had a thought... Harley is getting into chickens BIG TIME. He might get him a plucker to pluck all his chickens and maybe I could borrow it!![]()
were doing the same here, but my ducks and quail wont eat it. Only my chicken n rabbit will
rabbit and duck are two of the only animals i wouldn't eat they are just too cute i culled a spring hare for my great aunt once and couldn't bring my self to eat it.If you go on BackYardHerds.com they have threads about raising rabbits. I have taken a look at some of them and I have considered raising some for meat. They have some good information. I remember when my dad did it, and the meat was excellent. Rabbit stew and fried rabbit, yum!!
If you go on BackYardHerds.com they have threads about raising rabbits. I have taken a look at some of them and I have considered raising some for meat. They have some good information. I remember when my dad did it, and the meat was excellent. Rabbit stew and fried rabbit, yum!!
here is a easy cheap culling chamber that i made for a kitten a few years back (the kitten had been partly run over and i didn't have the money to have it euthanized) but it works on just about all small animals. It's basically a plastic shoe box, with a glass of vinegar and baking soda, with one of those bathroom organizers in it so the animal doesn't run around in the chamber it's quick the chick drops in a matter of seconds (make sure you keep it in the chamber until it stops breathing) then break it's neck and bury it. I got every thing i needed for this set up at the dollar store.idk why, but I just couldn't do that. I have a chick that needs culling, but I just can't do it.
You're right on with waiting until they are older to hatch from them. I think it's better that way if you have a choice.I may have to try Java hens later. I'd like to keep some broodiness in my hens but not too much. And if rocks and Javas are related I might like the Java breed. At least I know to talk to you if I want a couple pullets to try, lol. I am not going to hatch any chicks this year if I can help it, I want to wait till the ladies are more mature. So guess next fall is when I will attempt to let a hen go broody or incubate. What incubator would you recommend? I don't have one yet, but am looking for one that can also do duck and goose eggs, just in case none of my ducks or geese go broody. I am also feeding flock raiser to my flock, it's much easier than having 1 goose/duck feed and 1 chicken feed. Plan on switching to the Purina all flock layer feed once they get to laying age for the same reason.
If you want, we can exchange phone numbers through PM, that way we can exchange ideas that work on our respective breeding goals without blowing up the Texas thread, lol.
Sucks when the people-aggressive roosters have qualities that are so good you have to keep them for a bit.Wow, what a learning experience haveing chickens. i had so many preconceived notions about chickens. They are as different as people even within the same breed. Our 2 leghorn roos (1 white, 1 brown) are growing so fast. They were hatched on 3-18 and both are already interested in the girls chasing and trying to jump their bones. \
Issac, (the brown) is already trying to crow....he sounds so funny. He hasn't gotten the whole thing down yet only the long errrrrr at the end and he sounds like a badly rusted hinge. LOL. On the other hand...My 5 month old mutt roo Kanga goes thru the motions but nothing comes out but a squawk.
So far my main mature roo Abraham has allowed Kanga to mount and try, but yesterday he came running to a hens rescue and pinched Kanga"s toe enough to make him limp a bit....guess he wasn't doing something right. Thankfully there has been no real aggression. Only time will tell as the leghorn and SLW roos mature as to which stay. Even though Abraham is aggressive towards me he will stay for now mainly because of his large size and he is good at his job...very protective and produces fertile eggs. Gotta love chickens!!
the only time i have had that problem is when i'm culling for meat. When i helped my grams cull her meat birds a few years back i couldn't touch any of the birds to be culled barehanded i had to have my elbow high rubber gloves if i did touch a cull meat bird barehanded i was done for the day i would have to go inside and sit down. it took about a week to cull all of the birds because we had to hand pick. If fact when i get my own meat birds this year im going to break out my gloves again.Is there anyone here that can't cull their birds for any reason at all? I can't do it. I've culled 2 birds in years.. I just can't do it