BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[hellbender]

X 2. Brining makes a huge difference in both flavor and texture. I normally brine mine before I plan to cook them though, not right after processing. I never thought about doing so immediately but now I want to try it. Oh....and in case anyone is interested, here is a brine recipe given to me by a close friend:

2 gallons water
1 3/4 cups Kosher salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 TBS Morton Tender Quick
2 TBS onion powder
2 TBS garlic powder
2 TBS paprika
1 TBS white pepper
1 TBS powdered ginger
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp powdered sage
1 tsp nutmeg

The last time I used this I brined the bird for three days and only use salt, pepper and butter for seasoning during roasting....and the meat was tender, juicy and very flavorful without the chicken flavor being covered up by other flavors.

I think brining (with water and Kosher or Sea Salt only) is best done as soon after processing as can be. Ideally, it should be done before rigor sets in for full benefit.

Edit: I brine the whole bird then cut it up afterward or freeze it whole.

 

[DesertChic]

Extremely happy to report no flare ups from playing with them..... even after a whole day of repeated and lengthy handling for clothes fitting.

I'm so tempted to do a trial incubator run with 100% scaleless hatch and see if my allergies flare up or not. edited to add: I cannot do hatches with naked neck chicks, and the reaction varies with handling the NN birds.

The only non NN breed here- barbezieux on the other hand.. all it takes is walking into the open front shed with barbe chicks in the brooder. Also got flare up when the chicks were moved to outdoor pen.. Not sure if I can/should keep many examples of this breed around for this reason.

All of the great personality of the NNs and none of the allergens....sounds like a perfect match to me!

I say go for it! I'd love to see how your 100% scaleless hatch works out.

 

[ronott1]

X 2. Brining makes a huge difference in both flavor and texture. I normally brine mine before I plan to cook them though, not right after processing. I never thought about doing so immediately but now I want to try it. Oh....and in case anyone is interested, here is a brine recipe given to me by a close friend:

2 gallons water
1 3/4 cups Kosher salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 TBS Morton Tender Quick
2 TBS onion powder
2 TBS garlic powder
2 TBS paprika
1 TBS white pepper
1 TBS powdered ginger
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp powdered sage
1 tsp nutmeg

The last time I used this I brined the bird for three days and only use salt, pepper and butter for seasoning during roasting....and the meat was tender, juicy and very flavorful without the chicken flavor being covered up by other flavors.

Pay attention to what Ron said--brine for three days after processing--Rinse them before freezing because you can over brine them.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Thanks for everyone's congrats and tips! I went to Tractor Supply and got myself some scalpels/blade (under the label "castration kit", interestingly...). Tomorrow will be harder emotionally because I'm more familiar with the NN cockerels (and the NH boys were destined for the freezer since day one), although it is REALLY time - they are starting to go after each other a little bit. I'm not going to move them to the crate tonight, because it's not quite predator proof - they are locked up in the tractor each morning until I let them out, and it's fairly straightforward to get hold of one of them when I'm in there without that much fuss - that's how weights are done, before the day starts and they are let out to range. So I'll just go back there early and bring them one by one to the crate (covered by a tarp) until I let the rest out.

Odd question - I certainly noted that when holding the NHs upside down by the legs, they calmed down, but they were still alert, and I ended up loading them into the cone that way - for some reason, I thought they would get drowsy. If you let them hang upside down for a longer while, do they doze off a bit? (Did I just not wait enough?) Or is that just a tale folks tell?

- Ant Farm

 

[draye]

You're lucky it's taken this long for them to start crowing. I heard my first kazoo call from my 9-week old NNs, and with so many

cockerels in that group....I think I'll snag some extra ear plugs from our business. 

Guess I'm lucky on the young cockerels crowing. I haven't had any that start before 16/17 weeks old. Most are a littke older.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine don't really start until around 5 mo. old, if that. Depends on if they are the sole male or if they have a flock master already established. Even then it's usually only in the very early morning, before daybreak, then no more. I LOVE a quiet homestead.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Guess I'm lucky on the young cockerels crowing. I haven't had any that start before 16/17 weeks old. Most are a littke older.

Mine don't really start until around 5 mo. old, if that. Depends on if they are the sole male or if they have a flock master already established. Even then it's usually only in the very early morning, before daybreak, then no more. I LOVE a quiet homestead.

Well, I've got some early bloomers. This morning (at 14 weeks), 3 of the 5 NH had started kazoo-ing (Camp Kenmore came none too soon), and now two of the NNs (at least) are crowing - thought the newest and loudest is heading to camp tomorrow. This morning they all went off at 6am (sunrise at 7:45), but it was my fault, because I had turned on the outdoor lights early and rattled around outside to get ready for processing, and it set off my Cream Legbar "lead" cockerel, who then got everyone else going... I'm hoping it's quieter after tomorrow...

