Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

Video cut off as she got there so I have no idea. Could be just new little ones so figuring them out.

First pic, on the left, second pic middle....still a boy.

Oh bummer. It must have shortened the video. And yes, that's the same one I'm keeping an eye on.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Oh bummer. It must have shortened the video. And yes, that's the same one I'm keeping an eye on.

I was kidding, I knew you knew that. As you can tell, he stands right out...loud and proud.

 

[WingItRanch]

I was kidding, I knew you knew that. As you can tell, he stands right out...loud and proud.

If he is a cockerel, I hope he's a good one! I'm definitely keeping him.

I am considering removing a few of my bully hens, though. The space is going to be tight with these new kids and 3 of my BR are pretty aggressive to the others.

 

[Tstraub]

If he is a cockerel, I hope he's a good one! I'm definitely keeping him.

I am considering removing a few of my bully hens, though. The space is going to be tight with these new kids and 3 of my BR are pretty aggressive to the others.

This sounds like chicken math done right. Making the subtractions is my least favorite part but sometimes it’s necessary to move the flock in the direction you want it to go. I need to thin my flock before winter. I have 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Wyandottes and maybe an olive egger that need to go.

 

[WingItRanch]

This sounds like chicken math done right. Making the subtractions is my least favorite part but sometimes it’s necessary to move the flock in the direction you want it to go. I need to thin my flock before winter. I have 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Wyandottes and maybe an olive egger that need to go.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. There is a layer of guilt but I promised myself (and loved ones) that I would remember I got these chickens as livestock, not pets.

Do you cull and process for meat or do you just give them away?

I got dual purpose for the dual purpose but man, it's tough to make that decision on a perfectly healthy hen.

 

[wrathsfarm]

If he is a cockerel, I hope he's a good one! I'm definitely keeping him.

I am considering removing a few of my bully hens, though. The space is going to be tight with these new kids and 3 of my BR are pretty aggressive to the others.

Make room for more Marans...just saying.

 

[wrathsfarm]

This sounds like chicken math done right. Making the subtractions is my least favorite part but sometimes it’s necessary to move the flock in the direction you want it to go. I need to thin my flock before winter. I have 2 Easter Eggers, 2 Wyandottes and maybe an olive egger that need to go.

I've been thinning mine down... then hatched 15 more this week. I think that's chicken math gone haywire.

 

[Tstraub]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. There is a layer of guilt but I promised myself (and loved ones) that I would remember I got these chickens as livestock, not pets.

Do you cull and process for meat or do you just give them away?

I got dual purpose for the dual purpose but man, it's tough to make that decision on a perfectly healthy hen.

I have some 8 week old pullets that will go to a friend of the family who is looking to expand her flock. The cockerels and older hens will go to the freezer unless someone specifically asks me for them. I can’t in good conscience sell someone a layer past her prime.

You can learn a lot by processing your own birds. If you want to know your flock inside and out you have to look at the inside of some of them. I recently butchered a couple unproductive hens and I was very surprised by the amount of excess fat they had on them. I’ve been trying to pay more attention to the treats I offer.

 

[WingItRanch]

I have some 8 week old pullets that will go to a friend of the family who is looking to expand her flock. The cockerels and older hens will go to the freezer unless someone specifically asks me for them. I can’t in good conscience sell someone a layer past her prime.

You can learn a lot by processing your own birds. If you want to know your flock inside and out you have to look at the inside of some of them. I recently butchered a couple unproductive hens and I was very surprised by the amount of excess fat they had on them. I’ve been trying to pay more attention to the treats I offer.

Interesting! I've only processed a cockerel once but had planned on using my older hens as meat once they slow down but these ones are all still pretty young. They're going through their first molt and about 1.5 yr old.

 

[Tstraub]

I've been thinning mine down... then hatched 15 more this week. I think that's chicken math gone haywire.

I currently have the main coop, the grow out pin, my Bresse breeding pin, an IBC tote tractor, another IBC tote on hand to build another tractor, a 6x8 dog kennel for grow outs and an electric poultry net. So I have some flexibility on space for summer weather but when the snow starts falling I gotta thin down.