What did you do with your flock today?

[TropicalBabies]

Me too LOL

I waffle back and forth between wanting to go fully "natural" by having only broody hens hatching chicks for us and wanting an incubator. For the sake of your marriage, I will not make a suggestion either way, but my personal choice would be to get the big giant incubator and then hatch a crap ton of chickens...either selling them or processing them for delicious food so I could then say honestly "see Honey, the incubator paid for itself in no time!"

I like the control of being able to incubate and if a hen goes broody- bonus. Broody chicks tend to be theirs not mine.

 

[TropicalBabies]

If your LGDs dont mess with (e.g. EAT) your chickens, having your sheep/goats together with your chickens is beneficial to all. The chickens rid the land of the poop from the livestock much faster than would otherwise happen....and this helps to prevent worms in the livestock...and the chickens get to free range and get protection from the LGDs.

Have you watched the biggest little farm? Oh my goodness you would love their journey.

 

[kurby22]

If your LGDs dont mess with (e.g. EAT) your chickens, having your sheep/goats together with your chickens is beneficial to all. The chickens rid the land of the poop from the livestock much faster than would otherwise happen....and this helps to prevent worms in the livestock...and the chickens get to free range and get protection from the LGDs.

Yes! That is my hope!! I have a feeling there will be some steep learning curves even if I have lots and lots of time to soak it all in and learn from others beforehand!

 

[Bonkerelli]

Do you have a defeathering machine? Of so, do you like/recommend the one you have?

It was my first time butchering.. we just skinned them. Tried plucking (without scalding) and that was a pain, lol.

 

[629864]

Yep honestly. It boils down to his control issues and I think that is the part I want to buck. The man who just took my chain saw as a back up to his up Koke'e , same logic right? I'm moving forward. He can handle it. I'll make him a nice veggie Loco moco.

Men? Control issues? Say it isnt so.

My DH is awesome, but 23 years as alpha male in the military has meant he tends to just...decide things instead of discussing options together as a couple. I put my foot down a few weeks ago and said the next project is going to be the expansion of the chicken enclosure. It was becoming a repetition of "I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that" instead of "what do you think of US doing this or that?" So i said in this marriage BOTH of us decide....and our next investment is the chickens, not the goats.

 

[629864]

It was my first time butchering.. we just skinned them. Tried plucking (without scalding) and that was a pain, lol.

Yep...the defeathering machines seem expensive but in the long run if you plan on culling chickens fairly regularly, i think it would be worth it. I plan to buy one once taxes are done.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I make the choices on the coops here

 

[629864]

Nope I will have a more chickens not many but I am already 62.. Do not want the work.
Our property is 3/4 an acre half is chicken coops.

Exactly. My philosophy is that these animals are supposed to make my life easier, not harder. So that's why i won't be milking goats or getting a milk cow. I have enough "hobbies" with working fulltime, taking care of the chickens, as well as taking care of the goats/sheep that will never offer me personally anything as i loathe the taste of goat/lamb meat.

 

[629864]

Have you watched the biggest little farm? Oh my goodness you would love their journey.

Nope...but now I'm going to check it out.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Yup grew up on a cattle farm I know the work.