BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Phill98]

Definitely! And I'm still convinced there's a seasonal influence as well. All of the birds I'm culling during these colder months have much more fat on them than my summer culls. 

I hate it so much, because mine got so fat they started sleeping in the nest boxes and my roosts are really low, I wonder if they will lay less now they got this big.

For now they are laying good. Every other day I get 5 eggs from 6 hens. In days between I get from 1 to 4 in any order. Very pleased with that.

 

[DesertChic]

I hate it so much, because mine got so fat they started sleeping in the nest boxes and my roosts are really low, I wonder if they will lay less now they got this big.

For now they are laying good. Every other day I get 5 eggs from 6 hens. In days between I get from 1 to 4 in any order. Very pleased with that.

My Bielefelders (always unusually fatty) and my Australorps are aged and big and fat...and LOVE sleeping in the nesting boxes. I spend a lot of time I don't have to spare cleaning out those dang nesting boxes because of those six girls. They're all getting a little closer to the soup pot.

 

[lpatelski]

I have to ask as I just skinned my first birds yesterday as opposed to plucking... how did you get the skin off the wings??? I only did 3 but I could not figure out how to get the skin off the wings. I ended up having to just cut the wings off between the shoulder and elbow joint.

By the way, good looking birds!

Sorry, I am just answering the question. You cut off the wing at the first joint then pluck the feathers. The feather attached side will stay on the wing, the front of the wing skin will come off. Yes it is harder than chopping it off. If you are going chop it off, scald it in water. They are great as just wings! My chickens have really meaty wings.

 

[Phill98]

My Bielefelders (always unusually fatty) and my Australorps are aged and big and fat...and LOVE sleeping in the nesting boxes. I spend a lot of time I don't have to spare cleaning out those dang nesting boxes because of those six girls. They're all getting a little closer to the soup pot. 

Only reaso I keep these old hens is because they are the only ones that go broody. Young ones don't go at all and I don't have an incubator. But they are very good layers even after a lot of years.

 

[Kassaundra]

The cannibals counted the cannon booms and stampeded me when I went out w/ the bowl.

(the emoji is what the cannibals looked like)

 

[Maeschak]

Sorry, I am just answering the question. You cut off the wing at the first joint then pluck the feathers. The feather attached side will stay on the wing, the front of the wing skin will come off. Yes it is harder than chopping it off. If you are going chop it off, scald it in water. They are great as just wings! My chickens have really meaty wings.

Yeah, if I can't figure out how to skin the wings I won't be skinning anymore... wings are my favorite! And thanks for the tip - Ill try plucking the wings and pulling what I can.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I suppose it depends on their feed? I finish my roosters so they have lots of fat. I put them on a calf finisher for finishing steers for slaughter. It consists of mainly corn with oats and molasses. As I am sure you know that puts alot of nice fat on them!

Does the molasses cause any loose stool?

 

[3riverschick]

Does the molasses cause any loose stool?

. Did you get my Private email?

 

[holm25]

Does the molasses cause any loose stool?

Nope. All my birds get some as a treat twice a week and none of them have loose stools either.

 

[holm25]

​. Did you get my Private email?

I don't listen to articles... I know what works for me and the things they say will kill birds haven't killed mine yet. If I have a question I have BYC friends who I'll send a PM too.