| New | Old | Brown | ||
| No. Hens | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| Age in Weeks at start | 34 | 102 | ? | |
| 06.01.2013 | Sunday | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 07.01.2013 | Monday | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 08.01.2013 | Tuesday | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 09.01.2013 | Wednesday | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 10.01.2013 | Thursday | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 11.01.2013 | Friday | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 12.01.2013 | Saturday | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 13.01.2013 | Sunday | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 14.01.2013 | Monday | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 15.01.2013 | Tuesday | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 16.01.2013 | Wednesday | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 17.01.2013 | Thursday | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 18.01.2013 | Friday | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 19.01.2013 | Saturday | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Mean | 5.43 | 4.50 | 0.64 | |
| Median | 5.50 | 4.00 | 1.00 | |
| Mode | 6.00 | 4.00 | 1.00 | |
| Laying Efficiency | 90.48% | 75.00% | 64.29% |
Ancient David Brown Tractor, Ben - Head of Sales!, The Great Oak, Monmouthshire Tymawr Farm
Showing posts with label Chickens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chickens. Show all posts
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Chickens # 12 - Laying Data Update
Monday, 14 January 2013
Chickens # 11 - Laying Data
We have two mini-flocks: The Old Flock, consisting of 6 Light Sussex Hybrids which we bought in May 2011, and The New Flock, consisting of 6 Light Sussex Hybrids bought in September 2012, cohabiting with 1 random brown layer and 1 tiny all-black cockerel, both of which arrived a fortnight ago when a lady arrived at the door with them in a pet-cage asking if we would 'take them in'. Never look a gift chicken in the mouth I say!
The Old Flock, after a hugely productive first 18 months or so with us, moulted this year in November and more or less stopped laying (well, 1 per day between the 6 of them) for nearly two months. The New Flock arrived with us as 'point of lay' pullets at 16 weeks old and started to lay erratically at about 20 weeks, but have now (at 34 weeks) settled down to the 'usual' super productive cycle.
I'm planning a chapter in The Book covering some useful maths, statistics and analytical techniques which will hopefully be of great benefit to Farm business leaders. I don't have enough data for the first 'worked example' yet, but here's a quick preview:
Laying efficiency is the mean divided by one egg per day per day per hen which I think is a simple, easy metric (not strictly accurate but useful nonetheless).
I'll update the data over the coming weeks and when I've got 30 data points per flock I'll do some analysis.
We have two mini-flocks: The Old Flock, consisting of 6 Light Sussex Hybrids which we bought in May 2011, and The New Flock, consisting of 6 Light Sussex Hybrids bought in September 2012, cohabiting with 1 random brown layer and 1 tiny all-black cockerel, both of which arrived a fortnight ago when a lady arrived at the door with them in a pet-cage asking if we would 'take them in'. Never look a gift chicken in the mouth I say!
The Old Flock, after a hugely productive first 18 months or so with us, moulted this year in November and more or less stopped laying (well, 1 per day between the 6 of them) for nearly two months. The New Flock arrived with us as 'point of lay' pullets at 16 weeks old and started to lay erratically at about 20 weeks, but have now (at 34 weeks) settled down to the 'usual' super productive cycle.
I'm planning a chapter in The Book covering some useful maths, statistics and analytical techniques which will hopefully be of great benefit to Farm business leaders. I don't have enough data for the first 'worked example' yet, but here's a quick preview:
| New | Old | Brown | ||
| No. Hens | 6 | 6 | 1 | |
| Age in Weeks at start | 34 | 102 | ? | |
| 06.01.2013 | Sunday | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 07.01.2013 | Monday | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 08.01.2013 | Tuesday | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 09.01.2013 | Wednesday | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 10.01.2013 | Thursday | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 11.01.2013 | Friday | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 12.01.2013 | Saturday | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| 13.01.2013 | Sunday | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 14.01.2013 | Monday | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| Mean | 5.44 | 4.56 | 0.67 | |
| Median | 6.00 | 4.00 | 1.00 | |
| Mode | 6.00 | 4.00 | 1.00 | |
| Laying Efficiency | 90.74% | 75.93% | 66.67% |
Laying efficiency is the mean divided by one egg per day per day per hen which I think is a simple, easy metric (not strictly accurate but useful nonetheless).
