What did you do in the garden today?

[karenerwin]

The rate of growth on a CC is INSANE! I had one get mixed in with my egg layer chicks one year, didn't have the heart to eat it, it could barely walk at 12 weeks and week 14 dropped dead.

I have raised Cornish Cross chicks for the last 8 years. The last 4 or 5 we have left 1 or 2 I butchered. The oldest one I butchered was 18 months old. We have had them laying eggs even.
I will say that we have had a couple drop dead, probably of a heart attack, but mostly they do fine. I have had 1 pair that the rooster, also a CC, broke the hens leg trying to mount her. ( because he was so heavy)
The difference I have found is that when we let them roam over the huge enclosure with the other chickens and we don’t give them food 24/7 so they forage more. They are also able to fly up to the roosts to sleep but not all of them have been able to manage this feat.
It is vastly different from how I raised them in the beginning. Much more humane this way.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Looked for eggs

 

[pennyJo1960]

Was gone all day this had like 7 pages to catch up I will look at my walking onions tomorrow.

 

[chickengr]

I have had a problem with some chickens, even young ones that are 6-8 months old, not being tender. Sometimes they are so tough that we can't eat them at all. If anyone has any tricks of the trade on this....I'm all ears!

when my mother visited me in september we butchered a 3 mo bresse chicken who had leg issues. we roasted it and it was not tender. big disappointment for me as I heard a lot of stories about bresse chicken meat. I swear the 7 yo minorca roo I have eaten recently was tastier! tough but tasty.

 

[pennyJo1960]

If you let them sit a few days after butchering better meat.

 

[chickengr]

Spouse is doing well after surgery, it’s been 48 hours now. But weeks to go…let’s hope that leg heals well!

My onion starts are doing well. Now I need to get serious about some of the other seeds.

One chicken died the other day..found her under the coop. But, no injuries and no outward signs of illness. She seemed a good weight, but her nails were quite long. Of course, with bird flu showing up here and there in eastern and Midwest US, I’ve been looking for any signs of illness…none so far. We do not have any bodies of water nearby, and never see wild birds in the run area since we have netting up, and the run has a roof. I think this chicken was 2 or 3 years old. Sometimes, they just die.

as someone on the other thread said: that's chicken life. one day they run and the next day they are dead. sorry for your loss.

 

[chickengr]

I SAID I wasn't going to buy any more seeds.....then Johnny's had to send me their new catalog. I'm finding it VERY hard to resist...... Omg. I love the way they put this catalog together.....pretty awesome.

@Acres4Me - I'm sorry you lost your girl. I lost another one last weekend too. She was one of the Blue Andalusians that was sick right before christmas. Looks like she died overnight and fell off the roost. She's the 3rd Blue Andalusian that I've lost in the past 4 months. I'm down to only 1 of that breed now. I did hatch out some eggs from them but being that my roosters are other breeds, they'll be mixed breed. I did see that Bird Flu was doing around in the midwest. I live 800 miles from there or more but with migratory birds, I think anything is a possibility. I've been keeping an eye on my flock too....

I think andalusian chickens are not suitable for your climate. they are a mediterranean breed and thrive in warm climates with mild winters.

 

[chickengr]

Every bird you ever raised reached 8 weeks = fryer age . Nothing to do with breed really . Back in the day my Great grandmother was in charge of the setting hens . She kept a steady supply of chicken for the table . No freezers or electric . Dual purpose breeds were the staple on most farms . Eggs , enough size for eating and broody for a steady supply of fried chicken . It took skill to have chicks hatch every 2 weeks or so . Small batches just enough for the family . If the family was large it took more chicken .

is there any meat on 8 wo chicks?

 

[chickengr]

The quail always amaze me too. My new years hatch is seven weeks now and I can't tell the difference between parents and offspring. I need to send some more to the fridge this weekend.

I cut back the mess of a sungold tomato plant this morning.. I think some of the stems were 15 feet long. Up a retaining wall and over a fence. It was productive, but I couldn't get at most of the tomatoes. I saved one cutting to root into a new plant, but the base of the original plant is still there for now in case it wants to send out new shoots.

I hatched some quails on dec 24th. they started to lay at 34 days old. unfortunately I am giving them up. to much work for tiny eggs and almost no meat. I don't have safe housing for them outside so I keep them in the house - real pain.

as for tomatoes, I had a few that overwintered. last year they did not survive summer heat. but it was really brutal even for this climate.

 

[Sueby]

Prices on everything are getting obscene.

You aren't kidding! I LOL at this one!

You are missing out. I roasted a duck for thanksgiving last year and it was so freaking delicious. The only thing keeping me from cooking one more often is the insane price. If we had more land I would raise ducks for the freezer.

I just know I would love duck, I love dark meat. It just seems I never see it around here. I've never seen it in a restaurant or a grocery store.

Spouse is doing well after surgery, it’s been 48 hours now. But weeks to go…let’s hope that leg heals well!

Glad to hear that!

Fake spring is over, it's cold out there again. it was too windy to clean up the yard yesterday, I had to dodge falling limbs just to collect eggs.

I made a big batch of jerky yesterday, working on the last of the cow as the new one is coming in March. I need to find something good to do with the beef shanks. Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking crockpot, but need a tasty idea.