We live in the high desert, there's no toad/frog pressure up here. We see 2 a year and they're usually hiding in our irrigation enclosures. The pond is pumped out once a week with a sewage pump which has zero issue pumping it out and is much stronger than most pool pumps, especially for the price. You'd also have to build some sort of ramp for the ducks to get in, and then the frogs could go up it as well. We also freeze in the winter, an above ground pool would only be more susceptible and likely cause tears and damage. I'm not finished with the upgrades, but when I am I will add an update.
I’m on my last batch of cornishx ever. Last year I got dark Cornish roosters, and white rock hens. I’m currently 3 weeks into my first batch of chicks, which are being raised with some same age layers I order and this batch of cornishx I got going. I scheduled my hatching 2 days before delivery so all the chicks would be same age. My chicks are nowhere near as fat as the McMurray cornishx, but are way bigger than the layer chicks. Honestly, to me they look like the ginger broilers I did from McMurray last year, which were awesome free range meat birds. Im raising this first batch with the layer chicks cause I didn’t know what to expect, next batch is gonna be separated and fed like a jumbo cornishX and see what happens… I like to free range them too, lots of good forage here. People don’t want to pay what these birds are worth to raise, I don’t even bother trying to sell anymore, feed is too expensive. I got my freezers always full and a few friends that buy a few chickens here and there. Selling eggs to neighbors pays for about half my feed bill, I’m counting that as a win ;)
Nice, I'd love to know your results when they're finished out. I've got McMurray Big Reds coming this week actually. Just a batch of 10 to test out. I'd like more of a free ranger type. I did Ginger Broilers last year, but wasn't hugely impressed. I had too many with low carcass weights. But I didn't track my feed, so I don't know how much they really cost. I had several batches and just bought feed until they were all done.
@@quengafarm I still have a few of last years gingers, they lay like a leghorn, everyday, and I let one rooster, big Steve, for future breeding in my meat bird pen. I’ll let you know on these “cornishx” I made, I should make my own videos but I’m too lazy and talk too much smack on here ;)
Good video! I’m in SW Ohio. We just processed 24 CCs this week. Last year we switched to Kalmbach Non-GMO Start-To-Finish feed and I’ll never use anything else. Our birds were 7 weeks old, and average weight was 6 lbs, 14 oz. Cost per pound was $1.40, including the ice for processing. Last year our biggest was 9/5 and we processed at 8 weeks. Just a little larger than we really like, which is the reason we cut back to 7 weeks this year.
I will be switching to 7 weeks going forward. I've had way too many die after 7 weeks. It feels like I'm picking up dead birds daily after 7. And, wow, that's great weight gain. I only get a few 6lbs chickens.
@@quengafarm same here. Last year we bought 25 and butchered 21 at 8 weeks. This year we bought 25 and butchered 24 at 7 weeks. Okay, I have to ask this question. I see so many YT videos where people order directly from the hatchery, and I wonder why. I buy mine from Family Farm and Home, and they get them from Hoover Hatchery. But, because they buy a lot more than I do, I only pay $1.99 per chick.
Gained a sub here. Don’t even own chickens nor really plan too lol. Liked your flow/editing and am always interested in small business finance. Keep it up!
Awesome. We’ve got bresse and Cornish cross growing out here in Williamson Valley right now. They’re 2-6weeks right now. Love the financial breakdowns.
So you ever have a problem with pigs getting out or pushing on the hog panels. I just built the same setup but was thinking about running a hot wire on the inside to keep them off it. I’ve heard they can root under the panels?
Definitely put a hot wire, nothing I've tried has kept them in otherwise. They have ripped t-posts out of out of ground and pulled fencing. I've also had one actually get OVER the hog panels. Hot wire has solved all my issues.
I think once you taste the meat from the Meishans you will have your answer. Do not rule out the fat you get from the Meishans. It is top quality as well and has so many uses. To get your best results process the Meishans at 15 months. You will also find out the Meishans are much easier keepers and have very high immune systems.