I'll update the data over the coming weeks and when I've got 30 data points per flock I'll do some analysis.
Monday, 12 November 2012
Chickens # 10
After losing several of the new Tymawr-Farm flock to the fox after they flapped over the too-low fence, and having several more near-misses as I discovered them roosting in the hedge or even more inappropriate places, I decided it was time to do a proper job on their fence. 6ft high chicken wire (I use 2" mesh which is fine, and much cheaper than 1") is the ideal stuff for the job, although a bit more difficult to track down than the usual 3 or 4ft. The weather has been wet for several weeks here, which makes the ground ideal for fencing (in the dry it is nearly impossible!) - I use a long, heavy, ancient and rusty iron bar to start the hole, bashing it in and twisting it around to a depth of 18" to 2ft or so. Once I've done that I use an equally ancient fencing maul (a heavy sledgehammer with an oversized head) to hammer the stakes home (for a light job like this 2-3" round stakes are ideal). As the posts I had were only 5ft long I then made up the rest of the height (to 6ft) with some of my store of scrap wood. After cable-tying the wire onto the posts I finished the job with a nice tight single strand of barbed wire about 6" above the ground to hold the chicken wire down.
It doesn't look pretty but it looks effective! Photos to follow......
After losing several of the new Tymawr-Farm flock to the fox after they flapped over the too-low fence, and having several more near-misses as I discovered them roosting in the hedge or even more inappropriate places, I decided it was time to do a proper job on their fence. 6ft high chicken wire (I use 2" mesh which is fine, and much cheaper than 1") is the ideal stuff for the job, although a bit more difficult to track down than the usual 3 or 4ft. The weather has been wet for several weeks here, which makes the ground ideal for fencing (in the dry it is nearly impossible!) - I use a long, heavy, ancient and rusty iron bar to start the hole, bashing it in and twisting it around to a depth of 18" to 2ft or so. Once I've done that I use an equally ancient fencing maul (a heavy sledgehammer with an oversized head) to hammer the stakes home (for a light job like this 2-3" round stakes are ideal). As the posts I had were only 5ft long I then made up the rest of the height (to 6ft) with some of my store of scrap wood. After cable-tying the wire onto the posts I finished the job with a nice tight single strand of barbed wire about 6" above the ground to hold the chicken wire down.
It doesn't look pretty but it looks effective! Photos to follow......
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Chickens # 9 - New Arrivals!
Jo, Ben, Kate and I drove over to Stewart at www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk on Sunday morning to pick up our 10 new Light Sussex hybrids. He is BRILLIANT, very nice set up, nice and knowledgeable guy who, whilst selling us the chickens, gave us a massively inspirational look at his beautiful house full of home-sawn (by a mobile saw-mill) and self-felled wood beams, staircase and joinery. We left there just amazed at the kind of things which are possible without resorting to dealing with 'big business' for building materials & full of projects!
Anyway, I digress, back to the chickens. We transported the chickens in a big cardboard box in the boot, and when we arrived home, between us managed to manhandle it onto a wheelbarrow, and then set off around the back of the house and into the field where I've got their run and house set up. I wheeled the barrow into the run, closed the gate, opened one end of the box and stood back.
As usual in that situation, nothing happened, and only with a mix of gentle tipping, grabbing and persuasion did all the chickens emerge. They seem to have settled in really well - they've now been with us for two and a half days and I've just come in from shutting them up. All ten still present and correct, all bright eyed, clean and smart!
They're just over 16 weeks old now, and I expect them to start laying at 20 to 24 weeks. Full production level in time for Christmas!
