Our Last-Named Rooster - Jack

SUSAN:
Today (November 30) is our former neighbor in Statesboro, Jack Schilling's, 100th birthday! Yes, I typed that correctly ... Jack was born in 1910 and today he is 100 years old - amazing! He is such an inspiration: kind, sharp, (enjoys his beer, vino & afternoon scotch...all in moderation of course) and still a master gardener and pianist (favorite song: The Girl from Impanema).

When we visited the 'Boro last weekend Jack shared stories of "wringing the necks" of chickens when he was a kid. He also laughed at me that I didn't understand that you could get eggs without a rooster (100 and still sassy). Well, I haven't lived one hundred years to be so wise, have I!??

In honour of Jack and his wife, Polly (AKA Olive), we have named our Wyandotte Rooster, JACK (see photos above)..... and, we've named a Wyandotte hen, POLLY (see photos below).

Roosters Gone

NIGEL:
Well after a two days at it by myself, the remaining 11 roosters were culled & processed. It was taking me about 45 mins to process 2 roosters. Plucking is messy & takes time, as does eviscerating each of them! It is a LOT more draining psychologically doing it by yourself! The last rooster gave me a good hard peck on the neck as I was locking the door.

We now have 20 hens & 4 roosters left out of the original 46/47! Ready for winter.

Eggs For Sale!

SUSAN:
The girls are "fertile myrtle" and are laying numerous eggs daily! This week we have collected 8-12 eggs daily. At least two of the girls laid their first eggs, very tiny ones. What do they think when that first egg pops out?

One of the girls laid the LARGEST EGG we have ever seen - it must be an XXL egg, because it doesn't even get close to fitting in our egg carton (see photos). Can you imagine her surprise ... laying an egg that big?? I hope that she had some help ... another hen coaching her, helping her to breathe! These are called Double Yolkers. Double Yolkers occur when a pullets ovulation is too rapid, or when a pullet's productive cycle is not well synchronized.




After eating eggs every day, we are ready to sell some eggs, and have been researching what the market value should be. It's tough to compare, really. Eggs go for $3.50 to $4.00 per dozen at the farmer's market. Organic free range eggs start at $3.50 and go up past $6.50 per dozen!

Our eggs:
- Organic
- Hens fed non-medicated food
- Hens are Heirloom breed
- Free Range (yes, they are running over about 1/2 acre every day)
- Fit Hens (chased often & sometimes caught by our 4 roosters)
- Loved Hens (well, they are very special)

After much research, we've decided to sell our eggs for $3.00/dozen (delivery included)until they become more consistent in size. Once the size is more consistent we will sell them for $3.50. Thoughts? I think we are close to having enough interested buyers already! May be able to make some inroads on the $4 million coop :)

8 Eggs! Two Days In a Row!

SUSAN:
The girls are really laying now! Today & yesterday I collected 8 eggs! Outstanding....

Yees!!

BOOMER:
He's (dad) going down to those weird fluffy clucky things again. I wonder what they task like? Their poop tastes really good! I mean its like a treat! It smells good too!!

Wait! Hey Austin! He didn't lock the gate?? Is this a trick? He always locks the gate? Why didn't he lock the gate? Austin!! Austin!! HEY AUSTIN!

AUSTIN:
What? You know I am deaf & asleep. This better be good.

BOOMER:
Look the gate isn't locked! You know, we could squeeze through this space! We could check out those fluffy clucky things. Didn't you eat one when you lived in Georgia? What did they taste like? Their poop tastes really good! I mean its like a treat! It smells good too!!

AUSTIN:
Yeah I killed 6 or 7 one day! Can't remember what they tasted like now.... heck I am over 90 years old! I can't remember what I did 10 mins ago! Yeah I killed 2 or 3 of them one day! It was quite dangerous.... luckily I was a skilled killer!

BOOMER:
I thought you killed just one? Wow, that poop smells good. Do you reckon we could squeeze through the gate & check those fluffy clucky things out? Maybe chase a few? Lets go! C'mon old fella. YEEEESSS... we are in. Every dog for himself... I am checking out these fluffy clucky thi.... wait... poop! Mmmmm... poop! Tons of the stuff! Every dog for himself! Poop! MMMMmmm. poop!

AUSTIN:
Where am I going? Hey there are those fluffy clucky things I used to kill... I think?
Hey whats this... poop! Hey that doesn't taste too bad. Hey there is tons of the stuff! Eureka! This stuff is almost as good as worms, but much easier to find!!
Wow, I am feeling sleepy... its hard work eating all of this poop! Might just lay down for a bit of sleep & then I'll get back to eating... eating all of ......(very sleepy)..... Boomer doesn't know what he is missing.... phew I am sleepy....

