Tis Time for a March 2020 Hatch-a-long!

[gmjarvi]

Not alive anymore didn't absorb much either

I'm so sorry! You gave little lucky a fighting chance that she wouldn't have had otherwise.

 

[gmjarvi]

Everyone: How long have you waited to set shipped eggs?

I set shipped duck eggs yesterday and rested them for nearly 24 hours before putting them in the incubator. We'll see what happens, I'm thinking about waiting until D10 to candle them because the air cells are WHACK and I really want them to hatch...I feel like I need to handle them as little as possible.

 

[FortCluck]

My 11 eggs are still doing amazing They're from my flock. Most likely will all be meat.

 

[gmjarvi]

My 11 eggs are still doing amazing They're from my flock. Most likely will all be meat.

How long have you been hatching your own meat birds? Are they barnyard mixes or do you have some breeders you use for meat birds? I'm thinking of using some of my barnyard mutts as meat birds but my local chicken friend said she tried that and they were nasty and greasy. I know you dont eat meat but maybe your SO has an opinion about the meat?

 

[FortCluck]

How long have you been hatching your own meat birds? Are they barnyard mixes or do you have some breeders you use for meat birds? I'm thinking of using some of my barnyard mutts as meat birds but my local chicken friend said she tried that and they were nasty and greasy. I know you dont eat meat but maybe your SO has an opinion about the meat?

They obviously did something wrong... I crossed my jersey giant with my barred rock to make a meat bird. I butchered it around 18 weeks. The family absolutely loved it but next time we are holding off till 20 weeks. We rested them in the fridge for 5 days. I did everything by myself from hatching, to butchering, to cooking. Mine weren't fat and gross, they were lean and perfect. It's all in what you feed them. I was feeding Purina flock raiser plus I give a big bucket of scraps (veggies and fruits) every night at dinner time.

 

[FortCluck]

How long have you been hatching your own meat birds? Are they barnyard mixes or do you have some breeders you use for meat birds? I'm thinking of using some of my barnyard mutts as meat birds but my local chicken friend said she tried that and they were nasty and greasy. I know you dont eat meat but maybe your SO has an opinion about the meat?

My husband called his entire family yesterday and bragged about how good the chicken I did was... So I would say he was impressed.

This is a pic of the white meat from the breast...

 

[FortCluck]

@gmjarvi we are going to hold off a bit longer next time and fatten them up. Probably make a chicken tractor to put them in so we can feed them away from the later flock. Around 15 weeks we will put them in the tractor and give them higher protein.

 

[gmjarvi]

They obviously did something wrong... I crossed my jersey giant with my barred rock to make a meat bird. I butchered it around 18 weeks. The family absolutely loved it but next time we are holding off till 20 weeks. We rested them in the fridge for 5 days. I did everything by myself from hatching, to butchering, to cooking. Mine weren't fat and gross, they were lean and perfect. It's all in what you feed them. I was feeding Purina flock raiser plus I give a big bucket of scraps (veggies and fruits) every night at dinner time.

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That bird looks delicious! This is renewing my hope that the mutts will work out lol. My birds all get organic grower crumble (18% protein. I don't like to feed layer feed because I worry about the roosters' kidneys, so I offer eggshells and oyster shells to the hens) plus our kitchen scraps - the only things I don't feed them are chicken, avocado, and citrus. Our scraps are mostly greens, veggies, and fruits but occasionally there's bread, cheese, yogurt. They will be able to forage when the snow melts.

 

[julskinka]

I gave my broody hen 2 of the Olive Egger chicks last night. She was untested so I was really nervous about it but she was broody for 2 months! I couldn't break her. She seems to be doing well with her babies this morning!

Pictures pleeeease!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Pictures pleeeease!!

I'll get some soon! I was trying not to disturb her too much while they're getting acquainted. I peeked in a little bit ago and she led them into the broody box to keep them safe from me.