Hello.. you have a very nice set up there. I can totally relate to where you are coming from. Making decisions as far as which crosses give you more bang for the Buck.. (?), you seem to know what you are doing. Only time will tell. If I were you, I’d still raise your breeds for purebred stock with all breeds for those who want purebred as breeders…. plus still cross them as well for higher meat yields. I currently raise Meishans’ in Maryland. I have to agree with Imperial farms comment here. The fat on a meishan isn’t like other breeds. It is delicious. More like a delicacy. No joke. No comparisons to other breeds. Even though Some consider the Meishan’s a Heritage lard pig.. from my experience raising them.. I didn’t have a high fat yield. They do take a long time to grow out. As to date.. I currently have 3 -- 16 month old barrows about to head to the processor with hopes of curing them for charcuterie style cuts. There is money to be made if you have the time & patience to do so.. meaning 12 -14 more months curing time. You have enough good common sense to make the right decision to do what’s right for you. ✔️👍 For me….Raising the Meishans’ seem to be the easy part.. it’s my full time job as an independent woman farmer Getting my name out there & selling them .. well that’s a whole different story… I’ve hit a wall. Currently there are now 39 pure bred Meishan on my farm to date. This includes 3 recent litters. Started with one mature breeding pair. Brought in a second younger unrelated pair so I can sell breeding stock. Fencing for additional separation paddocks is now an issue. In a nut shell.. I’m sure you’ll love this breed. I can’t comment on the crosses for I have no experience there.. in any event, I wish you the best of luck. If you’d ever like to chat about Meishans’ you can find me on the AMBA breeder locator. You take care.. stay well. 🕊️✌️🇺🇸🐖
The pigs don't take up much space. We probably have 4 pens that are 16'x32' with 2 to 4 in each. We do move them around the property as we use them as clean up and tillers. When we gave them larger areas, they never really roamed. They would dig up the same areas and eat and sleep.
Impossible for you maybe, but we clean it out regularly and it's just a pump we switch on that goes to our orchard, with a deep clean once a month. People who have horses shovel manure, people who have dogs buy doggie bags, people who have cats have litter boxes... etc. Yes, they are messy, but so is every single animal on this farm.
Our cross was our friends' version of an IPP. We butchered the barrow at 11 months and he was around 330-340 live weight, 238 hanging. A lot of the "cuts" were really great, but I was not a fan of the belly. Too much fat, I cut half (I actually weighed both) the bellies fat out, and still had really fatty bacon! So I got less than 1 typical belly. The gilt we have is being bred to our Berkshire, so we'll see what those piglets turn out like.
@@quengafarm our butcher date is at the end of may so hopefully ours will render some good amounts of meat. We bought 4 and are keeping two for possibly breeding. Not sure if I want to take the plunge. Our pigs aren’t registered so I’m not sure how important that is. We’re totally green on this pig thing but meat has gotten outrageous at the store and we have 27 acres of heavy woods we figured surely we can use it to raise some kind of meat fairly inexpensive. We’ll see….🤞
Yeah, I work this thing hard and have had zero problems. Just passed the 250 hr mark and not a single thing wrong... and I've done some really dumb stuff with it, lol.
Nice build! Part 2? I'd love to see how it turned out & how it works throughout a summer. If you haven't already, be sure the ducks can get out of the pond. Place blocks or something for them to step on to get out. Otherwise, they can drown. I learned the hard way.
Coming soon. I haven't figured out the way I want to do it just yet. Right now we just use a transfer pump to empty it out, a shop vacuum to get the stuff that doesn't get and its not bad. Will be working on it next month and making an update on it. Taking forever, but the ducks are the lowest priority for us. And yes, the water is kept full so they can always easily get in and out. I built a ramp and they never used it, so I took it out.
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forevers
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forevers
I’m currently raising Mangalitsa pigs on 2 acres of forest. I got them for a good price at 6 months old. They are much slower growing, but they are awesome foragers. I think feed and genetics play a role in taste. When I first raised pigs (Berkshire), I used a custom mix feed that included fish meal as a protein source. Then grew extremely well and foraged very well. They were 350/375 lbs at 8 months old. Lots of meat, but I wasn’t overly impressed by taste. I was told later that flax or fish should be avoided, and both were in my feed mix. With the mangalitsa, I went with a custom feed of (peas, corn, wheat, and barley). I’m at 12 months and these pigs are just starting to fill out. This breed takes time. My butcher date is in January, so 15 months. I’m also under feeding by most standards (12 quarts a day for 5 pigs), but it really encourages rooting and disturbance, which was another objective with these pigs. They are currently enjoying plenty of acorns and beech nuts as well. I’m excited to see and taste the difference in meat.
