[Toni]

Thanks for starting the conversation 🙂

So, my question is Why won’t you be doing a fall run again? hehe I have some in the brooder that should be going out on pasture in about a week and a half. Our first time doing meat birds for the freezer. How bad have we messed up? lol

[Jason-REF]

Its just the work. We both work full time so come fall we are out there in the dark moving, feeding, watering. Makes everything more difficult. We hated it. Constant rain sucks too, but that’s usually hit and miss.

[Toni]

Oh my, that would definitely make it hard. We are always here so hopefully it won’t be too bad! Not even looking forward to the rain though…

Thanks!

[Hanidu-Acres]

Here in FL we’re able to year round. But it is a much tighter time frame in Dry Season.

[NoLackFarm]

Same here in South Alabama. We just do smaller batches in the winter. I have 40 on pasture right now.

We run mostly heritage breeds like Orpingtons in constant rotation with our cows.

[Hanidu-Acres]

Orpingtons have done well for us too.

[Squashmania]

I started a batch in late August/early Sept. Planned harvest Nov. 1&2. It’s only 15 birds, but these are CC, and my last batch, I had to cut the carcasses in half to fit in the shrink bags. It will rain tonight in Ohio, and it’s been so dry, I don’t think they’ve hardly seen any since I put them outside. Culture shock is about to happen. This batch has some very sweet curious birds. I am going to need something stronger than my usual tea on butcher day. I feel like a sociopath….or Kathy Bates in Misery. 😔

[JerseyGiantChick]

Does it help to know it is not so nice to let them live, know people wo breed with them that is not my cup of tea. Those are missable chickens, they think different and the chickens have a lovely life.

Do not worry, if you give them a good life by taking good care of them. With respect from beginning to end, also butchering and preparing it is ok. Be blessed with there offering, it is good not to forget and feeling.

[ShelbyDuck]

Good discussion. I switched from CC to Freedom Rangers a few years ago. A little longer in processing time but a lot sturdier bird. My just be me but I thought the meat was better too, higher fat content it seems.

[NoLackFarm]

Same here we run Orpingtons and Ginger broilers. I’m not keen on the quantity of life of the CC. But also our birds are run in sequence with our cows and CC are to lazy and would end up having strokes. Our birds live well and work hard. Lol

[AlmaFarmstead]

I’ve got a rookie question but does anyone here pasture raise turkeys? I’m trying to figure out the best way to graze them but I’m worried about them either straight up leaving or getting attacked by coyotes

with my chickens, I’ll be using electric poultry netting and clipping wings

and similarly the ducks will be in a large area secured by electric fencing but rotationally grazed within that area with non-electric fencing (as I’ve learned that they – and geese – semi-frequently electrocute themselves)

is it best to clip the turkeys too and just run them along with my chicken tractor or will having flight feathers, a high roost, and a couple sections of electric fencing to duck into if needed be a better way to keep them safe?

[Jason-REF]

Did Turkeys for T-day this year for the first time. we put them in a chicken tractor. after they were decent size, 5-6 weeks or so, we let them out during the day. as long as you get them back before sundown they are easy to push back in. after that they seem like they cant see. no flight issues. they struggled to get up on my trampoline. they do a great job cleaning up under fruit trees and they like to eat full size slugs. aside from the giant poop they were not really much of a problem. 15.5 weeks they averaged 16lbs cleaned. used about 50lbs of feed each.

[TCam]

I live in SE Louisiana. Looking to purchase 3 to 4 small laying hens.what would you recommend and where. How are they shipped?

Thanks.

[NoLackFarm]

I ve been raising buff Orpingtons for the last 3 years in South Al. They are a great dual purpose bird, good forager and do well in the southern heat.

[JerseyGiantChick]

Dual purpose are great, we have Jersey Giant, Barbezieux and Poule de Bresse running around.