Swiss Mondaines

I know this is a really old post, but I had to try to help out.

I've been looking into squab production myself, as of late, and from what I've found, the utility breeds are ready to butcher in about 5 weeks, or 22-ish days, depending on the grow rate of your specific breed. Most wait until after the babies leave the nest, but others will butcher right before that. I personally will probably wait until after they start trying to fly, because I like the flavor of meat that has been used for it's intended purpose (exercised) before it hits my plate.

As far as weight is concerned, that also depends on the breed of bird, due to the variance in the weights of the different utility birds. I'd guess that a good baseline to go from would be that the intended dinner be at least 3/4 the weight of the sexually mature birds of the same breed.

I don't have pigeons yet, but I do a LOT of research before I add any additional stock to my citystead farmlette.

iI's not just pigeons that people do this with. I bought some Silkies from a gal who was positively mortified that I was planning on eating any of my Silkies, even if it were to be only the ones that the chicks she sold me, produced after they reached adulthood. She actually told me that "Silkies aren't for eating"! 0.o considering that they are a delicacy in the east, and have been proven to have certain health benefits over white meated-chicken, I'd say that they are definitely for eating! LOL

And for personal commentary: First post! I've been perusing this site for months now, and just now felt the need to make an account. Count me as finally out from under the bridge. LOL

I'm interested in meat breeds, especially kept around area I live experiences (east TN).
Just got some show utility runts, that are boney n over two pounds (guy was keeping out in fly pen n last of). I'd like kings n giant homers, but these all I could find so far, besides seeming bad examples of kings if even were as supposedly sold as expensively in real bad shape underage.

JasoninMN said:

I see your Swiss modaine post got deleted on pigeontalk even after you edited it. It's funny how a forum that claims to be so "pro" pigeon can be so narrow minded and ignorant. The pigeon hobby as a whole is declining rapidly and some how they believe treating these birds as lil feathered people is going to save it. They fact is if more people saw pigeons as a utility animal there would be more interest in them. The reason so many people keep chickens is for eggs or meat then they come to find out how much they enjoy them. The same goes for pigeons. Pigeon fanciers needs as many people to join the hobby as possible not to alienate them because a small percentage have some beliefs that are way out there/ Those few are the most dramatic and vocal though so control the forum. You want to see pigeontalk get real riled up, mention you sell you culls to dog trainers. Some of them lose their minds, literally.

You might find these posts interesting.

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/poultry/468437-squab-essential-homesteaders.html

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/ge...estions/358898-anyone-raise-pigeons-meat.html

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/poultry/424877-squab-anyone.html

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I had a really bad experience with that Pigeon Talk. One of the moderators kept bullying me.... he kept commenting on ever single post I made, and every single reply where I gave advise to people..... each time contradicting what I said and being very rude. Eventually I had enough of it and replied to him in person very politely asking why he was doing this. His response was to immediately ban me from the site!!!!

After my ban was lifted I again got a problem from him at ones after I advised someone to throw away some pigeon eggs as their pigeon pair the female was very sick. I was told the eggs were living beings and it was animal cruelty to throw them away!!!

No I have quit using the sight. Seems to have a lot of very strange and fanatical people on it.

jak2002003 said:

I had a really bad experience with that Pigeon Talk.

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My experience with Pigeon TaIk has always been good. I Google information that directed me to Pigeon Talk and found the advise there very helpful. I never joined the site.

Pigeontalk very general limmited and biased info in recent years.
Unless your into racing pigeons, then they're great.
They've gotten mad at people for exposing how hypocritical, because support racing pigeon cruelty (taking young birds starvedand dehydrated released on ocean during storm n left when smash into each other pouring out of crammed boxes, or dive for water to try to drink n drowning. I'm not saying they can't do,but be realistic and honest about, not acting superior.