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forevers
We’re rotating ours through the woods but I’m not sure how much additional feed to supplement with. I’m also wanting to get away from soy feeds. I’m considering planting some chickpeas, turnips and maybe sweet potatoes along the rotation areas to limit feed consumption. Our woods have acorns and walnuts everywhere so I’m hoping with some experimenting I can lower feed cost and eliminate soy.
Wow, cool...... Our animals aren't confined and free range our entire property. They have free access to regular feed, fermented feed, grubs, bugs, plants, whatever they want. They still choose fermented feed over their regular feed 100% of the time. Actual studies with actual scientists have already shown and proven the benefits of fermented feed. So what's your point again?
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forevers
🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too foreverw
Thanks for this good video :) I have been doing this for years but never used the crumble feed, I just use scratch grain and just before I give it to them I will mix in an equal quantity of the egg laying feed (crumble) and I guess I need to mix it ALL up together and include it in the three day fermenting cycle... I have also been throwing away the water that comes off the third day ferment... the plants and veges did NOT like it as fertilizer, so I just throw it on the grass where it doesn't matter, what should I do with this water?? Any ideas?
Sometimes, but thats not due to fermenting feed. The orange color comes from pigments in plants. If you raise them on pasture or feed them fodder, they will have orange eggs.
On a shifter that’s sticky pull it toward the gear you want until it stops with the clutch in, once’s it stops dont jerk it or force it but hold tension and ease off the clutch it will align the gears and go right in. Jerking it will result in broken parts eventually
I literally was going to buy a Kubota for somewhere in the ballpark of $45,000. I had great credit. It would of been a slam dunk buy, but the salesman failed on his part. He never followed thru with his side of the deal. Basically blew me and never called me back to finish the sale. Seen the salesman at a sporting good place and his jaw hit the ground when he seen. He tried to get me to come back into kubota and finish the sale. He was totally embarrassed and started making up excuses after excuses for not calling me back. His loss and Kubota lost out on $45,000 and possibly future business from me. I refuse to go back to that Kubota dealership.
No offense but I do not know anyone including myself who has worn out an ankle from operating the Kubota forward/reverse single pedal. I have been using my B2100 since 1998 and neither the pedal nor my ankle have given out. I my opinion the dual pedal is barely okay as an alternative to the shuttle because in a panic an operator can press the wrong one and instead of reversing that person ends up running into an object or if lucky pressing both and nothing happens, the latter is the best possible outcome. The other part of the 2 pedal is the lack of fine control to position the tractor ...with the Kubota shuttle the operator can position that tractor within a 1/2 inch of any spot desired ..on flat ground ,up or down hill. Kiotis are nice tractors and if I was in the market to buy a new tractor I would consider them but for two things, they have a horrible website as opposed to Kubota , and in my neck of the woods the nearest dealer is 60 mile away versus 2 Kubota dealers 18 and 22 miles respectively...parts for Kubota are pricey ...but they make them available for the first to the most recent tractors they make. Tractors are a big money investment , Kubota hold their resale value for all the right reasons. By the way, nice tractor 👍..have fun 😄
All great points. I'm not sure my ankle would've had any issues, but it was a random thought I had. I OFTEN press the wrong pedal and go the wrong way, and have ran into things. Including my truck when I was loading soil... So now there's a reminder dent every time I walk up to it. With that said, I also tend to be uncoordinated and often do the opposite of what I'm thinking I'm doing. No doubt I would push the Kubota pedal the wrong way. Just like when I tell my wife to turn right and point left on nearly 80% of left hand turns, lol. Ultimately, dealer choice and the fact that I saved thousands is what I'm happy with. I personally don't care about resale value as I don't ever see myself selling. This tractor will hopefully make it to my children. If I need a bigger one someday, I'll just have multiple tractors.
Feeding whole or fresh egg shells is a real danger of turning your hard earned flock into egg eaters. When I find cracked or damage eggs: I scramble the eggs, and shells, add them together and bake the mixture. 350* for 10 to 30 min depending on size. Grease the Pan. I allow to cool, and cut into small slices. I feed them later that day or next. The Chix get all the Nutrition. On a daily basis, I save my shells, Pop in the toaster oven 325 for 5 min. My niece has an extra large pie plate she allows them to dry there, crushes them and when full bakes them 350* for 10 min.
