It's official: we are being overrun with babies!
I've already hatched out 2 incubators of baby chicks and now I am working on the next two. Where do they all go? Well, this year I am doing something different. I normally hatch up quite a few purebloods to sell. This year though, I am only hatching out a specific breed for me. I am now working on the French Black Copper Marans. They lay the most beautiful (almost chocolate) brown eggs I have ever seen. The eggs are very rich (many high-quality restaurants use this type of egg only) and have a wonderful taste. They are also a rare bird that is in very high demand... which is always a good thing when you are trying to sell the "eggstra" babies or eggs! lol I'm also working on my own breed of chicken. I love playing with genetics and even though this is something that takes years to do, it is well worth it.
What does this really have to do with homesteading? Actually, a lot. Whether you are wanting to leave a "greener" imprint on our beautiful planet or a prepper that is making sure you have everything set up for the "fallout", chickens and genetics are an important part of life. Here are just a few reasons why:
1. Not only do we need the eggs for cooking/baking but the hens can go in the stew pot once they are finished laying ( around 2 or 3 years and then they don't lay nearly as much). Keep only roosters that can enrich the next generation.. the others go in the freezer.
2. Keeping different types of pureblood birds will ensure their continued existence. Certain types are already almost wiped out and even though we have LOTS of breeds to choose from, we need to keep variety. Remember, variety is the spice of life!
3. Chicken poo is GREAT for gardening. Seriously, that stuff is gold when it is composted.
4. As long as your garden is contained in a fence, chickens are GREAT buggers. They will keep your yard almost completely bug free. However, they will scratch a garden to pieces so make sure they can't get in it. Otherwise, all your work will be wasted!
Okay, enough with the reasons. I promise I am not doing 2 incubators of just those. We have an Amish community here and I made a deal with one family to incubate their eggs in return for a few of the babies. The have beautiful birds that lay pretty brown eggs and are very docile. (Plus his wife is going to show me how she cans later this summer. It will be great!)
I wished we lived closer to one another. You have me intrigued with your Marrans. Maybe you can post some pictures of the chickens and eggs next time. I'd love to see what they look like.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see pictures, as well. I've been raising chickens for meat and eggs for years, and order Red Star chicks from a hatchery every other year. They are laying machines. And I raise Cornish Cross for meat. Those guys are lazy, so to make them exercise, I put their feed and water at opposite ends of the yard - lol!
ReplyDeleteI love that you incubate your own, and that you are playing with breeding. I look forward to further updates.
Thanks so much, both of you! I will post pictures of the eggs by tomorrow and as soon as they start hatching, I will post how they look.
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