The Middle Tennessee Thread

[DMRippy]

We finally got started on the new 40x8 Divided coop. Here is today's work.

Unfortunately we also had a very smashed thumb out of the job.

Looks like you are using the fence for one side and building out the other 2 and the front is going to be the run???? Looks good!

 

[mshuntjump]

That is kinda what straight run is.... you could get any comb with the chicks.... 2 males, 2 females, 1 of each..... they are straight run you get what you get.   The false info would be to GUESS what the gender is and sell them as a pair.  Straight run is how you should be selling with not promise of what they are one way or another.

Well, in that case, all chickens are straight run.

edited by staff

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Yes most chickens are. That is how they are sold from hatcheries. The only chickens I sell sexed are the autosexing or sexlinked ones, all others are sold straight run.

 

[mshuntjump]

Yes most chickens are.  That is how they are sold from hatcheries.  The only chickens I sell sexed are the autosexing or sexlinked ones, all others are sold straight run.   

For me, after raising hundreds of birds, I can tell the sex of them by the 2nd week of age.

edited by staff

 

[Brown Chicka Brown Cow]

Does anyone know if free ranging guineas will tear up/eat your garden? I'm considering getting some and need to know. Thanks!

 

[DMRippy]

Does anyone know if free ranging guineas will tear up/eat your garden? I'm considering getting some and need to know. Thanks!

I would be interested in that info too! This will be the first year with guinea and a garden. My neighbor has a garden and guinea and chickens. I don't thinks she has much problem with them. She has an electric fence that might keep them out some. I will ask her....

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I have 4-500 chickens and hatch about 2500 a year. No you can't sex every breed of chicken at 2 weeks. I can make guesses but I don't sell my guesses. They are sold as straight run till I KNOW they are pullets and roos. Even then they are just educated guesses and people don't like to BUY PULLETS only to end up with roos. Selling them as straight run insures I don't have to replace a roo I missed. I sell only the SEX LINKS and AUTOSEXING breeds as pullets at hatch. I cull out the roos as they show their gender, some are gone at one week, some are gone at 2 some go at 3 or 4. Some don't go till they show saddle feathers, just depends on the breed. Eng Orps are hard to sex they are usually several months old before I can sex them. Wyandottes can be tricky too. New Hampshires are hard..... WHEN IN DOUBT sell them as straight run. Everyone will be happier that way.


edited by staff

 

[DMRippy]

I found the GUINEA HONEY HOLE! 17 eggs today

Now if they will just keep using that spot. It is right near the bay doors of the shop. Hubby has picked up a couple of eggs there a couple of times but they had a hole dug out and he didn't see them from the angle he was looking LOL

This means I have LOTS OF GIRLS THIS YEAR

 

[RedRidge]

I have a trio of Rhodebars for sale who were hatched in Jan. Entire hatch was very easily autosexed. I will also have one more hatch in 2 weeks (since I loaned my bator to a school and they needed some fertile eggs.) These will be my last Rhodebar for the year. Will post pics of anyone is interested.

 

[Brown Chicka Brown Cow]

Thank you! I'm sooo hoping they are beneficial by just eating the garden pest instead of destructive and eating my garden. We live by a creek and a pond so we have many snakes and of course the ticks. I don't really want to put up an electric fence though, cause I want to have my lil one in the garden with me and not have to worry about him grabbing it.