Araucana thread anyone?

[dkcrumly]

Quote:
Not sure how to look at your photos. Can't you just repost it?

kristen

 

[cashdl]

Brownie is an Easter Egger, and the white roo is also. The legs are a dead give away. Ameraucana don't have green legs and Araucana don't have puffy cheeks.


Araucana tufts look like this, see how they don't extend down the face. They are actual feathers that stick out of the face.

Easter Egger puffs look like this ( this is my own breeding for easter egger hence the crest. Ignore it. We are just looking at the puffy face.) See how the fluff, not feathers, go down the face and under the chin. One bird looks like a ring master, and one looks like a cartoon of a russian general.

Lanae

 

[suzannaski]

Kristen, in case you were wondering what Pooh137's chickens looked like, I finally figured out how to find them. Here's the thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=554954&p=1. By the time I came back, Lanae had excellently answered the question.

 

[dkcrumly]

Quote:
thank you suzannaski!!

kristen

 

[Stacykins]

I was wondering how many people send their extra araucana cockerels that don't meet standards to freezer camp? I have some that are tailed and cleanfaced, and since there are surplus cockerels everywhere, they'll live happy lives with me 'til butcher. All mine are standard sized, no bantams.

Anyway, around what age do you do the deed?

 

[Illia]

5 months. I wait til 5 months, if the male looks a little more promising, I wait it out til 6 months. And I must say, Araucanas have been my favorite so far among all the breeds I've eaten. Tying with them are Araucana crosses (Olive Eggers)

 

[suzannaski]

How was it the first time you killed & ate one of the flock? I can't even prepare or carve a storebought roaster.
On the other hand, I will eat meat from neighbors that have killed their livestock, it seems somehow respectful. I just haven't reconciled it in my head for my own.
Of course, the last two that were candidates were eaten by some wild animal before I even thought about a decision.

Off topic: anyone else on the east coast? We're preparing for Irene. I'm already sick of the scare-tactic news casts.

 

[Illia]

West Coaster here and I have to say, you people are actually lucky for your hit and miss Hurricanes.

We get over 70 mph winds here at least once a year, there's no miss. . . . There's just a "how much over 70?"

But, anyway, I hope you all brace through it well!


I will admit, the first times were kinda hard, but for me the only hard part was getting down the killing part quickly, humanely, and mistake-free. And I am NOT one of those "let's get a cone and bleed it" kind of people. . . . Last thing I'd want is to be bled, personally.

My first time I did the traditional 'ol "Get an ax, get a block of wood, . . " And I was nervous. It took me a few faux raises of the ax, yadayada. . . . After a couple roosters I found a new method that I've never turned back from. But beyond that, honestly, it helps a lot to look through helpful posts on issues like skinning vs plucking or processing. There's a whole thread in the Meat section, pictorial, on how to process the bird post mortem. Helped me a lot. Didn't get the special tools though, instead I just use a good knife and my hands (gloved)



Honestly I always look forward to extra boys. Keeps the dogs fed well and the feed bill down.

 

[welasharon]

So what method do you use?

 

[suzannaski]

The usual weather issue around here is being prepared for at least three seasons at any one time. Today was sunny, then wind gusts that destroyed a few canopies at the farmers market, then torrential downpours (sucks for me, I sell soap & watercolors in addition to farm produce) then by the time I called "uncle" and got the truck packed it was sunny & hot again. I was still soaked, so I was headed home to sulk.

I wonder if Lanae should include humane killing methods in her book? I'd be interested in your method, just in case. Might be better to PM, though.

FYI:
If you're not going to eat the bird but want to kindly put it out of its misery (I had to with an injured chick), my vet told me to use starting fluid sprayed onto a cloth over its head. Starting fluid is the same ether that they used to use in hospitals. Better double check the ingredients though before using, just to be sure.