Search results for query: *

  1. AlbionWood

    Flip!

    Just had our first case of "flip" - sudden heart attack for no apparent reason. Just shy of 7 weeks old. Processed the bird and no sign of ascites, not even much fat; comb was pink and the meat looks fine. We've been feeding 18% All-Flock twice a day, rationing the amount according to the...
  2. AlbionWood

    Feed requirements for CX and other questions

    I start on 22% gamebird feed for the first 3 weeks, then switch to 18% All-flock for the next 5 weeks. I'd rather have them grow a little slower and not get ascites. These are raised by a hen and roam around the yard all day.
  3. AlbionWood

    justification

    If you buy on price, you don't care about quality, so don't bother raising your own meat. You can always get chicken meat on sale at ridiculously low prices ($/lb). Of course, about 80% or more is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacter, Salmonella, etc), all of it is injected...
  4. AlbionWood

    CX feed rates

    The batch that had ascites was raised by heritage hens and were free ranging as well. They moved about the yard quite well until about Week 5 or 6, and even after that still moved around some. The problem was overfeeding and using high-protein feed for too long. I agree that lack of movement...
  5. AlbionWood

    CX feed rates

    Hmmm, I had not heard that about lack of heat leading to ascites. I thought the bigger problem with CX was too much heat... These have not seen a heat lamp since the day they got here. We put them under a broody Marans and she covered all 24. (We intended to split them between two hens...
  6. AlbionWood

    CX feed rates

    I'm raising a batch of 24 CX and trying to manage their feed intake to keep them healthy. This is our third batch; we did well the first year, but the second time around we overfed and got ascites. Following some advice on the "Meat Birds 101" thread, I found this chart of feed rates...
  7. AlbionWood

    Delaware's for Meat

    I grew some Delawares for meat and eggs a couple years ago. The hens are great layers of large eggs and excellent foragers, and I hope to always have some in my flock. The cockerels are relatively mild-mannerd, and those that went into the freezer did make excellent quality meat, fine-textured...
  8. AlbionWood

    Do you believe in defending you and yours?

    Lot of emotional responses here. With regards to protecting my chickens - I tend to think about what will work in the longer term. If I shoot a hawk today, and another one comes along tomorrow (which is going to happen, as migration season goes into full swing) - what have I accomplished for...
  9. AlbionWood

    Foxes and electric fences and/or traps

    The electric fencing is by far the best strategy. If you trap a fox, you'll be OK until the next one comes along... if you get an electric fence, you'll keep them all out. They don't understand about electricity, will touch the fence with their nose once and then stay away from it after that...
  10. AlbionWood

    What predators do you have

    We have everything except snakes and, so far, rats. Have a double-wire electric fence that works against the larger 4-legged predators, but small skunks sometimes get in under the wire where it's more than 4 inches off the ground. So far no weasels, though I know they are around here...
  11. AlbionWood

    Does this sound like a hawk attack? UPDATED: CONFIRMED!!

    Does not sound like a hawk attack. As centrarchid describes, hawks generally eat their prey at or near the killsite; and none of them (short of an Eagle) can carry off a 6-pound carcass. It's possible your hen was hit but not killed on the spot; search very carefully under all the cover...
  12. AlbionWood

    "Grass fed" Cornish?

    We put CX chicks under broody hens and let the hens raise them - they learn foraging at an early age and seem to stay a little more active. Grass clippings aren't really all that good for them unless you have a lot of clover. Next year I'm planting a stand of kale for them.
  13. AlbionWood

    First time butchering, any tips ?

    Separate the ones you are going to butcher and hold them in a pen or crate for at least 12 hours, preferably longer, with water but no food. You want their guts to be as empty as possible. I think it works best to take away their food in the morning of the day before slaughter, then that night...
  14. AlbionWood

    using brine at butcher time

    I always chill ours in an ice brine. Anywhere from a few hours to overnight, then drain and rinse, and then air-dry in a fridge or an ice chest (with some ice in bags) for 24 hours before packaging. The iced brine chills them good, leaves a nice clean meat and helps protect against bacteria...
  15. AlbionWood

    CX cockerels vs. pullets for roasters

    We're about a week or so away from starting in on this batch of CX, and I'm curious if anyone here has an opinion about whether the cockerels or the pullets make the best broilers. We're planning to cut up about half the birds for frying etc., and about half as whole birds for roasting. Sure...
  16. AlbionWood

    Nothing Tastes As Good As The Cornish Cross

    Is it the taste of the CX, or the texture, that you prefer? I ask because my experience is exactly the opposite: I found the Delaware meat to be richer in flavor than the CX, but it certainly is chewier. The best flavored chicken I've had yet was the New Hampshire cockerel. At 16 weeks the...
  17. AlbionWood

    Processed meat bird in california...

    I calculate direct costs at close to $1/lb, maybe a little more this year... so I too doubt you will find anyone willing to sell processed birds at anything like that price. I wouldn't sell a live one for that, much less process one. Your best bet would be to raise them yourself, it's the only...
  18. AlbionWood

    Screams in the Night

    Three times in the last week, we have been awakened by blood-curdling screams from the meat-bird pen. The first time was about 10:30, just after I had drifted off... ran out and glimpsed an owl standing on the pen, just before it flew off. It had killed and partly eaten one of the birds. At...
  19. AlbionWood

    Sounds like a skunk?

    It doesn't really sound like skunk to me. When we have had skunk depredation, they eat most of a bird before going after another, and they eat mostly the meat first, not the innards. And if they take a second bird, they try to drag it off to their den. (This usually causes them to hit the hot...
  20. AlbionWood

    Free-Ranging

    Electric fence is relatively cheap and easy to put up. If you can put a couple strands of electric fencing (wire, hot rope, or tape) around the area, that will allow them to free-range without too much trouble from the ground-based predators. (Run a strand of wire as close to the ground as...
Back
Top Bottom