The Quack Shack

[Trimurtisan]

How are you today Chris?

Oh I'm doing pretty good I suppose. Staying pretty busy between Jonah and the birds. Both are a joy to watch grow though. Right now I'm sitting here with bugga face, watching him play with some toys. In 20 minutes I'll be out doing bird chores.

How are things going up there? You guys get any rain yet?

I've got a feed question for you. I asked the local feed store what a ton of game bird feed would cost, and it's $610. Now I know I that our markets are different, but does that sound like a fair price? That would be fore the Nutrena feed. I'd still like to just make my own feed come tax season, but I'm trying to get a good base price for the time, see what I could save money wise. Even if it's not cheaper, improving quality is always a plus.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Good morning! How old are your EE Chris? Usually by 3 weeks I can tell a cockerel they are getting pink combs.

Good morning Mrs Patti!
I'm not 100% sure how old. This is the night I brought them home, and that was 38 days ago. Sorry I can't find the EE pics, but this is the Marans (they came home together). I would guess in the range of 45-50 days old.

Neither of the EE really have much color is their combs, where as the Marans pictured above has full waddles and red everything already.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Then most likely you have pullets. I still have 2 EEs left out of 8 I brought how as 2 day olds 8 yrs ago. They are great layers, and have nice personalities.

 

[rjohns39]

Oh I'm doing pretty good I suppose. Staying pretty busy between Jonah and the birds. Both are a joy to watch grow though. Right now I'm sitting here with bugga face, watching him play with some toys. In 20 minutes I'll be out doing bird chores.

How are things going up there? You guys get any rain yet?

I've got a feed question for you. I asked the local feed store what a ton of game bird feed would cost, and it's $610. Now I know I that our markets are different, but does that sound like a fair price? That would be fore the Nutrena feed. I'd still like to just make my own feed come tax season, but I'm trying to get a good base price for the time, see what I could save money wise. Even if it's not cheaper, improving quality is always a plus.

Didn't get enough rain to register on the rain gauge.

Price isn't bad but not great either. It's comparable to what the feed I like costs, before adding the $200 for shipping but that's for a quality non-gmo feed. I pay $5 less per bag when buying from the Amish. And I pay $12.50 a bag for tucker.

ETA:You might want to checkout APPPA.org and find a farm near you and see what they're paying. Highly likely they are using a good quality feed.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Then most likely you have pullets. I still have 2 EEs left out of 8 I brought how as 2 day olds 8 yrs ago. They are great layers, and have nice personalities.

Fantastic!
So that TSC purchase actually wan't so bad. I got 6 chicks for $12, and only 1 was a cockerel.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Didn't get enough rain to register on the rain gauge.

Price isn't bad but not great either. It's comparable to what the feed I like costs, before adding the $200 for shipping but that's for a quality non-gmo feed. I pay $5 less per bag when buying from the Amish. And I pay $12.50 a bag for tucker.

ETA:You might want to checkout APPPA.org and find a farm near you and see what they're paying. Highly likely they are using a good quality feed.

That stinks about the rain. I hope you guys gets some soon.

For the time I'll just use $600/ton as my comparative price.

Is Tucker a brand name?

 

[rjohns39]

That stinks about the rain. I hope you guys gets some soon.

For the time I'll just use $600/ton as my comparative price.

Is Tucker a brand name?

Yes. I don't like it because they use Porcine (pork) meal, and I highly doubt the pigs who contributed were fed a non-gmo diet.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Yes. I don't like it because they use Porcine (pork) meal, and I highly doubt the pigs who contributed were fed a non-gmo diet.

Well poo on Tucker then!

Do you process you'r extra roos? If so, do you have a particular age you like to slaughter them at? I'm estimating the Marans cock to be 7 weeks old, I was thinking of letting him go to 16 weeks altogether.

 

[rjohns39]

Well poo on Tucker then!

Do you process you'r extra roos? If so, do you have a particular age you like to slaughter them at? I'm estimating the Marans cock to be 7 weeks old, I was thinking of letting him go to 16 weeks altogether.

Yes I do, but it all depends on size for me. I generally target 24 weeks and have done some at a year old. It's a trade off... The older the bird, the tougher it is, not just from an eating standpoint, but also from a processing standpoint. Also the older they are, the better the flavor. Generally, I get about 60% carcass weight from the cockerels and shoot for a 3-31/2 pound carcass.

 

[Trimurtisan]

Yes I do, but it all depends on size for me. I generally target 24 weeks and have done some at a year old. It's a trade off... The older the bird, the tougher it is, not just from an eating standpoint, but also from a processing standpoint. Also the older they are, the better the flavor. Generally, I get about 60% carcass weight from the cockerels and shoot for a 3-31/2 pound carcass.

Hmm, going by weight does sound like a smarter idea.

I'm hoping this cockerel puts on some size and weight by the holidays. My plan is to serve him for Christmas dinner to the whole family (6-8 people) to get everyone to understand why I want to do meat birds using heritage type birds vs CXs.

I was going to harvest three CX this weekend, but I'm going to give it some more time. It's actually more active than I expected. There is a ramp and shelf in the pin, and it climbs to sleep every night, and eats grass while there is fed in the bowl. It seems to be in good health, and is getting fresh grass daily.