The pigs are joyful creatures who thoroughly appreciate their job of plowing the south paddock. However, eating is their main occupation. About half of them may be ready for market in August at their current rate of gain. Woven wire to the ground and one electric wire at ear level has so far kept them in the pasture. They do like to bury and ground out the electric wire when it is lower.

The new Red Broilers are a cross between the White Cornish and the Red Cornish. Very pretty, healthy, and active birds, their rate of gain is much less than the Cornish crossed with White Rocks we had last year. Their feed conversion is much better (4 lbs feed/lb weight gain versus 6). The first batch average weight was 3.34 pounds at 9 weeks. We will go to 10 weeks on the roosters and 12 weeks for the hens to give about a 4 pound bird. Customer feedback is needed on taste and size. Their “mobile” chicken coop ended up in Barb and Paul’s yard as the wet spring and mud had us grounded. The birds did fine in the woods with the electric net for daytime protection and the raised coop at night. The second batch went from the brooder to the mobile coop July 21. Now that it’s dry, we’ll test out this moving concept further. 

The White Tail RidgeLine

 Summer News