11 May 2005
Still Learning

Every time I start feeling like a "chicken expert", the little bastards turn around and surprise me. But I can be taught, and am learning, if seemingly a bit slowly.

We received our first order of bulk feed yesterday, and discovered that what I thought was a ton and a half capacity bulk tank is really a six ton tank! The ton of feed that I ordered barely filled to the top of the bottom cone... but it's' going to be used for the laying hens as well as the meat birds, even though it's about a 20% protein mix, supposedly way too "hot" for laying hens.

And it is, too - if those hens are confined. But since mine are totally free range, they eat a lot more low protein vegetable matter (grass and the like) as well as the "scratch" grains that Hammer or the goats drop, and consequently need a bit more of a protein boost than is available in standard layer mash feed. Just boosting the feed has really stabilized egg production.

I may have to revert to a lower protein mix when the bugs come out in full force this summer, but we'll wait and see on that. How does one calculate the protein available in a Japanese beetle, anyway?

We cycled the cattle around yesterday: all of them (my herd and Kevyn's) are here on our pasture now. It was really ready for them - we need to get the sheep back over here too, but that'll have to wait until the lambs are secure enough to travel. A couple of weeks, perhaps.

And I discovered that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is true even when applied to me! I used a new supplier this time for meat chicks, as it was over $100 cheaper than my usual source, and promised a slightly different, faster growing breed. They were right on the latter count: I've already lost about 15 birds to overeating (they gorge themselves and drop dead from heart attacks) out of this batch, whereas last fall's last batch I didn't lose a single bird. The retail value of 15 dead chicks: $150. Live and learn.

00:00 /Home | 0 comments | permanent link

Goldie's Baby

It just occured to me that I'd not posted any pictures of the newest calf on our pastures. Some folks may not find cattle "cute", but well, we find her adorable - and spunky, too.

00:00 /Home | 0 comments | permanent link

States May Disobey Driver's License Rules

The backlash begins ...

AP - States are threatening to challenge in court and even disobey new orders from Congress to start issuing more uniform driver's licenses and verify the citizenship or legal status of people getting them.

(link) [Yahoo! News: Top Stories]

Update: The Register pulls no punches ...

00:00 /Politics | 3 comments | permanent link

Kraft to double patent lawyers

What's next? Patented cheese?

Worried about the growing ability of private-label competitors to mimic its products, Kraft Foods Inc. is doubling the number of its patent lawyers in a bid to protect its innovations.

(link) [Chicago Tribune]

00:00 /Copywrongs | 2 comments | permanent link