Jo, Ben, Kate and I drove over to Stewart at www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk on Sunday morning to pick up our 10 new Light Sussex hybrids. He is BRILLIANT, very nice set up, nice and knowledgeable guy who, whilst selling us the chickens, gave us a massively inspirational look at his beautiful house full of home-sawn (by a mobile saw-mill) and self-felled wood beams, staircase and joinery. We left there just amazed at the kind of things which are possible without resorting to dealing with 'big business' for building materials & full of projects!
Anyway, I digress, back to the chickens. We transported the chickens in a big cardboard box in the boot, and when we arrived home, between us managed to manhandle it onto a wheelbarrow, and then set off around the back of the house and into the field where I've got their run and house set up. I wheeled the barrow into the run, closed the gate, opened one end of the box and stood back.
 |
| The Start of the Expanded Tymawr Farm Flock |
They're just over 16 weeks old now, and I expect them to start laying at 20 to 24 weeks. Full production level in time for Christmas!
 |
| The rest are hiding around the back! |
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Chickens # 8 - Moving the coop!
There was a very big, neglected old chicken coop in one of the Alpaca sheds (see Chickens # 5) which we'd thought for some time would be useful when we expand the flock. There were a few problems with it however: it was very, very dirty; due to it's position stuck in a corner it was impossible to see if it was intact or damaged, although it looked ok in most areas and a bit ropey in others; and, finally, it had been boxed in with an improvised fence which would have to be dismantled before it could be dragged out into the field. I suppose there would have been an option of leaving it where it was, but I think animal housing is much healthier if it can be out 'in the field', in the air and sunshine if possible.
Last weekend after doing some basic cleaning out, we decided to drag it out of the shed and into the field. Jo stayed in the house with the kids as I picked up a big pile of webbing straps that I use for pulling tasks, threw them into the boot of the Polo and drove up the lane to the field-gate. Jo said 'Are you sure this is a good idea, the fields still a bit wet?', 'No problem' I replied with a confidence I still felt at that point.
I hitched up the Polo to the coop, having first removed a fence post, and, after a bit of lining up, we were off! Slowly we rolled into the field. My plan was to drive fairly straight into the field, and then make a gradual turn in a big arc around to the left, eventually leaving the coop with it's back to the fence and neatly parallel to it.
The first 30 seconds of the journey went brilliantly, the second 30 got a bit more tricky - it became apparent that the four fixed wheels on the coop meant that turning corners, however shallow, was not really an option. At that point we reached a very, very slight incline, the front wheels started to spin and we ground to a halt. After several attempts to get moving again (trying slowly at full lock in each direction, reversing a bit and slowly moving forward on firm ground), it was obvious that while the coop was attached, the Polo wasn't going anywhere. Fortunately, when the (estimated 3-400kg) coop was unhitched, we could still carefully drive around the field.
After a quick lie down in the field, gently sobbing, I revised my plan. I unhitched the coop and carefully turned the car around and positioned it to drag the coop back down the incline. My new plan was to get up some momentum down the slope, and then turn around a nice arc, stopping perfectly in the optimum coop position.
Incredibly, it nearly worked, with the exception that I got a bit carried away and drove a bit too far and had to push the coop about 10 yards backwards.
Got to brush this and get a coat of bitumen paint on it tomorrow night!
This will benefit from some wood preservative I think!
Can't wait to get the chickens installed in their new home - going to get them after the Usk show on Saturday!
There was a very big, neglected old chicken coop in one of the Alpaca sheds (see Chickens # 5) which we'd thought for some time would be useful when we expand the flock. There were a few problems with it however: it was very, very dirty; due to it's position stuck in a corner it was impossible to see if it was intact or damaged, although it looked ok in most areas and a bit ropey in others; and, finally, it had been boxed in with an improvised fence which would have to be dismantled before it could be dragged out into the field. I suppose there would have been an option of leaving it where it was, but I think animal housing is much healthier if it can be out 'in the field', in the air and sunshine if possible.
