I love the forum. I love having chickens. And I love eating chicken, especially for Mongolian Chicken. I want to be able to raise and process my own. Many years ago I slaughtered a handful with a cleaver. Last I tried a month or 2 ago I didn't have the stomach for it, couldn't bring myself to...
I just got back form the feed store a bit ago, got the birds yesterday. I had to get a few things as I was ill prepared namely a proper feeder and waterer for the little ones. I mentioned it to the woman working there and she suggested it was a numbers game. Smaller maybe but 4 vs 2. That + size...
2 Buff Orps and 2 Barred Rocks. One of the Barred may be a cockerel, we aren't positive. Many people post about separation, keeping the little ones away from the big mature ones. I have found the exact opposite. Just to see what would happen I put these 4 in the run with the 9-10lb Australorp...
I do appreciate the replies in my case, and I am thankful I found this forum however long ago. The people here are great. That being said I am very unsure of my meat bird plan so for now I have cancelled my order from MurrayMcMurray which was set to hatch on the 27th, and delivered that week (15...
Not to derail the conversation but on topic of the thread... I just now attempted to whack a mole the 2 birds we have right now, in preparation for a batch of 15 chicks enroute next week. I got a stump, a heavy cleaver... and I just couldn't do it. I did it years back but just now it almost...
Bit messier but I'm going for taking the head off with a cleaver nice and quick. Going to do 2 birds tomorrow actually. Will post back with results. Been a very long time since I've done it, I'm hoping I still have the stomach for it. You aren't strange. If you felt nothing then I would be...
No, just slaughter it, clean it, leave it in friddge for a few days. All creatures go into rigor when they die. They get super stiff. I don't know how long it takes to work itself out but I know 2-3 days in the fridge and it will be loose and floppy just like a store bought. Exception to this...
As I understand it, have yet to do it myself... They go into rigor for a day or so directly after slaughter, stiff as a board. Clean em up and stick them in the fridge for a couple days. Rigor will pass and it will jiggle about like normal.
I want to modify my run / coop in this thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/862726/work-in-progress-run . I am debating building a brooder into the back wall about 2, 2 1/2 feet off the ground, 18 inches tall or so possibly the full 12ft 6in length of the run. Would be steel framed like the...
Many years back we ordered from MurrayMcMurray. I have decided I am going to give meat birds a try again and am set on 15 Pioneers https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pioneer.html. This decision was based on them being the only ones with a good outlook for being in stock when I order for the Oct...
Messier but I prefer a hatchet and a stump. To me bleeding out just sounds like suffering time. Head off = dead before they know they were injured. Downside is a chicken bouncing around without a head can be a bit disturbing to watch, especially when they try to fly.
Tried a number of things. She gets agitated if try to take her out of the run / coop area. Can't help but think I'm delaying the inevitable now by making sure to feed her directly. Very depressing. Other 3 are fine though.
*EDIT* Also... not roosting. She sleeps under the ramp up into the coop.
Wolfram here was fine till about a week ago. Bouncing around, playful and what not. The last week or so its almost like she is drunk. She almost never moves about. If you mist them lightly with the hose ( I do this often in the heat out here ) they normally starts hauling it around the run...
Wolfram, my bantam barred cochin has gone broody... big time, at least I think that's what this is. For the last 2 weeks she will not get out of that nest box. She hasn't died yet so shes obviously going out to eat / drink occasionally but always back to the box. There is no rooster and we...
Swamp coolers probably better choice than an air conditioner. Uses tons less electricity and is designed for constant air changing. AC works but just very inefficient and expensive to run.
I have 4 ladies just south of Tucson and havn't done anything special except shade and they are doing...
I don't have any recent experience with it but it gets faster even without a proper plucker and such. With a cleaver and a decent paring knife bout 14 years ago I could do one by myself in about 20 minutes, and that is nowhere near record time. First time took me almost an hour for 1 bird...