BOOMER:
Uh oh! Here comes the big fella. He sees me! Quick eat as much as I can.... eat, eat, eat.... wow this stuff is good! Eat, eat, eat, ea.... oh he has me.... back in my yard I go! I could eat this stuff all day! It just doesn't taste good, it makes my breath smell awesome! If only I could get back through the gate!!! Wonder where Austin went?

AUSTIN:
(Waking up) Where am I? Where in the heck am I? Oh there is the house. Time to head back for a sleep. Hey look at those fluffy clucky things. I used to kill those things in my younger days. If one wanders nearby, I may give it.....feel a bit sleepy... need to get back to the house & to my bed. Hey there is dad... he'll give me a carry if I play it right! Time to look cute, friendly & a little old... might even get a treat if I play this right! He is just soooo gullible!! ;)

BOOMER:
Hey how much poop did you eat? How much poop did you eat? How much poop did you eat? How much poop did you eat? How much poop did you eat? I ate tons... & I could eat tons more! How much poop did you eat?

AUSTIN:
Go away Boomer... I am sleepy... I've been awake for more than 10 mins.... wow what a day!

Final Sick Hen Update

NIGEL:
Since moving #47 (sick hen) up to the garage, she has shown no signs of improvement. Well maybe a little more alert on one occasion.

Anyway, I purchased a liquid multi-vitamin for her. I then wet my finger with it & tapped her beak. Tapping the beak stimulates a reflex to drink. Obviously they don't drink a lot per gulp, so I did this for several minutes. I also did this to hydrate her. I also placed water melon & some apple right next to her. It appeared she may have had 2 or 3 pecks at the melon?!

I moved her to the brooder just outside in the hope she might move around. Unfortunately, she didn't drink or eat except when I tapped on her beak. She also just sat in the corner of the brooder.

After consulting the chicken bible & several websites, I decided that I should put her down if she didn't show any signs of improvement today (almost a week of not eating & drinking). She still hadn't improved, so I put her down & buried her in the woods. Very very sad, but I couldn't risk any disease/illness for the rest of the flock, Austin, Boomer or us. Starving to death would not be pleasant either!

Very sad day in Susan's Chicken Farm history!

Horrible!

NIGEL:
Why we need to go free range & local!
This is horrible....

page 2 of article "....the company also noted that "instantaneous euthanasia" — a reference to killing of male chicks by the grinder — is a standard practice supported by the animal veterinary and scientific community." "Is this justifiable just for cheap eggs?"

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/01/2009-09-01_video_shows_chicks_ground_up_alive_at_iowa_egg_hatchery.html?page=1#ixzz14hkhje2Q

Check the video embedded lower down in the article.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/09/01/2009-09-01_video_shows_chicks_ground_up_alive_at_iowa_egg_hatchery.html

An interesting site http://www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue/#ABOUT
Loads of information... a great learning site.

Sick hen update 2

NIGEL:
Well I moved her & her box with straw into the garage with a 60W bulb as heat.
She seems a bit better today? Have no idea why?
Will supply her with some food as no egg was laid!
Still clueless............

Sick hen update

NIGEL:
Okay, so I read in several places that if there is egg binding, then the hen should be soaked in warm water for 30 mins. So, I removed her from the coop & soaked her. I thought she died a few times, but I think she was enjoying the bath. I couldn't feel any egg in her abdomen though....which concerns me... but again, I have no idea what I am doing!!! She is now in a box in our shower downstairs. Hopefully it is egg binding & she passes the egg in the next few hours & gets healthy again!!!

We will wait & see!!?!?!?!??!

Insulation

NIGEL:
Well finally getting to finishing the interior insulation. the cold weather arrived a little quicker than I anticipated. So I had to seal the spaces between the joists...with particle board & then add the ceiling. I also sealed any gaps between the corrugated iron & joists & stapled carpet on any large openings around the doors. It, obviously, made a huge difference to the drafts in the coop.

Eggs!!

NIGEL:

We are at about 40 eggs (only about 14,00 more to become profitable!!!). Some are getting close to normal size... but we had the smallest egg so far appear yesterday! Check it out! It is laying sideways in the egg carton, while the others are vertical.

Check out the hens in the laying boxes.... awesome!!!

Sick hen!!!

NIGEL:

Yesterday as I was working on the insulation of the chook coop, I noticed an Australorp hen who was lethargic...puffed its feathers out, with eyes closed. Told Susan & we checked on the appropriate strategy..... isolation.

So we placed her in the brooder area...temps in the mid 20'sF!! this morning Susan went down & she was just the same. After lots of reading, I have decided the most likely scenario is she is suffering from EGG BINDING! Basically, she has an egg stuck in her! Egg constipation!

Her symptoms, or lack of other symptoms, point to this as the issue. Additionally, the hens are beginning to lay, so this could be an obvious condition. So right now we are in holding pattern... doing what was suggested on the internet.... warm her with water nearby to make the air more moist.

Very stressful, when you don't know what to do exactly. Fingers crossed that she will pass the egg soon.