News from the Farm
We had a good hatch this week. The New Hampshire Reds burst from the shell – they are always the first to hatch. Some breeds like the Dark Cornish take longer to hatch. Because we have a full range of breeds, our “hatch day” can stretch across two days. On the first morning of “hatch day” we hear …
Farm Tour on Saturday, April 9, 2017
We’ll be having a Farm Tour on Saturday, April 9th, 2017 starting at 1:30PM. This will be a great opportunity to visit our farm, see how our chickens and other poultry are raised, and learn more about raising poultry.
This will be similar to our Farm Day, except that we won’t have a meal — just light snacks.
You can read more about it on our blog by clicking the link below.
Black Australorps
Black Australorp Rooster and Hen
In my opinion, the Black Australorps is one of the best birds for the family homestead. It is currently our best layer, with lay rates that have consistently stayed in the 80-85% range.
The roosters grow rapidly (though not quite as rapidly as our New Hampshires) and produce a nice-sized bird with plump drumsticks that is ready to process for the table at 17-18 weeks. Our Australorps are calm and docile, with a slight tendency to go broody in the first year (5-10% of our hens are exhibiting some broodiness — I’m glad that it’s this low because broodiness cuts into egg production, but at the same time, I’m pleased to see some tendency toward “natural incubation”).
Despite their black feathers (with an iridescent greenish and purplish hue), they fare very well in the heat of Texas summers and are well-suited for our climate.
Read more about this breed >>>
Garlic Water Treatment
Garlic water is a useful treatment for many different types of poultry ailments. You can scale this recipe to whatever amount of liquid you need, then use it directly in your poultry waterers.
- 1-2 ounces of apple cider vinegar per gallon of mix (Braggs Organic)
- add 2-3 cloves of garlic (sliced end-to-end) per 5 gallons of mixture and allow to soak at least 24 hours before using the mixture.
- add 50-100 IU per bird per day of Vitamin E oil (for 7 to 14 days)
Use the mixture as the only source of water for the bird(s) that you are treating.
Credit for this recipe goes to Jeff Mattox.
How Much Space Do My Chickens Need?
We recommend at least 4 square feet per bird when using a “chicken tractor” that gives access to fresh ground daily. 6 to 8 square feet is better. If the coop looks or smells crowded, then your chickens would benefit from more space.
In a house with a stationary pen and run, we recommend a minimum of 10 square feet per bird. Housing should be well-ventilated and let in plenty of light (light is important for laying).
Pasture coop made from carport frame
Update and Progress on Chicken Coop Design
Several people have recently requested this information, and I thought it might be useful to others, too.
The elusive perfect coop design continues to be sought after by the pastured poultry crowd, and with the growth of interest in sustainable poultry, we often receive questions about what coops we are using….