Last weekend after doing some basic cleaning out, we decided to drag it out of the shed and into the field. Jo stayed in the house with the kids as I picked up a big pile of webbing straps that I use for pulling tasks, threw them into the boot of the Polo and drove up the lane to the field-gate. Jo said 'Are you sure this is a good idea, the fields still a bit wet?', 'No problem' I replied with a confidence I still felt at that point.
 |
| 'Before' |
The first 30 seconds of the journey went brilliantly, the second 30 got a bit more tricky - it became apparent that the four fixed wheels on the coop meant that turning corners, however shallow, was not really an option. At that point we reached a very, very slight incline, the front wheels started to spin and we ground to a halt. After several attempts to get moving again (trying slowly at full lock in each direction, reversing a bit and slowly moving forward on firm ground), it was obvious that while the coop was attached, the Polo wasn't going anywhere. Fortunately, when the (estimated 3-400kg) coop was unhitched, we could still carefully drive around the field.
After a quick lie down in the field, gently sobbing, I revised my plan. I unhitched the coop and carefully turned the car around and positioned it to drag the coop back down the incline. My new plan was to get up some momentum down the slope, and then turn around a nice arc, stopping perfectly in the optimum coop position.
Incredibly, it nearly worked, with the exception that I got a bit carried away and drove a bit too far and had to push the coop about 10 yards backwards.
 |
| Success!
|
Got to brush this and get a coat of bitumen paint on it tomorrow night!
This will benefit from some wood preservative I think!
Can't wait to get the chickens installed in their new home - going to get them after the Usk show on Saturday!
Friday, 24 August 2012
Chickens # 7 - New stock imminent!
With the general busyness of work and life we haven't been able to put the plan of buying day old chicks and raising them to POL into practice yet. However, we do need to get more stock urgently - Jo has been really successful at farm-gate sales and I could definately sell more at work; to solve the problem in the short-term I have ordered 10 more hybrid Light Sussex from Stewart at www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk/ and I can pick them up on the 8th September. They'll be around 16 weeks old at that point, and based on our current 6 chickens, it will take another 4 weeks or so before they start to lay regularly & a bit longer before they get really productive.
So, by mid-October we should be at a pretty decent production level! Typically our little flock produces 5 eggs between the 6 hens, so if we assume the same level of productivity we should achieve:
16 hens x (5/6) eggs per day x 7 days per week = 93 eggs per week
That will leave around 14 half-dozens for sale and 9 eggs for use at home. Our sales target will be 10 boxes for 'in-work' sale and 4 boxes for 'farm-gate' sale. If we can make this level work, we'll step up to a higher level. You can keep up to 50 chickens without any kind of registration http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Smallholders/DG_189309 so I expect that will be the next level for us. Looking forward to it!
With the general busyness of work and life we haven't been able to put the plan of buying day old chicks and raising them to POL into practice yet. However, we do need to get more stock urgently - Jo has been really successful at farm-gate sales and I could definately sell more at work; to solve the problem in the short-term I have ordered 10 more hybrid Light Sussex from Stewart at www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk/ and I can pick them up on the 8th September. They'll be around 16 weeks old at that point, and based on our current 6 chickens, it will take another 4 weeks or so before they start to lay regularly & a bit longer before they get really productive.
So, by mid-October we should be at a pretty decent production level! Typically our little flock produces 5 eggs between the 6 hens, so if we assume the same level of productivity we should achieve:
16 hens x (5/6) eggs per day x 7 days per week = 93 eggs per week
That will leave around 14 half-dozens for sale and 9 eggs for use at home. Our sales target will be 10 boxes for 'in-work' sale and 4 boxes for 'farm-gate' sale. If we can make this level work, we'll step up to a higher level. You can keep up to 50 chickens without any kind of registration http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Smallholders/DG_189309 so I expect that will be the next level for us. Looking forward to it!
