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My Buckeye has finally started laying! I found a nest hidden in the back corner of the coop - she had hollowed out a spot and laid 4 eggs in it. When I found the 4 eggs, I didn't know which chicken had laid them. I brought those eggs in and did the water float test. All 4 eggs stayed in position on the bottom of the bowl. So I ate them. :)
This afternoon, I walked outside and didn't see my Buckeye with the other 2 girls so I peeked in the coop and sure enough, she was hiding in the corner on her little nest. She didn't leave an egg behind, though. I guess she was just staying in practice.
Now, I know that free range eggs are much better for me than commercial eggs. I see that they have much thicker shells and darker yolks. They do taste different. I really do not like them hard-boiled and hard-boiled eggs have been a staple in my diet for a long time now. I sure hope my taste buds adjust because I can't buy eggs at the store anymore, just like I can't buy milk. The thought of either literally turns my stomach.
 
Yes hard boiled free range eggs even have a diferent texture but over easy they are the best . And better in any recipe . Our problem this year is most all our chicks have turned out to be little roosters .
 
That's why I buy pullets vs. breeding them. Guaranteed females. I would like a (sequestered) rooster for the option at some point, but for now, I'm content with just hens.
 
That's why I buy pullets vs. breeding them. Guaranteed females. I would like a (sequestered) rooster for the option at some point, but for now, I'm content with just hens.
My neighbors would be very upset with me if I had a rooster. I have a total of 9 female chickens. Only 2 of them are laying and I have to say that it's super cool to go out and milk the goat in the morning and check for eggs and walk into the house carrying my perfect breakfast - a full glass of milk and 2 eggs. My chickens have a nice spacing in age, 2 are 8 months old, 1 is 6 months old, 2 are 3 1/2 months old, 3 are 2 months old and I have no idea what is going on with the 9th one. I got her at the same time as the 2 1/2 month olds but she still looks like a one month old. The youngest 4 were all the same size when I got them but this one just isn't growing. I'm wondering if she's some kind of miniature chicken mix instead of the Rhode Island Red she was supposed to be. The interesting thing is that she still sounds like a baby chick, too. When I grab her up and she starts calling, all of the other chickens come running. So I use her to get the rest of my chickens where I want them.
I know that hens start laying around 6 months of age and will lay consistently for 12 to 18 months. Then they moult and after that, laying slows down and can become very sporadic. With life as it is right now, I know I can buy more pullets and I probably will - about every 6 to 9 months I'll probably bring in a couple more. But if SHTF, a rooster will probably become a necessity. However, at that point, I will probably have plenty of hens to trade for a rooster.
I do plan on adding a couple of jars of pickled eggs to my food stores, but they aren't something I would choose to eat often so I won't go crazy with it. From what I understand, dehydrating eggs doesn't work very well, unless you mix something like polenta or grits with it. So I supposed I'll be sharing my fresh eggs with family, friends and neighbors once all of my chickens are producing.
I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any recipes for eggs that would be suitable for canning - perhaps an egg drop soup or other combination meals that could be canned?
 
I think that I'd still be pretty skeptical of any canned egg product. Like you, I'd rather just deal (post SHTF) with harvesting real eggs from real chickens vs. any kind of powdered eggs. In my house, five us, so we'll eat the eggs from our 8 hens. Post SHTF, even more mouths to feed, but hopefully by then, I'll have lots of canned garden veggies as well as multiple fruit trees, bushes, etc.
 
This morning I went out to let the chickens out and there were coon tracks all around the chicken house . He didn't get in but is trying to find away in . I will have to get some more gaurd dogs most of mine have past away from old age . Just having a dog around stops most preaditors from coming around . Several years ago I had a Mama coon bring her half grown youngsters and killed 18 one night and 22 the next night . I don't keep that many birds now that would just put me out of the chicken bussiness .
 
This morning I went out to let the chickens out and there were coon tracks all around the chicken house . He didn't get in but is trying to find away in . I will have to get some more gaurd dogs most of mine have past away from old age . Just having a dog around stops most preaditors from coming around . Several years ago I had a Mama coon bring her half grown youngsters and killed 18 one night and 22 the next night . I don't keep that many birds now that would just put me out of the chicken bussiness .
When I had a coon problem, I put out those humane trap and baited it with cat food. Ended up catching 5 in a 2 week period.
 
My Buckeye has finally started laying! I found a nest hidden in the back corner of the coop - she had hollowed out a spot and laid 4 eggs in it. When I found the 4 eggs, I didn't know which chicken had laid them. I brought those eggs in and did the water float test. All 4 eggs stayed in position on the bottom of the bowl. So I ate them. :)
This afternoon, I walked outside and didn't see my Buckeye with the other 2 girls so I peeked in the coop and sure enough, she was hiding in the corner on her little nest. She didn't leave an egg behind, though. I guess she was just staying in practice.
Now, I know that free range eggs are much better for me than commercial eggs. I see that they have much thicker shells and darker yolks. They do taste different. I really do not like them hard-boiled and hard-boiled eggs have been a staple in my diet for a long time now. I sure hope my taste buds adjust because I can't buy eggs at the store anymore, just like I can't buy milk. The thought of either literally turns my stomach.
I really haven't noticed a difference in taste or texture, but they sure look richer and have thicker shells. By the way the crushed shells are great to put around your tomatoes next year.
 
This morning I went out to let the chickens out and there were coon tracks all around the chicken house . He didn't get in but is trying to find away in . I will have to get some more gaurd dogs most of mine have past away from old age . Just having a dog around stops most preaditors from coming around . Several years ago I had a Mama coon bring her half grown youngsters and killed 18 one night and 22 the next night . I don't keep that many birds now that would just put me out of the chicken bussiness .
I think thats part of having birds, you are going to loose some once in a while. I'm almost ready to get a couple outside dogs to help soon, I'm almost done with the fencing.
 
I had a Great Aunt that would make baked coon and sweet tatters . I catch most of the varmits that get in my chickens one of the worst was a little mink . They will kill one bite a whole in the neck drink a little blood then go to the next very quite and keep killing until they get tired of it or somthing spooks them .
 
I had a Great Aunt that would make baked coon and sweet tatters . I catch most of the varmits that get in my chickens one of the worst was a little mink . They will kill one bite a whole in the neck drink a little blood then go to the next very quite and keep killing until they get tired of it or somthing spooks them .
I'm not sure if coon would be good or not, but I'll try it if I catch one of them in my henhouse! I've hear several people telling me stories about loosing every bird in one night. I'll start checking the pound/shelters soon for a couple collie type dogs soon to help prevent it.
 
Never had coon before, but I do have some cookbooks that have a few recipes on them. If your interested, I can look them up for you and you can let me know how it turns out. :)
Well, I've never had possum either, but you never know what tomorrow brings! If you throw in some roasted veggies, add some gravy and have a chunk of bread on the side you can make any varmit edible.:confused:
 
Possum and coon are both post TEOTWAWKI table fare at best . That being said some times I get a notion to try out my preps . Not sure my Wife will go along with this one .
 
Was walking around the yard this morning and heard a rukus and one of my Brown Red game hens that runs lose on the yard has a batch of 1/2 batam chicks and a little Copper Hawk flew in to snatch one and that little game hen whipped the tar out of it . It flew past me with empty talons and beak .
 
Food for her Psalm's!! Gotta love the way momma bear comes out when protecting her chicks. My neighbor lost one of his pet squirrels last week due to a hawk.
 
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Mine should lay any day now. Will have to report back when they do.
 

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