A Beginner’s Excursion into Meatbirds

[teriz1091]

Normal if you feed that often
Some people feed what they can eat in 20 minutes 2x a day... I kept one for breeding for almost a year

Wow! I hadn’t thought of limiting their feed that much. That method wouldn’t work for me, as I have to quickly feed all the animals just before I leave for work every day. Really, I give them 6lbs of feed every morning, & it’s gone by the time I get home around 5:30. I usually give them another pound or so when we go out in the evenings to clean.
There’s 19 birds. Does that sound like too little/too much feed for them? I honestly don’t have a clue. It’s a 22% broiler ration, if that makes a difference.

 

[RUNuts]

I've read that the lower protein cuts down on the ammonia. 18 to 20% target. I'm starting with 18% this year. First time too, so I am learning.

1/3 pound per bird sounds right, but that is per day and I think lower protein. You should verify that. Watching and learning.

 

[teriz1091]

Is this normal for this to happen to their feet? This one’s got it the worst, but some of the others have somewhat of a curved toe. I haven’t really watched it to see how it is able to move (which none of them like to do anyway).

 

[AspiringHomesteader]

I'd reckon the leg issue is due to poor genetic diversity amongst your breeding stock.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I had 4 broilers that i raised with 6 layer chicks. They were very active, running and flapping their wings when i showed up to feed them. Even though the layers have been moved to the big coop, the broilers I have lefts are still pretty active and like to search the shavings for sunflower seeds and cracked corn. They are clumsy, and have a harder time scratching like the layers do, but they are food oriented and determined to get the job done - well, good enough for them anyway.

 

[teriz1091]

So I’m planning on this Saturday to butcher. The birds will be 7 weeks old. The weather is supposed to be nice, but the following weekend is supposed to snow. I’d rather not butcher in the snow.

What is your preference for the method of slaughter? I was considering a makeshift kill cone out of empty milk jugs & cutting their throat. My dad offered to help us, & said that in the old days they’d just lay them across a stump & take their head off with an ax, then turn them loose to flop around.

My concern with the stump & ax method is the blood. I don’t want to attract predators, as it puts our laying flock in danger. A potential solution is to throw them in an old kiddie pool while they flop to contain the mess. My husband pointed out that the downside to that would be very bloody birds to deal with.
My concern with the milk jug kill cones is the size. Will the birds actually fit into them? If they do, I planned on putting a bucket under each bird to catch the blood.

Im planning on plucking half & skinning half. We have a large pot we used for boiling crab that I’m going to put on the grill for scalding. I have a couple old folding tables to use for processing, & a couple buckets for innards to keep & to discard. Discarded innards will be taken far away from the house & dumped in the timber, again, to avoid attracting predators to the house.

We have a good supply of sharp hunting knives, & plenty of storage bags for the vacuum sealer before freezing them.

I do still need to get ice to fill the cooler, but will do that in the next day or so.

Am I missing anything? Any helpful suggestions?

 

[FMF1986]

I've seen pylon's used as kill cones, with the head whole cut a bit bigger, I thought that looked ideal

 

[RUNuts]

I used a 1 gallon bleach jug kill cone for some small DP hens that worked well. I cut the hole too big, so have a spare or start small. Hung a bucket under this with wood chips to soak up the mess. Worked well for me and I put this on the bottom of the new compost pile. Heated up quick.

Do you have a thermometer to monitor water temp? Something to dunk/stir with and a removal plan? I used tongs to submerge and stir and grabbed by the foot to pull out. Warm, but not too hot.

I think scalded, then zip tied the legs to hang and pluck.

 

[Molpet]

I use a kitty litter jug .. I have a cone but the cx didn't fit right. I scald in a turkey fryer. 2 1/2 or 3 gallons at 145-160f . I hold them by the feet to dunk them

 

[teriz1091]

I used a 1 gallon bleach jug kill cone for some small DP hens that worked well. I cut the hole too big, so have a spare or start small. Hung a bucket under this with wood chips to soak up the mess. Worked well for me and I put this on the bottom of the new compost pile. Heated up quick.

Do you have a thermometer to monitor water temp? Something to dunk/stir with and a removal plan? I used tongs to submerge and stir and grabbed by the foot to pull out. Warm, but not too hot.

I think scalded, then zip tied the legs to hang and pluck.

I hadn’t thought of having something to soak up the blood in the bucket. I could use some of their used shavings, which I put on the compost pile anyways.

I don’t have a thermometer. Good idea. And I was planning on just hanging onto a foot to dunk & swish around. I’ll watch a few more videos to see if I can pick up any more tips.

Thank you!