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Chickens # 6 - The Shop at the farm gate!
We don't have much passing trade at Tymawr farm, being the last but one house on a no-through road with four houses on it! However, there is a footpath which runs through 2 of the fields, and the lane outside the gate connects a few footpaths and bridle paths, so we thought an 'honesty box' might be worth a try. After a late flash of inspiration during children's bathtime, I rushed out after bedtime stories and made this:
The sign was inherited - found amongst my late great aunt's things - it's reversible - the other side says 'LAMB' - would be great to use that side in a few years too!
We've been making egg box labels and an honesty box this evening, so tomorrow morning I'll stock up the "Egg Shelter" and see what happens!
We're now full of inspiration and enthusiasm, jams, chutneys, etc. etc. are being discussed with relish (sorry!).
We don't have much passing trade at Tymawr farm, being the last but one house on a no-through road with four houses on it! However, there is a footpath which runs through 2 of the fields, and the lane outside the gate connects a few footpaths and bridle paths, so we thought an 'honesty box' might be worth a try. After a late flash of inspiration during children's bathtime, I rushed out after bedtime stories and made this:
The sign was inherited - found amongst my late great aunt's things - it's reversible - the other side says 'LAMB' - would be great to use that side in a few years too!
We've been making egg box labels and an honesty box this evening, so tomorrow morning I'll stock up the "Egg Shelter" and see what happens!
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Chickens # 5: The New Home of the Tymawr Farm Flock!
Lots of TLC and disinfectant required first of all though! As well as a new roof and a going over with some wood preservative. However, it is massive, intact, and has some sturdy wheels (may have to be towed behind the Polo, which is my substitute tractor for now!), I love a project!
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Chickens # 3
I've been looking at the Fosters Poultry website (www.fosterpoultry.co.uk) at day old chicks - I think I've pretty much decided that this is the best way to go. I'd considered hatching eggs, but the cost of a fertile egg doesn't seem to be hugely different to the cost of a day old chick, and you then need an incubator, and the sex may not be what you need. I think maybe once we have a substantial flock, with a cockerel and 'the bloodline' starts to become important then the incubator route may be a good way to go, but probably not for now. The other thing I'd considered was just buying point of lay again, which worked really well for our current small flock, because I wanted something instant and proven, and we were absolute beginners. However, for a new flock of 20 layers, and a cost of £14 each for hybrids, and significantly more for pure-breeds, which are what I want, that adds up to a lot of money!
So, I think the plan for the Tymawr laying flock is to purchase 20 day old chicks, a heat lamp, and to create some well insulated space somewhere to bring them up to an age where they can go out into the old hen-house (A major cleaning / repairing job for the weekend I think!).
I'd also really like to get some 'growers' and I was interested in the 'Hubbard' meat chicks from Fosters Poultry too - they say they can be killed to make a 2kg bird at 14 weeks, which my back of an envelope calculation gives a cost of about £5.50 or hopefully a bit less (cost based on the feed costs per head/month of my mature layers plus £2 a head cost to buy the chicks). Asda (http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/catalog/sectionpagecontainer.jsp?departmentid=1214921923769) sells free range whole chickens currently for £4.58 per kg, meaning a price of £9.16 against my cost of £5.50 or less. If it comes together as planned that seems like a nice discount!
The main problem that I can see will be whether I can actually learn / bring myself to kill, pluck and gut the chickens when the time comes! However, the older I get and the more engaged with the farm I get, the more I'm coming round to the idea that if you choose to eat meat, you should have the conviction to ensure that the animal has had a great life, and the courage to do what is necessary to convert it into meat!
I've been looking at the Fosters Poultry website (www.fosterpoultry.co.uk) at day old chicks - I think I've pretty much decided that this is the best way to go. I'd considered hatching eggs, but the cost of a fertile egg doesn't seem to be hugely different to the cost of a day old chick, and you then need an incubator, and the sex may not be what you need. I think maybe once we have a substantial flock, with a cockerel and 'the bloodline' starts to become important then the incubator route may be a good way to go, but probably not for now. The other thing I'd considered was just buying point of lay again, which worked really well for our current small flock, because I wanted something instant and proven, and we were absolute beginners. However, for a new flock of 20 layers, and a cost of £14 each for hybrids, and significantly more for pure-breeds, which are what I want, that adds up to a lot of money!
So, I think the plan for the Tymawr laying flock is to purchase 20 day old chicks, a heat lamp, and to create some well insulated space somewhere to bring them up to an age where they can go out into the old hen-house (A major cleaning / repairing job for the weekend I think!).
I'd also really like to get some 'growers' and I was interested in the 'Hubbard' meat chicks from Fosters Poultry too - they say they can be killed to make a 2kg bird at 14 weeks, which my back of an envelope calculation gives a cost of about £5.50 or hopefully a bit less (cost based on the feed costs per head/month of my mature layers plus £2 a head cost to buy the chicks). Asda (http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/catalog/sectionpagecontainer.jsp?departmentid=1214921923769) sells free range whole chickens currently for £4.58 per kg, meaning a price of £9.16 against my cost of £5.50 or less. If it comes together as planned that seems like a nice discount!
The main problem that I can see will be whether I can actually learn / bring myself to kill, pluck and gut the chickens when the time comes! However, the older I get and the more engaged with the farm I get, the more I'm coming round to the idea that if you choose to eat meat, you should have the conviction to ensure that the animal has had a great life, and the courage to do what is necessary to convert it into meat!
Friday, 11 May 2012
Chickens #2
The chickens are normally confined in a 5x5m moveable run. The frequency of moving it depends on the weather conditions - 7 chickens can turn a 25m2 area into mud VERY quickly in the rain! On weekends when we're around I sometimes let them properly free range on the 8 acres around the house. Its amazing how much of their food they pick up 'on the range' like this, and I'm sure if we expand our free range egg enterprise 'pastured poultry' is the way to go.
I'm always a bit nervous when I come to shut them up at dusk, after my experience the second time I let them free range. I had left it a bit late to shut them up, and as is often the case here it was raining, and all 7 hens had roamed the wrong side of an ordinary 4 foot high stock fence. They were soaked, huddled up to the fence, about 6 feet away from their run, which they were looking at longingly. Now, if it puts it's mind to it a chicken can easily jump over a stock fence, but not one out of the 7 had realised that was possible this evening - they were resigned to settling down for the night where they were! The first thing I tried was to rattle some layer's pellets loudly in a tin in their run, to try to inspire them to jump the fence. It just made them try to push unsuccessfully through the fence, looking even more miserable and wet, without a hint of a jump or even a hop! It was really dark by this time, so by the light of my torch, in the now driving rain I trudged around to their side of the stock fence.
The chickens are normally confined in a 5x5m moveable run. The frequency of moving it depends on the weather conditions - 7 chickens can turn a 25m2 area into mud VERY quickly in the rain! On weekends when we're around I sometimes let them properly free range on the 8 acres around the house. Its amazing how much of their food they pick up 'on the range' like this, and I'm sure if we expand our free range egg enterprise 'pastured poultry' is the way to go.
I'm always a bit nervous when I come to shut them up at dusk, after my experience the second time I let them free range. I had left it a bit late to shut them up, and as is often the case here it was raining, and all 7 hens had roamed the wrong side of an ordinary 4 foot high stock fence. They were soaked, huddled up to the fence, about 6 feet away from their run, which they were looking at longingly. Now, if it puts it's mind to it a chicken can easily jump over a stock fence, but not one out of the 7 had realised that was possible this evening - they were resigned to settling down for the night where they were! The first thing I tried was to rattle some layer's pellets loudly in a tin in their run, to try to inspire them to jump the fence. It just made them try to push unsuccessfully through the fence, looking even more miserable and wet, without a hint of a jump or even a hop! It was really dark by this time, so by the light of my torch, in the now driving rain I trudged around to their side of the stock fence.
