Texas

[topdycke]

Welcome from Magnolia, TX!

 

[topdycke]

I went to the Bluebonnet show a couple of years ago. I enjoyed it a lot. There is a large entry and representatives for almost every breed of chicken. Also ducks and pigeon. You can also get contact info for folks who breed.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Man, I'd love to get some fresh ginger planted! I've never even heard of anyone growing it here in Texas. Very cool....  I've got the serious garden bug thanks to double hernia surgery. As a result, I didn't get a fall garden in and wouldn't be able to tend to it anyhow up until now. Wonder if it's too late to get some seedlings in the ground? Just Monday, I got back to work after a six week recovery period. I'm still sore but it sure is nice getting up and about. Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and are doing well. I didn't get online much during my recovery so I thought I'd pop in! (I usually BYC on the clock. lol)

Glad to hear you are doing well.

 

[Coopmom56]

Howdy Fellow Texans.....I am from the Panhandle. Amarillo. Are there any others from here?

Howdy! I live between Amarillo and Canyon. Welcome!

 

[RustedOak]

Apologies to the pet chicken folks who are horrified by these things, but I have to share. My wife and I purchased 4 young EEs from a local guy and were assured they were all pullets, and he seemed to be right as they were all developing the same. No real difference in appearance until... one morning while tending the garden I heard the most pitiful sound come from the coop. Should have named her Caitlyn because she turned out to be a cockerel. haha We ended up with a beautiful rusty colored boy. Unfortunately, we are suburban so roos are a no no. He crowed day and night, sometimes every 15-20 minutes. My neighbors are okay and downright giddy about my chicken keeping but I didn't want to push my luck and have the city on my doorstep so I decided Bruce had to go. It was for the best because he was very aggressive and absolutely terrorized the flock. In our area, roosters aren't in demand except for eating so I didn't want to sell him. I figured if he was going to be anyone's dinner, it would be ours. So, I thanked Bruce for his life, gave him a quick, painless death, and he was cooked in the rotisserie for Sunday dinner. I've only ever had store bought chicken except for when I was a small child and didn't really remember the difference... It was the richest, most flavorful chicken I think I'd ever eaten. He was not a big bird by any means, but he provided a meal for a family of four and the carcass was slow simmered to make a beautiful stock that will become chicken noodle soup tonight. Gives you a real appreciation for where your food comes from, and a good feeling to know that you gave the animal a happy, healthy life before that "one bad day."

 

[needlessjunk]

Apologies to the pet chicken folks who are horrified by these things, but I have to share. My wife and I purchased 4 young EEs from a local guy and were assured they were all pullets, and he seemed to be right as they were all developing the same. No real difference in appearance until... one morning while tending the garden I heard the most pitiful sound come from the coop. Should have named her Caitlyn because she turned out to be a cockerel. haha We ended up with a beautiful rusty colored boy. Unfortunately, we are suburban so roos are a no no. He crowed day and night, sometimes every 15-20 minutes. My neighbors are okay and downright giddy about my chicken keeping but I didn't want to push my luck and have the city on my doorstep so I decided Bruce had to go. It was for the best because he was very aggressive and absolutely terrorized the flock. In our area, roosters aren't in demand except for eating so I didn't want to sell him. I figured if he was going to be anyone's dinner, it would be ours. So, I thanked Bruce for his life, gave him a quick, painless death, and he was cooked in the rotisserie for Sunday dinner. I've only ever had store bought chicken except for when I was a small child and didn't really remember the difference... It was the richest, most flavorful chicken I think I'd ever eaten. He was not a big bird by any means, but he provided a meal for a family of four and the carcass was slow simmered to make a beautiful stock that will become chicken noodle soup tonight. Gives you a real appreciation for where your food comes from, and a good feeling to know that you gave the animal a happy, healthy life before that "one bad day."    

sounds like he was put to good use and I'm glad your family got to see the full circle of life. I firmly believe that kids need to know where their food comes from and that in order to eat meat something has to die. It isn't bad just a fact that if you want that chicken then one has to be killed. If you want that burger then a cow has to be slaughtered. Have you ever processed animals before? I'm thinking about raising a few for meat next year and I'm in the suburbs so it has to all be low key.

 

[RustedOak]

sounds like he was put to good use and I'm glad your family got to see the full circle of life. I firmly believe that kids need to know where their food comes from and that in order to eat meat something has to die. It isn't bad just a fact that if you want that chicken then one has to be killed. If you want that burger then a cow has to be slaughtered. Have you ever processed animals before? I'm thinking about raising a few for meat next year and I'm in the suburbs so it has to all be low key.

I have. I've been raising meat rabbits for about a year now. Recently, I started raising muscovy ducks for meat as well, although I haven't processed any of those yet. I have processed many rabbits and wild game but the roo was my 1st bird

 

[StelleKitten]

Okay, multi didn't work for me. How the heck did I screw that up? Anyways, The show sounded like it would be awesome. I didn't get to go. I swear 9 months ago everyone in my family was busy several years running. Each week we are holding multiparties because there are just so many each week that it would be (OMG I can't spell today!!!) ridiculous to give everyone their own separate parties.

I've also got a hatch I am nervously anticipating! My first ever in an incubator! So far out of 2 dozen set I have 18 left. The other six just weren't fertile (broke them open to check). The rest I can see little chicks dancing when I candle. I'm sticking, begrudgingly, to candling at 3,7,14, and 18 days. I did check one the other day but that was because I was worried my temperature spike cooked my chicks. It didn't, they were alive and well. BTW, 1 degree doesn't count as a temp spike so I found out later. I've been stressing over 10ths of a degree and succeeding at keeping it between 99.3 and 99.9.

 

[madeintexas806]

Stellekitten please keep us posted on your hatch.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

27 baby chicks in, trying to add to my BCM and Americauna hens to get a solid group of fertile eggs by Summer. Some of my Maran hens have started to lay. But, with 7 hens, it doesn't get very far. So, another 20 of them. They will have plenty of room with their new flockmates once they are large enough to live outside. The red barn coop is sparce after a redundant rooster cull. The Americaunas will be in their own coop, and the Chocolate/Mottled Orpingtons are coming along nicely. One POL hen, and 7 more maturing girls with her with two Roos to keep them busy. The good thing, is despite the winter slow down, every egg I have pulled from any coop are all fertile. So, a few table eggs during the winter drop off.

I am glad this group of chicks figured out the brooder nipples so quickly. They came thirsty. I am also happy they have good blood lines. Hopefully, there aren't too many brooder box deaths. It would be nice if all of them made it.