Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I haven't been on here in years and I came across the pizza cutter I won at the bash on 2013. I decided to stop in and say "hi". I still raise orpingtons, wyandottes, dutch and I've been breeding cochin x silkies.

 

[123maparker]

Good Cold Morning! -17 deg on the truck this morning. I let the 7 ducks and 2 geese out. I do not have water in their shelter/huts. I opened the door- had their heated water dish/food a few feet away- they still climbed in their water tubs for a bath. My hubs is home today (he is a teacher and school is closed) I told him if he sees anyone struggling to call me and I would come home and we can put them in the garage for the night. He wasn't real thrilled about that idea but too bad...LOL I know ducks and geese are strong creatures but this weather is just ridiculous.

Hope everyone is staying warm.

Renee

 

[123maparker]

Good morning, I'm in Stoughton. This will be my first winter with chickens. What type of heated bowl should I look for? I tested 2 recently but there was no apparent heat generated. Any suggestions are appreciated. Michele

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

Good morning, I'm in Stoughton. This will be my first winter with chickens. What type of heated bowl should I look for? I tested 2 recently but there was no apparent heat generated. Any suggestions are appreciated. Michele

I do not have much experience with chickens. I know they are not as hardy as ducks/geese nor as messy. A guy I work with uses a heat lamp, I know, I know, a HUGE no no for most. That's what he uses. And it keeps the temp above freezing in their hut. I use a heated water bowl from tractor supply. The green lower one, not a bucket. It NEVER froze over last year- even in the -30 degrees we had for like a week straight. They are usually regulated with the outside temp...if it is warm out, it wont heat. If it is cold...it turns on. It's weird. I changed the water 3 times a day in it because the ducks would sit in it like a hot tub.

My animals are pets, not for meat or egg production. So they are spoiled.

Maybe someone on here will have more insight on chickens.

Renee

 

[jvls1942]

I am anti heat lamps, big time.
too dangerous. and not cost effective.
get a small milk house heater. less expensive in the long run . after 3 of the heat lamps burn out, you could have had a heater. btdt
my ducks and geese would take a bath at any temp below zero. remember, even cold water is above freezing. the water would freeze on their backs and form bb's and roll off. they don't get cold because the water never reaches their skin.
i had shelter for them, but they never used it.
for water for the chickens, i used a 3 gal waterer, i directed the blower from the milk house heater at the waterer, it kept it from freezing and also heated the coop. i had 14 orpington hens, and one day in January I had 100% eggs. I used artificial light, i know some people do not do that. BigZ...

 

[TOR]

For all of you that we're gonna buy meat chickens this spring. How many did you get? And how did it go?
I think I might try it next spring

There is alot of information in the meat section. Some people have cost analysis. Also alot of information using google. Using google I found information on google some of it was kinda all over the place with pricing.

Use seach function in BYD lots of information.

 

[jvls1942]

when I look up informatiion, i expect an answer.
when the answer begins with it "depends" , I look elsewhere. all I want is a general answer.
I already know there are different situations.
i think it boils down to, in costs more to raise them yourself, but the quality is better than what you get in the super market.

 

[DoodlesDuckies]

when I look up informatiion, i expect an answer.
when the answer begins with it "depends" , I look elsewhere. all I want is a general answer.
I already know there are different situations.
i think it boils down to, in costs more to raise them yourself, but the quality is better than what you get in the super market.

What is the cost of raising your own chickens for meat? Cost of the chick and feeding? Do you account for your time caring for them? Is the main cost in butchering, if you cannot do it yourself. How long does it take to raise them up?

In the end, is it about knowing where your chickens are coming from and hobby and not so much money savings?

I don't know...I'm honestly asking.

A couple years ago I paid $34 for a whole chicken at the Wausau Farmers Market. I literally almost had a stroke when I paid for it, but let me tell you, that was the BEST chicken I ever had/made. Trust me, it was NOT my cooking skills. LOL!

Renee

 

[TOR]

it is hard to compete with corporate farming. With beef as high as it is if been in farming for awhile save on the beef. Chickens and pork tough to compete with mass production.
When I raised some pigs few years ago, did it for 3 years in a row. Save alittle money, but if want to start with counting time into the process forget it.
Even now i have 3/4 acre field corn pick and store. Corn is at 4 bucks. 3.70 basis probably 5 or so buying in bulk from a coop.
I might get some pigs in spring. Already figured I wont save that much money. Since covid price butcher a pig is up over a hundred, 300 plus to get pig butchered, feeder pigs are not cheap anymore. Im sure paying transportation to get butchered has gone up.
Cheaper to go sams club actually

 

[jvls1942]

we always butchered our own chickens. only once we took them to a processor. when we got them home, we had to clean out the insides to my satisfaction.
we used to do 200 each year when the kids were still at home. towards the end we did 25 to 50 for the two of us.
i have always had an electric chicken plucker.
i also built 5 whizbang pluckers and sold them.
i still have my original drum plucker. i have it on craigslist for sale for $250.oo.
we raised a few beefers and one hog. since i don't raise my own hay, that was an expensive venture.