In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Discussion in 'Hobbies and Interests' started by Well Seasoned, Mar 25, 2018.

  1. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    A third egg today. :thumbs:

    They are so little, lol. An egg 2 days in a row, perhaps we'll get one a day now. :yes:
     
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  2. JWinIndiana

    JWinIndiana

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    Years ago (early 90's) my oldest daughter came running around the barnyard holding an egg and said, "look daddy, we're saving money now the chickens are laying". And I thought to myself, 1 egg versus about $400.00, really saving money!:faint: But, now, years of never buying eggs and not worrying about them, it was all worth it.
     
  3. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    Lol, ill be in the hole the first year. :rofl: :lol:
     
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  4. Chaz

    Chaz

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    If I remember correctly, a mature chicken will lay an egg every 2-3 days.
    You should have plenty in the near future.

    As to break even point, who knows. :sherlock:
     
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  5. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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  6. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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  7. Midwinter

    Midwinter

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  8. coreboy83

    coreboy83

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    FOR SURE ! I don’t think we’re out of the red yet, it’s been almost 2 years. Feed, the electricity in the winter, all the crap Mel buys to “spruce it up”, constant upgrading/repairing. But by fall, we’ll have 5 dozen a week. Selling dozens for $3, I think it’ll finally pan out
     
  9. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    And we got a 4th egg! This must have been a different chicken. Currently i have oyster shells out so whomever wants calcium can get it. This egg was a bit lumpy, cracked, and soft.
     
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  10. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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  11. coreboy83

    coreboy83

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    We definitely noticed when the oyster shell was kicking in once the eggs started appearing. That kinda leveled off after awhile. Now we re-use egg shells. Dry them in the oven once it cooling down and grind em up a little
     
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  12. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    I been reading mixed things on layer feed when there are either different aged chickens or in our case, a rooster. The rooster doesn't need the extra calcium, and i have read it can damage his liver. On the other hand, my dad is a long time farmer, and says layer feed is perfectly fine if there's a rooster. So I'm using the pelletized oyster shell. I am seriously considering the layer feed though instead.
     
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  13. coreboy83

    coreboy83

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    Wouldn’t know anything about roosters. Can’t have them where we live. And in our minds, we don’t get anything back from them. We don’t like free-loaders. And besides,, I’m the only rooster on the property. Surrounded by 12 females, varying species
     
  14. bogieb

    bogieb

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    OTOH, you don't get fertile eggs, so no chicks without a rooster. I would guess that is how one eventually breaks even in that game, by the replacement hens a couple of years later (I think the hens only really lay well for a couple of years?). However, I know absolutely nothing about farming, and even less about how long chickens lay decent eggs, so my observation is worth less than 2 cents :)
     
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  15. jrider

    jrider

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    Something got my chickens today...oh wait it was me. 26 birds coming in at $1.51 a pound dressed out. So. damm. Good! IMG_2267.JPG IMG_2268.JPG IMG_2269.JPG
     
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  16. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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  17. jrider

    jrider

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    Until proven otherwise, yes, very much so! And yes that's a 3 door commercial fridge our local fire department wanted to get rid of 25 years ago or so. They even delivered it.
     
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  18. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    Nice!
     
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  19. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    A couple pics from today. I'm happy where the energizer has been sitting on a milk crate making sure the sun is strong enough there, so finally I mounted it on a 4x6 post.



    20180710_184339(0).jpg 20180711_184500.jpg 20180711_203333.jpg 20180705_133447.jpg
     
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  20. Well Seasoned

    Well Seasoned Administrator

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    Had a moose walk right through the yard this morning while feeding the chickens. I heard a bunch of branches breaking, thinking, what the heck is that?! Yup, moose. Don't usually have my phone on me when i wake up- no pics :rolleyes: