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Post by blane on Apr 10, 2010 8:57:16 GMT -5
This a little project my boy Joey and I started about 2 years ago, by no means am I a carpenter, so when just pieced this thing together, without a blue print to go by...Rather looked up some ideas on the net.   |
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Post by blane on Apr 10, 2010 9:02:40 GMT -5
Heres the finished product....    See how this works? The hens actually make paths for me to sow mustard greens for them to eat later on. |
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Post by blane on Apr 10, 2010 9:11:06 GMT -5
Even when a rare snow hit this winter, the Tractor moves on! ;D  For what its worth....These are the best tasting eggs Ive ever had.  |
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Post by darthslater on Apr 10, 2010 17:32:43 GMT -5
What a great idea Blane!!  |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 10, 2010 20:51:48 GMT -5
Glad to see it's working well for your backyard flock, Blane!!
I see two Buff Orpingtons and a S.L. Wyandotte behind them? Neither of those breeds lay green eggs. So where are the Ameracauna's hiding?
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stratcat
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Post by stratcat on Apr 10, 2010 22:07:48 GMT -5
Nice setup, Blane! Thanks for sharing.  |
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Post by blane on Apr 10, 2010 23:20:22 GMT -5
Glad to see it's working well for your backyard flock, Blane!! I see two Buff Orpingtons and a S.L. Wyandotte behind them? Neither of those breeds lay green eggs. So where are the Ameracauna's hiding? I started off with 2 Buffs, and a Ameracauna. No S.L Wyandtte. One of the Buffs died. So with 2 Hens left, its time to get some biddies again. |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 11, 2010 13:19:05 GMT -5
Ah, so that was an Ameracauna behind. Got it.
Yes, time to add to your flock, methinks. Happy Hen Hunting. ;D
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 29, 2011 23:28:54 GMT -5
Blane, did you get any new chicks this spring?.... we let the grandkids pick them out this year and wound up with 15 pullets and 1 rooster... a couple easter eggers .. and I got 1 rooster and 1 pullet of black copper marans.. thought we would have chocolate eggs for breakfast..... can't wait to see the colors and really miss the fresh egg taste.. our last batch from 2 years ago is all gone except cookie our old hen that still lays an occasional egg when we feed her layer pellets... on scratch and free range she stops.. if we made dumplings out of her my granddaughter would never forgive me.... LOL!
I love your chicken tractor and keep planning on making one, but keep putting it off. Maybe this is the year.
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Post by willyswoodpile on Apr 30, 2011 0:12:14 GMT -5
All I can say is "Chickens Rule!". I like your Red, white, and blue paint scheme. And it's something you did with your kid. God is good.
Yes, fresh eggs are the best. The Amish just wipe theirs off with a damp cloth if they need cleaning.
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Post by blane on Apr 30, 2011 7:10:12 GMT -5
Yes, I added another amerucuna (spelling again) and a Golden Comet...supposed to lay all year long accounding to the person at the co-op in South Jackson- |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Apr 30, 2011 9:05:52 GMT -5
Yes, those hybrid breeds such as Golden Comet or Red Sex-Links lay up a storm if egg production is your main purpose for raising fowl.
Cleaning eggs at home? Willys correct. Eggs are laid with a natural coating that will keep even an unrefrigerated egg fresh for up to 6 weeks. Commercial ones are pressure washed to remove that, then they have a chemical coating added. Makes a lot of sense to me, NOT!
If the shells are dirty and a light brushing won't remove the crusty poo, then use a wire brush or sandpaper. The organic farm just over the hill here doesn't clean theirs at all. I bred and showed fowl for many years and not much grosses me out. But somehow, buying eggs with big blobs of dried crap stuck to the shells doesn't appeal to me. Is that why they feel they can charge Eggstra to call them Organic cuz they have a Bonus? Blech
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Post by blane on Apr 30, 2011 9:34:37 GMT -5
Good point Blue-
Some of my eggs have this, some dont, I just grab the hose and blast a fast stream (on Jet) and place them in the fridge.
Lets see if I can zap a pic of my newest babys-
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 30, 2011 9:49:17 GMT -5
We usually don't get the egg layer only types because they are usually the most high strung and if chickens are mean around here they wind up on the table.... LOL. We live in a large home with our youngest son and his family and have three grandkids that are from 4yo to 11yo and they picked out a couple of the comets this year, so we will see if they are worth the trouble.. we try and pick the most docile and free range types, we have four dogs and Spud the Jack Russel "terrierist" is one of them .. he takes it personally when a chicken fights back... he has never killed one, but when they are aggressive he sometimes gets a few feathers.
bluelacedredhead, I did not know that about the coating, very interesting... we don't usually wash them either but you are right about the Blech! ... from now on we will have to be sure and eat the washed ones first.
Everyother year we let the broody ones raise chicks and cookie our old hen is a cochin x sussex and has been great egg layer and lets the kids drag her around like an old rag doll.. we have coyotes, bobcats and owls that have all got one on occasion .. a bobcat got 6 one night, so we finally built a very strong chicken house this year inside the fenced area with the dogs as guards.
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Post by darthslater on Apr 30, 2011 10:13:41 GMT -5
I like the way you think VM, I don't tolerate anything meaner than me here at The Death Star hehe..Also I think Blanes tractor would be great for rabbits, with slight modification.
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