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Survival & Emergency Preparedness Freedom by relying on yourself, being prepared to survive without the need of agencies, etc.


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  #21  
Old 04/18/11, 02:41 PM
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It's working well so far, but I'm still missing good momma chickens in the mix. I haven't had to sacrifice egg-laying ability either. Right now I'm getting 12-14 per day for 15 hens.

I don't believe in "heritage breeds" any more than I believe in "heirloom seeds". Every homesteader has the obligation to experiment with breeding in order to perfect genetic lines that prosper under his form of management and his particularly microclimate. Take sheep for example. Out of England you have literally HUNDREDS of different breeds that came about in a relatively small geographic area. In all of American history, how many new sheep breeds have we introduced to the world?

Last edited by Ernie; 04/18/11 at 02:44 PM.
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  #22  
Old 04/18/11, 03:02 PM
A.T. Hagan
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I don't believe in "heritage breeds" any more than I believe in "heirloom seeds". Every homesteader has the obligation to experiment with breeding in order to perfect genetic lines
This is essentially what I'm doing. I breed from anything that manages to survive one full laying season or eighteen months that laid well, made a good size, had good shell qualities, and good survivability. Got a batch in the brooder right now that I'll grow out, keep the best twenty or twenty five percent and take the rest to the swap.
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  #23  
Old 04/18/11, 03:13 PM
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Essentially what we're working on here, too. Except our extras go to the freezer, not the swap (worth more there) and I have a couple other qualities on the list including cold-hardiness and carcass quality.
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  #24  
Old 04/18/11, 05:09 PM
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Well I guess Ernie knows the greenhosue roof desing will not withstand 49 mph winds?

I have an old handwritten/drawn chicken care book(very foxfirey) that says farmwives can incubate eggs between their boobies, that it's just the right temp. Just so ya know. Maybe moobies will work too?
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  #25  
Old 04/18/11, 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by wyld thang View Post
Well I guess Ernie knows the greenhosue roof desing will not withstand 49 mph winds?

I have an old handwritten/drawn chicken care book(very foxfirey) that says farmwives can incubate eggs between their boobies, that it's just the right temp. Just so ya know. Maybe moobies will work too?
I challenge you to try it. I'm curious if you make it the full 21 days.
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  #26  
Old 04/18/11, 05:34 PM
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I challenge you to try it. I'm curious if you make it the full 21 days.
dang it! I came up with a great retort and I can't say it!
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  #27  
Old 04/18/11, 05:49 PM
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We're going to try the same thing as Ernie(not the hatching eggs under moobies) with chickens. We're going to get some Dark Cornish because from what we've read they will forage just fine and they are great mothers and great at either avoiding predators of even chasing off hawks. Right now with my pullets I'm really liking my Silver Laced Wyandottes and NH Reds. They seem to be foraging the farthest. I don't have eggs from the yet(they're only about 2 1/2 months old) but I'm waiting anxiously!

Now as to the greenhouse-good luck! My family has owned a greenhouse/nursery since 1924. Glass houses were bad during hail storms(my 80 yr old grandpa could out sprint me, I kid you not) and plastic is no good with ice storms and wind storms. We actually hung up plastic on a huge greenhouse one windy day(what we're we thinking?!), I was holding the plastic on one side while the others connected it to the frame with wiggle wire and the wind lifted me and the plastic off the ground and I ain't no feather weight. My brother's high tunnel got lifted off the ground and moved 6 inches last spring during a storm and he had to redo it-only one side moved. If you figure out a way to weather proof it with no damage let me know lol.
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  #28  
Old 04/18/11, 07:16 PM
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Heirloom seed and heritage breeds are just a starting point. Hybrid seeds. well you know... Chicken coop is coming up on the list.

Saturday we had 62 tornadoes and in the middle of all that I hooked the truck to the trailer and picked up my new/old manure spreader. The guy helped me load but his eyes were as big as saucers 'cause the news said there was a tornado right there, somewhere.

Made it home safe under divine protection ;-) 22 people known killed so far, maybe more. News reports said some people witnessed hogs and other farm animals being snatched from the ground. Luckily we didn't get any of the really bad stuff. Grateful we were spared, prayers out to all those who lost the fight here.
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  #29  
Old 04/18/11, 07:36 PM
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You know, someone in need probably got a dead hog land in their front yard. God always delivers.
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  #30  
Old 04/18/11, 07:40 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyld thang View Post
I have an old handwritten/drawn chicken care book(very foxfirey) that says farmwives can incubate eggs between their boobies, that it's just the right temp. Just so ya know. Maybe moobies will work too?
In between or underneath? I'd bet it'd work for the gals with nice long ones...

Katie
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  #31  
Old 04/18/11, 07:46 PM
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Long enough and you could just roll 'em up inside... o.O ... EWWWW! LOL!
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  #32  
Old 04/18/11, 07:47 PM
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HATCH them. Not PICKLE them.
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  #33  
Old 04/18/11, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by wagvan View Post
In between or underneath? I'd bet it'd work for the gals with nice long ones...

Katie
ha! It's just nestled(hahaha) a bit in the decollatage. Also important to rotate.

I bet someone could invent an incubator bra with special protective egg cup?
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  #34  
Old 04/18/11, 08:39 PM
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It would be interesting research...
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  #35  
Old 04/18/11, 09:07 PM
 
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Oops. Off-topic.

Last edited by Illini; 04/18/11 at 09:17 PM.
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  #36  
Old 04/18/11, 11:20 PM
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My favorite peach tree is now a Charlie Brown tree! It has enough limbs left to make a few peaches, and now they should be huge since there won't be many of them.

I learned my lesson from the last storm, the one that took part of the barn roof. Everything that can be tied down, is.
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