The Old Folks Home

[Alaskan]

Crap...forgot to ask...  Does anyone ever notice certain hens that have more egg imperfections than other hens? I think I'm seeing that.

I'm just in the process of selecting replacement eating egg stock on this merit (among many others) for myself.

Yep..genetic.

 

[ronott1]

Crap...forgot to ask... Does anyone ever notice certain hens that have more egg imperfections than other hens? I think I'm seeing that.

I'm just in the process of selecting replacement eating egg stock on this merit (among many others) for myself.

That kind of stuff happens because the reproductive tract gets messed up. Mareks can do that and I think a couple of other viruses. Remember, Mareks only kills a small percentage as an active infection. It kills more from cancer at two years old. The cancer can mess up the egg tract. The vaccine we give them does not protect them from active mareks either.

The biggest cause is parasites though. You should worm the pullets at 17 weeks old to make sure they do not have damage. They can lay less eggs for life and some can go sterile--never lay an egg.

 

[sdunmoyer]

So I'm new here and maybe this is where I belong. I'm pretty old.

 

[ronott1]

So I'm new here and maybe this is where I belong. I'm pretty old.

Come on aboard!

We talk about all kinds of stuff here

 

[sdunmoyer]

Well it's not snowing here but there are a lot of crazy drivers to look out for. I haven't even started supper yet. I've been on here all day.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

So I'm new here and maybe this is where I belong. I'm pretty old.

Pull up a rocking chair, grab a super long sleeve secure jacket and tell us about yourself.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the Old folks home - you don't have to be old to join but, it helps.

Just kidding everybody seems to fit in just fine.

 

[sdunmoyer]

Pull up a rocking chair, grab a super long sleeve secure jacket and tell us about yourself.

Lol.Did you mean straight jacket? I'm already showing my crazy? Well I'm fairly new to chicken farming. My 3rd child of 4 went to college in the fall. My husband said I had empty nest syndrome. I've filled that nest with 18 chickens so far since the first 6 arrived completely unexpectedly last October. Yes I did not choose the fowl life it chose me. My son and his girlfriend purchased them and then were not able to keep them so they brought them to me. To answer the ancient question about what comes first the chickens or the coop? Definitely should be the coop. It can be high stress when they start to outgrow the brooder and winter is coming and you're not prepared. All is good now I gave them my garden shed converted to a coop. Now working on transitioning the 2 month Olds into the coop. Also a little stressful because it isn't going as smoothly as I'd hoped. But we'll get there maybe. Overall chickens have given me a lot of laughs and joy. I had no idea how much I would love them. I should have realized my destiny sooner and become a chicken farmer 20 years ago.

 

[drumstick diva]

Better late, than never

 

[perchie.girl]

Last year at this time I was sitting at a bull sale. It was a long, painful day. Thank god we got a bull last year. We've been all over the globe this past week to buy farm equipment and cattle stuff and I can hardly move. Waiting for meds to kick in so I can get supper on and feed the flock. I'm sure the girls are wondering what happened to me even though I let them out. I can hear the guineas yelling their heads off.

On a happy note, we did get the piece of machinery we drove 3.5 hours away to get. I think I'd of screamed if we didn't get it.

My goal is to get supper on, feed the chickens and likely get ready to go to the show "Lego Batman" It looks too hilarious to miss. I think I can manage to sit. DH is taking the boy in anyway.

Tomorrow hopefully I can get up, feed the chickens (in the morning in good time) and get my hatching eggs in.

If I can get all that done...it'll be amazing.


On happy note #2, all the calves being born are strong, vigorous and a lovely small size. Apparently they are also quite docile and nice to work with the reds being a bit quieter than the blacks, which is exactly like the fathers. Not a calf pulled yet and haven't had to attend a calving other than the premature twins that were born at the start of calving in the cold weather.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about...lol.

awesome news.... I have met three Cattle Ranchers here in San Diego...

One started out with six and is up to about thirty... Red with white on their faces... He has about five acres and feeds soely baled hay. Hes just been shopping for land in Oregon..

The other is running Black Angus and is up to 100 momma cows and a couple of bulls. Running them on BLM Land which is pretty much Chaparal. He feeds morning and evening before he turns them out and after they come back in.

Then I met a woman who is running Brahma crosses on BLM land near the border. She says the Brahama crosses can almost live off the land and handle the heat better weight wise.

The last two are actually making a living at it. It can be a hard life.... Without help

deb