What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

Do you think it ever becomes cheaper to have backyard eggs than buying? I built and outfitted ourselves for about $1500.00 figuring 5 hens. We ended up with 6, 2 of which were roosters, which we got on the 2 of July this year. By the middle of December we got our first egg….so, I guess the first egg cost $1500.00 not $600.00. Of course, these gals have been pumping eggs out at an average of three a day. So, per egg price obviously dropped a lot but I always wonder whether it ever actually becomes cheaper.

I had to laugh when eggs got pricey and everyone wanted chickens for cheap eggs. I said cheapest eggs are in the store.

 

[Rick589]

FWIW, that whipped cream also has sucralose in it which is another form of sugar....

My whipped cream comes from a quantity of heavy cream, a KitchenAid mixer, and actual sugar…….and, maybe a splash of almond extract.

 

[Molpet]

Do you think it ever becomes cheaper to have backyard eggs than buying? I built and outfitted ourselves for about $1500.00 figuring 5 hens. We ended up with 6, 2 of which were roosters, which we got on the 2 of July this year. By the middle of December we got our first egg….so, I guess the first egg cost $1500.00 not $600.00. Of course, these gals have been pumping eggs out at an average of three a day. So, per egg price obviously dropped a lot but I always wonder whether it ever actually becomes cheaper.

a few years ago before covid, I figured out feed cost to keep the hens and a rooster for a year and how many eggs I got.... 33 cents an egg, in just feed cost. Free ranging spring to fall.
So I then I started hatching and eating the cockerels. $7 a lb. I sold the extra pullets for $20.

So, how many days beyond the 21 would you allow before calling the egg a failure? Us broodyhenhatchingeggs virgins would like to know.

I have had eggs 4 days late hatch in the incubator.

Thank you. Why do so many sites/businesses "require" an app?

I wear a tin foil hat, though usually take it off to sleep but not always.

Noah was a conspiracy theorist...then it rained.

Yes it's annoying when they do that. However this one is designed to use a camera to scan the bar code at the store. It's very useful. So far I haven't found any negative reviews. But I understand the concern.

 

[Sueby]

My husband always reminds me of how expensive our first dozen eggs was, lol. Whatever, I know where my eggs come from & that my girls live the life. Same thing with the garden, it doesn't save me any money - but I know what I'm eating (or not eating, really).

Hey all. Drizzling out there, but managed to get the garden watered. Hand pollinated my first spaghetti squash (under cover). Also pollinated a couple summer squash for the heck of it (not undercover). Lots of flowers on the eggplant. Volunteer dill is growing like crazy but the stuff planted in the pot is dying. Pulled half the garlic and have it druing, its small this year.

Potatoes - who preserves them? This is my first year growing them, should I can them or freeze them? I don't have a good place to store them fresh so I must preserve. (gonna post this in the preserving thread too)

 

[cj2024]

Do you think it ever becomes cheaper to have backyard eggs than buying? I built and outfitted ourselves for about $1500.00 figuring 5 hens. We ended up with 6, 2 of which were roosters, which we got on the 2 of July this year. By the middle of December we got our first egg….so, I guess the first egg cost $1500.00 not $600.00. Of course, these gals have been pumping eggs out at an average of three a day. So, per egg price obviously dropped a lot but I always wonder whether it ever actually becomes cheaper.

Isa Brown lay almost every day up to two years, so 360 days x 3 hens = 1,080 eggs and extra-large brown eggs in my area cost about a dollar each. However, I am pretty sure I lose money or break even if I include the retail cost of the feed.

 

[Molpet]

Isa Brown lay almost every day up to two years, so 360 days x 3 hens = 1,080 eggs and extra-large brown eggs in my area cost about a dollar each. However, I am pretty sure I lose money if I include the retail cost of the feed.

The isa I had did lay almost every day. When they were 18 months they got sick within a week of each other.

Those are expensive eggs, but you live on an island

 

[TJAnonymous]

My whipped cream comes from a quantity of heavy cream, a KitchenAid mixer, and actual sugar…….and, maybe a splash of almond extract.

Yeah, that's probably my next step but I have to get on a rotation locally to get fresh cream. Store bought whipping cream has carrageenan which I avoid because it can cause inflammation, digestive problems, cancer, etc...

 

[Smokerbill]

This is my harvest todayView attachment 4160412
The photo should be enjoyed sideways lol.

Nice haul!

 

[Rick589]

unbeknownst to us our first ever chick has died. I went to check the hen and egg count without lifting her, although the count was right at three but I did not realize that the one egg was new and that one had hatched. I must have run my hand right over the dead chick and didn’t realize it.The other two eggs are alive and haved pipped through the shell and are peeping. Interestingly, the only way I noticed something off was because of ants, there was no egg shell to be found. Any suggestions on what to do with the remaining eggs which are very much alive and in the process of hatching.

 

[pennyJo1960]

unbeknownst to us our first ever chick has died. I went to check the hen and egg count without lifting her, although the count was right at three but I did not realize that the one egg was new and that one had hatched. I must have run my hand right over the dead chick and didn’t realize it.The other two eggs are alive and haved pipped through the shell and are peeping. Interestingly, the only way I noticed something off was because of ants, there was no egg shell to be found. Any suggestions on what to do with the remaining eggs which are very much alive and in the process of hatching.

Maybe fire up a incubator with the ants. Is there a another bird that may sit on them.