The Middle Tennessee Thread

[A6chickenhome]

Merry Christmas BYCers. I got a broody for Christmas and I didn't ask Santa for that. I thought the new puppy was quite enough.

Ha ha! Santa must have read you're mind

 

[The Colonel]

I think they were born late March and others in the same batch are laying. No big deal, just curious.

Is it a mixed flock? Some breeds take longer to fully mature, if they don't catch it right before winter hits, then you're looking at next year layers usually.

 

[DMRippy]

My birds are starting to pick back up. I was getting about 4 eggs a day and now I am getting 12+ a day out of my breeding pens. Days are getting longer and for the most part my birds are usually back in full swing of laying about the first of the year unless we have lots of gloomy muggy days. I usually have eggs running out my ears when everyone needs eggs for the easter hatch. Pullets pull out of molt quicker then the hens. Hens will take a little longer.... they have laid more eggs since the last molt than a pullet in her first molt.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I've gotten 0 eggs from my Silkies the last few days, which is weird, because they're usually stellar winter layers. They had a stretch a month or so ago where they were giving me about 5-6 eggs a day, then they dropped of to 1-3 and now nothing. I managed to snag 5 eggs to put in my incubator (with some shipped EE eggs I got from another BYC member) before they quit.

DMRippy, I'm hoping some of the eggs I popped in are fertilized by that splash cockerel I got from you! He's been mounting the girls quite a bit and has made his way to near the top of the pecking order, so

I'll be glad when everyone picks back up. I'm getting dangerously close to having to buy some eggs for eating. I refuse to buy from the grocery store, so I get them from a neighbor, but it irritates me when I have to buy them because I have oodles of chickens running around!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Oh, on a happier note, my guineas found a new home today! I can't even begin to describe how peaceful it is now. I didn't realize how much they were stressing my other birds until they were gone. And, I took a nap today that wasn't interrupted by guineas screaming and pecking at my bedroom door

We also added 2 piglets to our farm last week, they're sooooo cute!

 

[DMRippy]

I've gotten 0 eggs from my Silkies the last few days, which is weird, because they're usually stellar winter layers. They had a stretch a month or so ago where they were giving me about 5-6 eggs a day, then they dropped of to 1-3 and now nothing. I managed to snag 5 eggs to put in my incubator (with some shipped EE eggs I got from another BYC member) before they quit.

DMRippy, I'm hoping some of the eggs I popped in are fertilized by that splash cockerel I got from you! He's been mounting the girls quite a bit and has made his way to near the top of the pecking order, so

I'll be glad when everyone picks back up. I'm getting dangerously close to having to buy some eggs for eating. I refuse to buy from the grocery store, so I get them from a neighbor, but it irritates me when I have to buy them because I have oodles of chickens running around!

I hope so too! Might have to get some chicks from you down the road..... maybe a little closer to crossville.

 

[FeyRaine]

I would take extra free cockerels if need be. We just let them roam around here.

A question for the veterans. We decided to expand a bit this year and have currently enough money to buy a breeding set of either turkeys or pigs. Does anyone have a thought process as to which would be better to start with? We would get the other in about March. Any input would be helpful, thank you!

Having had both the pigs take a lot more in terms of space, & fencing. If you have never had any livestock larger than chickens then move up to Turkey first is your safe bet.
That said we are expecting pigglets in Feb from our gilt (first litter female pig). Feb is a horrible time for pigglets to be born, so depending on the weather they may survive or not.
We will sell a couple if we have extra when weaned. Bacon good, home grown bacon w/o all the weird chemicals is better ;P and home grown eggs AND bacon is beyond great!

 

[cazychicgirl]

I would take extra free cockerels if need be. We just let them roam around here.

A question for the veterans. We decided to expand a bit this year and have currently enough money to buy a breeding set of either turkeys or pigs. Does anyone have a thought process as to which would be better to start with? We would get the other in about March. Any input would be helpful, thank you!

About the cockerels, where are you located? I might have one for ya.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I'll let you know what comes from the eggs when they hatch, if they hatch. I heat with a wood stove, so keeping the temp steady in my incubator has been a chore. Its been fluctuating between 100.9 and 101.8, which is a lot. My bator is a still air, so I'm hoping it doesn't mess my eggs up too much :/

 

[Wasson6Pack]

I'm in Lewisburg, but my husband works in Franklin and drives to Nashville regularly if that helps.