I did the usual thing - tried to chase them into a corner - quite time consuming in a field! I tried to trap them between the fence and my leg, and pinning them there so I could grab them. In desperation I put a long plank from the ground to the top of the fence to encourage them to walk up and jump over. I tried to 'net' them with a big feed sack. None of them worked very well, but after an hour's sweat, swearing and tears (yes, really) I had managed to grab each of the 7 individually and gently drop it onto the 'run' side of the fence. 5 of the hens had then gratefully re-entered their run and gone straight to bed, 2 of them were pitifully walking around and around the run, unable to grasp the concept of the door! More chasing, cornering, pinning, netting etc. etc. and they were all safely in the house. Vowing to never let the bl**** chickens out of their bl**** run ever a bl**** gain I trudged slowly and miserably back to the house, dropped my soaked clothes onto the floor and sank exhausted into bed.
Of course on more optimistic, sunny, weekend days this was soon forgotten, and I've let them range lots of times since, and they have slowly learnt how to navigate fences and gates.
The 'impregnable' fence earlier today. At dusk they had all managed to return safety to their house!
I was given 'Salad Bar Beef' for Christmas http://www.amazon.co.uk/Salad-Bar-Beef-Allan-Nation/dp/096381091X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336773229&sr=8-1 by the brilliant Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm (http://www.polyfacefarms.com/) (he wrote it, rather than giving it to me!). When he's describing their 'eggmobile' system of pastured poultry he mentions that they do not use hybrid hens as they don't have enough 'brains' to survive on the range, and that they only use pure-breeds. Its an interesting point, the Tymawr farm hybrids certainly seem to be pretty stupid (even though they are brilliantly productive and look great), so it might be sensible to sacrifice a bit of output for some brains when we step up production to the next level? Having said that the hybrids have learnt over time, and if they had been totally free ranging from day one I guess they would have been fine after the first few weeks. The question then would just be whether they would actually survive the first few weeks or not!
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Chickens #1
We currently have 7 lovely "Light Sussex" hybrid chickens which we bought from Stewart at http://www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk/. They are really productive (I made one of Jo's friend's boyfriends laugh the other day when they visited by showing him a run-chart of eggs per day, with calculations on 'laying efficiency', histograms and standard deviations! - I know, I am a bit sad) laying 6 eggs between the 7 of them per day very reliably, except in sub-zero temperatures!
I have a little 'egg round' in work, selling about 5 half-dozens per week to colleagues in the office, but often get asked if I could add people to my 'round. In one of the Alpaca sheds there's a big old hen-house which looks like it might be ok with a LOT of cleaning and re-water proofing. I think it could probably hold about 20 hens comfortably.
Just need to decide on how to get the next batch of hens - not sure at the moment whether to buy point of lay, which would mean pretty much 'guaranteed' healthy, good quality birds, or to buy an incubator and hatching eggs, which would probably work out to be about the same price over all, but would give us the means to cheaply hatch more hens in the future. Need to give it a bit more thought, in the meantime hopefully they'll keep up the 83% efficiency!
We currently have 7 lovely "Light Sussex" hybrid chickens which we bought from Stewart at http://www.salspurebreedpoultryinwales.co.uk/. They are really productive (I made one of Jo's friend's boyfriends laugh the other day when they visited by showing him a run-chart of eggs per day, with calculations on 'laying efficiency', histograms and standard deviations! - I know, I am a bit sad) laying 6 eggs between the 7 of them per day very reliably, except in sub-zero temperatures!
I have a little 'egg round' in work, selling about 5 half-dozens per week to colleagues in the office, but often get asked if I could add people to my 'round. In one of the Alpaca sheds there's a big old hen-house which looks like it might be ok with a LOT of cleaning and re-water proofing. I think it could probably hold about 20 hens comfortably.
My little helper!
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