Are my birds suitable for eating?

[TarynH]

They’re both definitely cockerels.

Well that is a bummer. I was really hoping to get 1 female of the two. And they were sold as pullets!

 

[TarynH]

Well thank you everyone for all the advice. I also learned I may have 5 roosters vs the 2 I thought!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Where are you located? There are people that's re still selling at least older hens that can still lay before winter hits all the way

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I just started caring for chickens this year when my nephew wanted to start a project. We have a total of 10 birds. I’ve listed them below as to what I was told or think they are.

Are any of these ok to use for meat birds? I’m not going to eat these 10 but hatch more out. They are in two flocks now due to discovering I have an extra rooster.

Dominique? -rooster born 4/2020
Orpington/Wyandotte? - hen born 4/20 & laying
2 Sumatra- given to me for free and not laying yet
**Not planning to eat these or the chicks!

Silver laced polish - rooster born 8/20
*discovered he was a rooster after the other one attacked him*
2 Speckled Sussex- born 8/2020 not laying yet
A red/brown pullet- born 8/2020 not laying yet
Olive Egger - not laying yet
Ayam Cemani/Olive Egger- not laying yet

Any advice is appreciated!
FYI my husband has butchered several chickens before so that’s not a worry.

Why are you eating all those sweet little pullets? They aren’t even meat birds. Roosters I understand, but pullets?
I don’t see any Dominiques.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

This was all store bought, and it was baked no different that all the years I’ve cooked chicken before. I’ve had several friends have the same issue. I just want to know where my meat comes from it all. Doing organic gardening now as well and just want to eat what I grow/ raise

Raising at home, you will absolutely have control over those issues. If you wanted to sell your home birds, you couldn't advertise them with some of those labels (thank you, FDA), but you can absolutely raise them in a way that is right for you.

 

[Sally PB]

(truly, the "nose", where 80-90% of flavor resides, for reasons I have, sadly, cause to know)

I hear you! I never had a great sense of smell, and I fried a lot of what was left with ammonia fumes running blueprints.

OP, I was just going to ask where you are located, but someone beat me to it. Good luck, and welcome to BYC. As you may have noticed, a lot of very knowledgeable people here, and a very friendly place to hang out.

 

[TarynH]

Why are you eating all those sweet little pullets? They aren’t even meat birds. Roosters I understand, but pullets?
I don’t see any Dominiques.

Oh no not eating them, just asking if these can be bred to eat. My guess was the black and white big rooster was a Dom or barred I don’t know. My plan was to only eat the boys and keep the girls for eggs

 

[TarynH]

Raising at home, you will absolutely have control over those issues. If you wanted to sell your home birds, you couldn't advertise them with some of those labels (thank you, FDA), but you can absolutely raise them in a way that is right for you.

Nope, no selling just for eating at home. I woken for a produce broker so I know all the rules/requirements and that’s way too much for me. Just trying to be more homestead here

 

[TarynH]

Where are you located? There are people that's re still selling at least older hens that can still lay before winter hits all the way

I’m on the CA Coastside/Peninsula/Bay Area

 

[Ridgerunner]

Oh no not eating them, just asking if these can be bred to eat. My guess was the black and white big rooster was a Dom or barred I don’t know. My plan was to only eat the boys and keep the girls for eggs

Definitely not a Dominique. Doms have rose combs, that's a single comb. It's not a Barred Rock either, the barring pattern is not correct. My guess is that he is some kind of a mix. Looks like he could be good as a sire for a meat bird.

If you try to hatch enough boys to eat much meat you will soon be overrun with girls. I don't need that many eggs, can't afford to feed them or build enough facilities to house them. Do the math. I eat the pullets I don't need for replacements but many people sell them, maybe as POL (Point of Lay). Many say they can get enough money selling them to pay for the feed. Selling them does not meet my goals, set-up, or the way I want to manage them but is a viable option.