Search results for query: *

I will agree that the cone method is a... calmer method. (Searching for the right words here, and not at all trying to be argumentative.) But the hatchet method is a quicker death for the chicken. It bleeds out that way, too. As I stated before, if I had to do it myself, I'd probably use the...

I usually fry mine for breakfast. Over easy, with toast to dip in the yolk. That's how I usually do it. Today I cooked the yolk through and had a fried egg sandwich. Srambled is good - especially if you add things like tomato, sausage, spinach and cheese. Or omelettes. I like omelettes, too. You...

Wowzers! You've got your hands full! Keep learning, and keep trying. Finishing high school in one year is a very ambitious goal. I wish you the best!

You're very welcome. I enjoy raising chickens and wish to share that with others.

The eggs have spots when your chickens have worms? I have never heard of that. I have had lots of speckled eggs over the years. In my experience, it's just been the way a certain chicken "paints" them as they're being processed. Even if they did have worms, I have never heard of worms getting...

You do know how to prevent that now, though, right? Keep picking those eggs every day!

You're killing me! Where do you live? I'll come take those eggs and roosters off your hands. I lied - the meat and eggs are terrible. You don't want them. Really. Let me help you with that problem. :gig:lau:gig

I'm telling you, gut those birds and make broth. It makes the best soup ever!

Yep, we used to do that, too with our spent hens, until I discovered what a wonderful broth you can make with those flavorful carcasses. You can cook them, pick off the meat, and freeze that for later. Use it in chili, enchiladas, chicken soup, stew or hot dish, tacos....

That's also an option. I just can't see giving away all that yummy meat. I hope for cockerels so I have some to put in the freezer.

If you're collecting eggs every morning, they will be fine. (What are you doing with them, if you're not eating them?) Personally, I think you're more likely to get sick from store-bought eggs than your own home grown ones. When you hear about salmonella outbreaks, it's usually from the...

In my opinion, the hatchet is the most humane because it's the quickest death for the chicken. That being said, if I were doing it on my own, I'd probably use the cone, but still decapitate. I just don't think I'm coordinated enough to try the hatchet and stump. Depending on the chickens, we'll...

I'm not sure what difference you're looking for, but chickens are better off with a higher protein diet. Cracked corn does not have protein, and I don't know about the grains you're feeding. If you're looking for optimal egg production, I'd switch to a layer feed.

Oh, sorry - I forgot to answer that. In the spring, summer and fall, I have a grower or layer feed (whichever DH picks up when he buys it - I'm not terribly fussy), available for them, but they spend most of their time free ranging, eating bugs, weeds, grass, whatever. In the winter if they're...

Well, do you have someone who can walk you through it? I would definitely start out with the two mean ones as practice. If 24 hours works, keep doing that. I read the 3-4 day thing, so that's what I do. Personal preference, I guess.

There will be a taste and texture difference. How old are these roosters? They may be a little tough, so grilling is probably out. They're great in a pressure cooker (oh, and look into making bone broth - best thing ever!), or in the crock pot. I think some to them in the oven low and slow. They...

I had a hard time processing the pretty ones at first, too. Then I realized that if I wanted to continue keeping laying chickens, I had to do something. So now we process our excess roosters. Like Keesmom, I'd also rather eat chickens I have raised, organic or not. I know what they've been fed...

My thinking is this: After spending time, effort and money to raise them up, I'd rather process them myself than give them away or sell them for next to nothing. Frankly, they have already cost you more than $2 each to raise. Do you eat chicken? Do you buy it from the store? If so, you're still...