White Chicks Go First
Chickens... the white chickens in our flock are going to be the first to find new homes. Our flock is too big for our needs right now. These white hens are great egg layers but would not serve us well as dual purpose birds. They are so skinny that using them for meat is really out of the question.
There was a time when we thought we were going to be in the egg business. If we had enough hens we could supply our local economy with good farm raised eggs. However, most people don't realize (we didn't) how much effort and energy goes into getting a dozen eggs. The local economy does NOT want to pay the real cost for these eggs. Currently we get $3.50 per dozen eggs. That is ok, but not a sustainable business.
So, we reduce the flock
It makes no sense to keep a bunch of birds that are not producing anything for the homestead. Our lives are so full and busy that we need to start being responsible with the number of animals that we keep. With this in mind we are going to start selectively selling some livestock until we get down to a more responsible number.
Why the white chicks first? No reason in particular except that they are a small collection of birds that we feel like another farm that is interested in egg layers might find joy in having.
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Kudos @daddykirbs for an ethical solution.
I've congratulated you before for working with an ecosystem as opposed to trying to dominate it and force it to fit into your plans.
Thanks for being consistent.
It is a challenge. We are conditioned to think of "profit", but the feedback of our system within nature reminds us that "profit" is an insatiable goal.
You're unique in the fact that you notice the feedback @daddykirbs, that warrants an acknowledgment in itself.
Most of the locals here charge about the same but unfortunately they run out quickly , I think sadly , the egg business is not as easy as most think
Have you seen the compost chicken feeding system? Some people don't even feed their chickens and get an increase in egg production. Basically it involves building a big compost mound and letting the worms and critters build up then turning the chickens loose on it.
Yes I've seen that. It takes a big supply of kitchen scraps to keep that going I think. I've spent some time working on things like this and without a regular supply of scraps it would be difficult to maintain. Perhaps with a different infrastructure I could make it work.
Any compostable biomass will do the trick grass clippings, leaves, hardwood sawdust just so long as it will support a good population of worms, pill bugs, and other chicken snacks. Creating free range paddocks with electrified poultry netting with some simple feild shelters for shade and hawk protection and the chickens will free range for most of what they need. Justin Rhodes has a permaculture chickens DVD out there that covers a low input chicken system. Set up right you can have free chickens and eggs for a small input of labor.
Justin does a great job with the chickens for sure. It is possible to create a system like that on my farm, but it will take more time to find those resources and to implement some new infrastructure. Someday...
They are gorgeous! I hope they find a happy home :D
Thank you :)
That's about average. I've seen some people try to get $5 / doz for "cage free, free range organic eggs".
We get $5 for duck eggs, but not too many people want to pay that for chicken eggs when they can go to the grocery and still get them for less than $2 per dz. We'll still sell to a few regular buyers, but we are way over trying to produce enough eggs to make money.
Taking the numbers down to manageable is a wise move and being a responsible farmer. Sharing to others!
Over the time we've been on the farm we have explored and tested several ways to make a little bit of side money. Eggs seemed to make sense but it really isn't profitable at the prices people are willing to pay. So... the white chicks gotta go LOL
Big Sigh, wistful glance at the chickens Ah, yes, someday.... But right now, canning and dehydrati8ng are taking my time...Almost 100 pints of food preserved in 2 weeks. No time for chickens! :-(
If you need to reduce the flock, and you prefer dual purpose birds, then it's the white chickens that are the least useful. As you said, they're pretty skinny birds, not a lot of meat on those bones...
Back when I was raising chickens, Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons were my favorite birds. They're not the most prolific egg layers but they do pretty good, and they're good meat birds. Also, the Buffs were the only chickens that I had that would set eggs until they hatched.
Hahaha I love your title :P
And it's smart on your part to carefully choose what you would like to have in your farm!
NOT CLICK BAIT! LOL ... I thought it was funny.
It is, indeed 😉
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