➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Kiki]

Amazon sells some specifically labeled for cutting bones, that and a nice sharp boning knife is all I use, I use the kill cone method, but instead of a $45 metal cone I bought 2 traffic plastic cones at the farm store for $4 each, they hose out great for clean up, we screwed them to a wood pallet and pull out when "the time comes"...I should start a thread, after only having 4 layers for 6 months we ordered 50 day old rooster chicks...processed them over 3 weekends.....have not bought chicken at the grocery store in 3 years

Yes! Make an article. There is even an article contest that's going on and ending soon. Enter it. I can't link it now from my phone but will later.

 

[Kiki]

Oh no, are they okay?

They are fine. If he would have hurt someone for real I might have really killed him. He ended up calming down. I hope he doesn't start that again.

 

[Kiki]

I am not dealing with meanies...period.

 

[Kiki]

Um.....that person you work with...that was in a dream, right? .

Kinda sounds like we have a serial killer on our forum!

Yes it was just a dream.



Are you playing with the little bitties a lot?

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

They are fine. If he would have hurt someone for real I might have really killed him. He ended up calming down. I hope he doesn't start that again.

Sounds like it might be time to move them outside where they'll have more room.

 

[The Farmers' Daughter]

I actually spent most of yesterday @ my neighbours' processing chicken and turkey. I just plucked after scalding, but watched the gutting quite a bit, so I feel more confident about doing it myself.

We processed one of my roos. It's amazing how much calmer my girls are without him around. They were fine with the roo that died the other day (btw I think now that the fight was coincidental, and I actually lost him to bumblefoot), but this guy just wasn't good roo material.

 

[Sara L]

Hey Kiki, did you know Stellar wrote a book called Coturnix Revolution? It's like a textbook going over a ton of quail info and genetics too. I haven't finished reading it but it looks like it will be helpful for figuring out my quail genetics. Available on her website, Amazon, etc. for around $80.

 

[Morrigan]

Oh the joy of excess cockerels. We've always processed them in the past. A few days ago we butchered one that was only 10.5 weeks old as it was chasing mama broody's babies. He weighed in at 1 lb 14 oz dressed. Not much, but split and grilled, will make a decent meal.

Usually, I'm pretty OK with butchering, as they get to a stage where they are causing problems and it's a relief to send them on their way. This year, I'm having a harder time and I'm putting out some feelers about re-homing. One is a very, very handsome little lavender maran who not causing any trouble. The other is my early crowing buff orpington. His looks are just average, but his demeanor has been great. He is the alpha in my little 6 chicken flock of the June hatchlings and has been nothing but calm and gentle.

I hate putting the chop to a good rooster who might be an excellent addition to a flock. But, realistically, finding a home, as opposed to someone else's dinner pot, is going to be really difficult.

 

[Kiki]

Sounds like it might be time to move them outside where they'll have more room.

I've been watching them all day and he hasn't done it again but I agree. They are going out tomorrow.

 

[Kiki]

Hey Kiki, did you know Stellar wrote a book called Coturnix Revolution? It's like a textbook going over a ton of quail info and genetics too. I haven't finished reading it but it looks like it will be helpful for figuring out my quail genetics. Available on her website, Amazon, etc. for around $80.

I'm not paying that much for a book but I will check it out.