Hi all. I'm new here. I garden and raise poultry in the High Desert (Mohave) in Southern California, elevation approximately 3700 feet.
At present, we are building what we call the Poultry Palace. There are seven pens, each with an indoor area and an outdoor area. There will also be a nursery which is insulated and will have heat and fans. The front section (the indoor area) will have a truss and roof. Here's a picture of our progress so far.
Amazing--I drive through the Mojave several times a year--are you visible from any highway? I want to point out the relative insignificance of my current coop to DH:0)
Good heavens! That looks like you can move a family into it too! How many chickens do you anticipate having there?
MollyD
I have approximately 30 egg layers. I also raise roasting chickens on a continuous basis. Ever since the dog food scare, I made the decision to never buy manufactured dog food again. I've been feeding my dogs prepared food I cook myself. They eat a lot of chicken and veggies that I grow for my family which consists of my husband, me, and two labrador retrievers.
Well you sure can raise a lot of chickens in there! I only have 24 and they're in a former greenhouse 8ft w x 17 ft long. Seems like a shanty shack after seeing your Poultry Palace !
Can't wait to see how it comes out! Please post pictures as you go along.
MollyD
Our Poultry Palace is 32 x 46. There's a lot of detail work going into it. Each section will have a storage area, with doors, including a platform for the feed containers. The window flaps on the outside will be able to be opened and closed so in the wind storms I can control the environment. This project is taking longer than we anticipated, but I think it will be worth it when it is done.
LOL Catscan : )
cactus1000 is this all for home consumption or do you sell too? I keep wondering how many roos we need to eat for a year. I don't want to raise and butcher more than we can use (2 of us and enough to share with family) also how many hens we need for eggs (enough for us, family and some to sell).
MollyD
lovley. do you need to hire someone to care for them? LOL
DH said no, and he didnt' say it nicely, so i guess you will have to keep posting pics so i can live vicariously through your palace..
I know what I would hear if I even asked! LOL
MollyD
hones,t i didnt' ask, i just showed him the picture and read the description! heis just in a mood, becasue he is about finished with outside stuff and can get back to work on our own abodea...
LOL he knew what was in your mind!
MollyD
yep. i tried to deny it. he knew better.
I only raise poultry for home consumption. I raise turkeys from June to November and roasting chickens the rest of the year. I usually have an abundance of eggs to give to friends.
As for quantity, one whole chicken roaster feeds my husband and I for 2-3 meals. Each rooster weighs an average of 7-9 pounds and the hens average about 5-7. I keep some of the roasters whole, cut some up, and make ground chicken usually out of the legs, thighs, and wings. I usually keep the breasts separate.
As for the turkeys, I usually keep four whole, carve out the breasts on the rest, and make ground turkey out of the rest for the dogs. I usually give away about 6 turkeys every Thanksgiving.
that's fabulous! and you have some healthy dogs and neighbors
cactus1000 what is your favorite age for butchering or does it vary by breed?
Thanks for the tip on ground chicken. We like ground chicken patties and meatballs and don't care much for legs,thighs etc.
MollyD
Turkeys get harvested at five months. I feed them "starter feed" for the first eight weeks. Then, I switch to just mash pellets. The last month, I add 1/4 corn to the feed to make them sweet.
The roasters get harvested between 10 and 12 weeks. I feed them "starter feed" for the first six weeks. Then I switch to mash pellets and add 1/4 corn for the last 3-4 weeks.
Molly, we love chicken balls too and prefer the ground chicken over the ground beef. I just add an egg and some Italian Bread Crumbs to the ground chicken. The best spaghetti and meatballs I ever ate!
I only use the Jumbo Rock Cornisha Roasters and the Giant White Turkeys. However, this year I just might be in a fancy mood and get a Bourbon Red Turkey just to spruce up the flock.
My chickens might take a little longer then since they're New Hampshires and Buff Orpingtons. I was suppose to have 5 Delaware roos but they sent something else altogether!
We eat a lot of venison and I often mix it with other meats in dishes that traditionally have called for ground beef. Is your corn in meal form or cracked? I want to use it to finish them along with mash. Does it hurt layers? They're all living together.
MollyD
I use 25% cracked corn and 75% mash pellets to finish the poultry off. I keep my roasters and layers in separate pens.
I'll have to separate mine later. At least once the new coop is built.
Thanks cactus1000,
MollyD
You all can call me Cactus. I had to put the 1000 after my name when I registered as Cactus was already taken.
Okay Cactus! I had to add the D cause Molly was already taken ^_^
MollyD
yeah, and i had to add the faye because...
really love your palace cactus! please keep us up to date on your progress!!!
tf [lowercase becsue uppercase was already taken!]
cactus, do you have any updated pics?
can't wait to see the finished project, hope you come back soon!
I havent been around much...but this sure caught my eye! My Dh saw me looking at the picture and said, 'Dont even THINK about it!' I would like to see how this looks all finished.
me too, me too!
