The Old Folks Home

[Sylviaanne]

GW pharmaceuticals is the big company that has been doing a lot of published research the past few years, to back up their new cannabis based drug Sativex. The head research dr Ethan Russo is a pretty good guy even if he is working for a pharmaceutical company, it was the only way to get the resources needed to get cannabanoid and terpenoid research further along worldwide. It's great to know a scientist like him is in the belly of the beast.

I've been talking to a good friend in the industry and we're going to start getting things set up for my own testing lab. Or I guess, a private testing lab for use of ppl approved by my little tribe/family thing that supports me, grows, genetics trading, helping hand etc.

I'm almost done trimming/harvesting my outdoor crop. Got the old broken dehuey out and the new dehuey tinkered with and hoisted up to the ceiling in the sealed indoor grow area. Gotta bring in the tall ladders to hang mylar. Definitely not my idea of weekend fun, hanging mylar on 14' vaulted ceilings/walls.

I have 6 roosters in the coop to caponize today. Or attempt to. They haven't been feed since yesterday morning. We need better light, and probably another person around if I'm to get a video or better pictures.

My ayam cemani roos came back yesterday. They were freaking out in the chicken er I have set up at the end of the cemani/haffie/slw brooder box in the barn. They are looking like they both have the potential to be fantastic roos, they wanted to get to their ladies so badly. I ended up having to put up a fabric divider to get them to calm down so they don't hurt themselves. I'll go take picts here soon to put in my thread about decrowing surgery in the flock management forum of them in a bit.

Their chests have been plucked, it looks odd.. that gray/dark skin under their feathers. They get to go back with their ladies on Halloween.

I have 5 more ac roos, should I get them decrowed instead of caponizing? I am getting so many ridiculous offers for my decrowed ayam cemani roosters, and these are not perfect colored boys, but they are the best 2 I have color wise until spring.

I'm looking forward to black meat capons though. I'm a bit crazy. But that's not a big secret lol.

How do you get them de-crowed?

 

[bamadude]

Ouch

 

[Alaskan]

Thanks for the "how to cobble together a perch" hints.

I actually got it completely finished yesterday!!!!!



So happy, I think that I should get a parade, and then a fancy "open coop" party (with other people doing all of the work )

Anyway, after several times of rooting through all of the construction trash at the dump, and coming up without one, I begged on Facebook for a free 2x4. Someone had one, a bit rotten, but more than good enough for a perch.

The coop is gorgeous in my eyes....but I am sure the rest of the world thinks it looks like a junk pile.

I set up a double perch on the one poop tray, each about 6.5 feet. Plenty of space for about 13 bantams. The coop is about 5.5 by 6.5. I had wanted to put in multi levels, to help with the slightly small coop...but we just got so worn out....so that it currently has just the single poop tray.

I might look at it a bit more over the next couple of weeks, see if I can put in any more play spots or levels.

Stupid dog charged the fence, trying to get at the chickens, and the fence held perfectly... So the coop does qualify as functional.

We must have injured one rooster's foot in the transfer of chickens... i mean, really????? Anyway, he is limping, but not crying. So, not sure if it is a break or a sprain, or a gonna heal on its own whatever. I have two cockerels in that breed, so, not a big loss, since one of those boys needs to be eaten.... I think the damaged one is smaller (which is good, these are bantams), and has better color, and a better crow. The undamaged has a much better tail....and how about we pretend that Mr. undamaged is gonna have the best personality? Yep, lets go with that.

 

[Double Kindness]

There are a few vets that do decrowing surgery, or crow reduction surgery. The vet that did mine is byc member dretd. She learned from the vet in Oklahoma.
Here are my boys today, safe at home. I had to put fabric over to divide them from the ladies and Nugget.

these are the girls and Nugget, the slw is in with these guys because she couldn't walk, her toes were curled up and I had to fix her up.

The rest is my set up, my dp meaties mostly roos and muscovy ducks. My bunnies. My barn brooder boxes and chicken er set up. The laying flock area.

We didn't end up caponizing today. My roos are mad at me for keeping them cooped up all day. The 100 gallon smart pot in my front lawn now is plant-less. Freaking aphids everywhere.

BTW I can't seem to sex the muscovies. Help?

 

[drumstick diva]

Let us know how well the de-crowing works, I understand they will still crow but softer! A friend, years ago , had to get rid of his rooster buddy and as a last hope, the vet tried to de-crow him. Sadly the roo died. But if they are getting better at the procedure, maybe he could chance having a roo again.

 

[Alaskan]

@Double Kindness Are they all the exact same age?

If they are the exact same age, they are easier to sex. Look at them while they are all standing up... the boys will have much thicker legs, larger feet, and the feet will be a bit further apart.

Also, boys are MUCH bigger.

You can also listen to them....the boys do a raspy hissing sound, the girls do not.

Of course, just wait...as they get older, the boys end up with more caruncles than the girls.

older girl on top, one year old girl on bottom.

 

[ozexpat]

I just got in to the USA tonight. Two great months in the Philippine.

I am glad you are back scg. You were missed

 

[ozexpat]

I have several ayam cerami derivative birds. They have black everything. From comb to organs.

They taste like chicken.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I have several ayam cerami derivative birds. They have black everything. From comb to organs.

They taste like chicken.

You sellin' those eggs, Oz?

 

[ozexpat]

You sellin' those eggs, Oz?

Not yet

I was given a couple of eggs that were from a project breeder in SoCal.

They have multiplied but not to sellable levels.

I hope to get a doz eggs from java next year though