Texas

[janiedoe]

Yep, I had sticker shock at the grocery store the last several months. Things are increasing.

Butter, eggs, cheese, chicken. No, I don't buy eggs but watch the price.

There is still a flyer up at the feed store for $5 roosters. I might have to get those. And no one has called for my laying hen offer. If an organic, grass fed, free ranged broiler is $30, why do people sell theirs for $5? I will clean one for $25.

The 8 chicks that hatched last month, I'm comfortable announcing there are 5 cockerels out of 8 hatched. The combs are reddening after 3 weeks. The chest bumping is so adorable.

Sounds like you have my luck. I ended up with 2 pullets/4 cockerels from my 6 easter chicks. I have 4 with a broody right now, so I hope the ratio evens out. I also have around 12 to 14 in an incubator, on day 3. I hope a broody steps up to help me out.

 

[RUNuts]

Sounds like you have my luck. I ended up with 2 pullets/4 cockerels from my 6 easter chicks. I have 4 with a broody right now, so I hope the ratio evens out. I also have around 12 to 14 in an incubator, on day 3. I hope a broody steps up to help me out.

I was hoping for pullets last year and got cockerels. This year I decided to hatch instead of ordering broiler chicks. Yep, pullets galore. This last hatch finally pulled in the meat bird favor.

The mixed heritage eggs that I'm hatching has more leghorn body style than broiler. But the hens he got last time are broilers, so a couple of the chickens are large breasted. Quite a mix.

 

[janiedoe]

I was hoping for pullets last year and got cockerels. This year I decided to hatch instead of ordering broiler chicks. Yep, pullets galore. This last hatch finally pulled in the meat bird favor.

The mixed heritage eggs that I'm hatching has more leghorn body style than broiler. But the hens he got last time are broilers, so a couple of the chickens are large breasted. Quite a mix.

I'm just hatching bantams this year, with the exception of one standard that I was curious to see.
This is my first year with adult bantams, so I'm finding the broodies to be adorable with their chicks.
I had never wanted bantams but I had a failure to thrive hen, that was bantam sized, she needed company. She died this winter, but I had already bought/rescued a bin of pastybutt bantam chicks. I lost a couple, but ended up with 5 hens (2 rehomed with roosters) and 5 roosters. I kept 3 hens and 2 roosters and my daughter bought me 3 more hens. Thus more broodies and more eggs to hatch.

 

[RUNuts]

I'm just hatching bantams this year, with the exception of one standard that I was curious to see.
This is my first year with adult bantams, so I'm finding the broodies to be adorable with their chicks.
I had never wanted bantams but I had a failure to thrive hen, that was bantam sized, she needed company. She died this winter, but I had already bought/rescued a bin of pastybutt bantam chicks. I lost a couple, but ended up with 5 hens (2 rehomed with roosters) and 5 roosters. I kept 3 hens and 2 roosters and my daughter bought me 3 more hens. Thus more broodies and more eggs to hatch.

If you need help, we are here for you.



One hen went broody 5 times in a year. She only did once last year, but 2 of her children stepped up. It's a slippery slope. I've only started the incubator once this year.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

If you need help, we are here for you.



One hen went broody 5 times in a year. She only did once last year, but 2 of her children stepped up. It's a slippery slope. I've only started the incubator once this year.

Oh geez, I'm on my 3rd round with the incubator this year

 

[janiedoe]

If you need help, we are here for you.



One hen went broody 5 times in a year. She only did once last year, but 2 of her children stepped up. It's a slippery slope. I've only started the incubator once this year.

I've had as many as six at a time from my old crew, plus a chick thief- she wouldn't set, but she always managed to "babysit" (run off with) another hen's hatch. I got in the habit of hatching some indoors in case anyone came up short. I had two girls that hatched and raised one clutch, and never went broody again. Some, like my old langshan, and one cuckoo marans, want to raise chicks every 3 months, no matter what the weather. I think these little bantam girls will be the same. One has just weened her 5 to 6 week Olds and is already "pancaking" & growling when I take eggs from the nest.

 

[janiedoe]

If you need help, we are here for you.



One hen went broody 5 times in a year. She only did once last year, but 2 of her children stepped up. It's a slippery slope. I've only started the incubator once this year.

Oh by the way, since you are being helpful, I'll drop the cockerels off at your place.

 

[RUNuts]

Oh by the way, since you are being helpful, I'll drop the cockerels off at your place.

The neighbors know it is only a 1 month problem. Then silence.

Bantams are bigger than quail? Not that it matters.

 

[Maddcatter]

I make a cake that some friends named better than s@x cake, devils food cake, after it's cooked (still hot) take a butter knife and make small holes all around the cake, fill them with sweetened condensed milk and caramel. Let the cake soak it up and cool. Refrigerate, then top with cool whip and a crushed butterfinger

I don't know how I missed this post, but I'm now saving it so I can have a sugar coma later!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I don't know how I missed this post, but I'm now saving it so I can have a sugar coma later!

It is sooooo good, but yes, super sweet! Also easy on the wallet