Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

Now that's a concept, Harvey - no incubators. In your experience is that
better for the chicks? One more area where rising cost of electricity may
slow down production of chicks commercially. Or if folks are off-grid they
look for ways to cut down the kilowatts. Hmm?


paul tradingpost@lobo.net

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes. 
--Henry David Thoreau 
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 7/21/2006 at 1:03 PM Harvey Ussery wrote:

>> We've always bought hatchery chicks up to now, but I want to start
>trying to 
>> hatch my own with silkies and cochins. . .  I still don't have my
"broody
>> hen," but she gave me a silkie that is nearly grown, along with
>Welsummers, 
>> Barred Rocks, one that looks like a Barred Rock but I don't recall it's 
>> name, and she hatched some RIR's and White Pekin ducks from eggs I gave
>her 
>> too. So now I have about 30 chicks of various sorts, NONE from a
>hatchery. ~Gwen
>
>With all the NAIS BS and avian influenza hysteria, I've decided to 
>become a closed flock ASAP. I'm already there with regard to the 
>chickens and guineas--this is the second year I haven't bought in any 
>outside stock, have hatched all my own. I hope by next breeding season 
>to be equally independent with regard to ducks and geese.
>
>The key for me is broody mamas--I never use artificial incubators.
>
>Gwen, that silkie is a sure-fire broody for you. The cochins should also 
>give you a high percentage of hens who retain the instinct.
>
>The other breed that looks like a Barred Rock could be a Dominique (if 
>rose combed) or Cuckoo Marans (if single combed). I breed CM's--they're 
>a great breed.
>
>~Harvey
>
>-- 
>Harvey in northern Va
>www.themodernhomestead.us
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