- Ant Farm

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks for everyone's congrats and tips! I went to Tractor Supply and got myself some scalpels/blade (under the label "castration kit", interestingly...). Tomorrow will be harder emotionally because I'm more familiar with the NN cockerels (and the NH boys were destined for the freezer since day one), although it is REALLY time - they are starting to go after each other a little bit. I'm not going to move them to the crate tonight, because it's not quite predator proof - they are locked up in the tractor each morning until I let them out, and it's fairly straightforward to get hold of one of them when I'm in there without that much fuss - that's how weights are done, before the day starts and they are let out to range. So I'll just go back there early and bring them one by one to the crate (covered by a tarp) until I let the rest out.

Odd question - I certainly noted that when holding the NHs upside down by the legs, they calmed down, but they were still alert, and I ended up loading them into the cone that way - for some reason, I thought they would get drowsy. If you let them hang upside down for a longer while, do they doze off a bit? (Did I just not wait enough?) Or is that just a tale folks tell?

- Ant Farm

Nope not for me, they stay alert and looking around for me no matter how long I let them stay upside down.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Nope not for me, they stay alert and looking around for me no matter how long I let them stay upside down.

OK, thanks. I read a few places where folks talked about it "putting them to sleep". In my case they pretty much just stopped struggling (mercifully), but still would look up at me fully alert like they were asking "Why am I upside down?"

Culling Cypher, Neo, Mouse (three smallest), and Dozer (body shape and Nn phenotype) tomorrow. (Note to self: AVOID naming cockerels in the future unless you know they're keepers...) Then that should be it for a while. I have a "special needs" New Hampshire pullet that I made a "deal" with when she was only a day old. She seemed blind at hatch (I picked these chicks up on day of hatch at Ideal - no mail), definitely something wrong with her. I gave her water by syringe for just a day to ensure she was hydrated, and then I let her be. I "told" her (ok, told myself) that if she could find the food and water in a crowded brooder with 24 other chicks, I'd let her live and keep feeding her. But my deal with her/myself was that if she ever seemed to need special treatment AT ALL (including being picked by other birds), that was it. No special treatment.

Well, she wasn't blind (she seems to have the chicken version of cerebral palsy - best description I can think of for the way she walks/ balances). She's small, but sticks up for herself and gets plenty to eat. Tough as nails. It's been astonishing. So, while it may not be "practical" to keep her, since she's a girl, I decided to (along with her other NH pullet friend). I tell myself it'll better balance the male/female ratio, since I don't quite have enough girls yet... Depending on their laying abilities, the may be culled later, of course.

Pizza has now arrived, locally brewed adult beverage in hand, and I'm going to catch up on some Doctor Who. Take two tomorrow...

(Again, thanks SO much, everyone! I can't respond to you all without blowing up the thread with excessive posts, but the encouragement and advice REALLY helps! @gjensen - thanks for your advice as well. I'll respond specifically once tomorrow's cull is over - I have some ideas...)

- Ant Farm

 

[Kassaundra]

OK, thanks. I read a few places where folks talked about it "putting them to sleep". In my case they pretty much just stopped struggling (mercifully), but still would look up at me fully alert like they were asking "Why am I upside down?"

Culling Cypher, Neo, Mouse (three smallest), and Dozer (body shape and Nn phenotype) tomorrow. (Note to self: AVOID naming cockerels in the future unless you know they're keepers...) Then that should be it for a while. I have a "special needs" New Hampshire pullet that I made a "deal" with when she was only a day old. She seemed blind at hatch (I picked these chicks up on day of hatch at Ideal - no mail), definitely something wrong with her. I gave her water by syringe for just a day to ensure she was hydrated, and then I let her be. I "told" her (ok, told myself) that if she could find the food and water in a crowded brooder with 24 other chicks, I'd let her live and keep feeding her. But my deal with her/myself was that if she ever seemed to need special treatment AT ALL (including being picked by other birds), that was it. No special treatment.

Well, she wasn't blind (she seems to have the chicken version of cerebral palsy - best description I can think of for the way she walks/ balances). She's small, but sticks up for herself and gets plenty to eat. Tough as nails. It's been astonishing. So, while it may not be "practical" to keep her, since she's a girl, I decided to (along with her other NH pullet friend). I tell myself it'll better balance the male/female ratio, since I don't quite have enough girls yet... Depending on their laying abilities, the may be culled later, of course.

Pizza has now arrived, locally brewed adult beverage in hand, and I'm going to catch up on some Doctor Who. Take two tomorrow...

(Again, thanks SO much, everyone! I can't respond to you all without blowing up the thread with excessive posts, but the encouragement and advice REALLY helps! @gjensen - thanks for your advice as well. I'll respond specifically once tomorrow's cull is over - I have some ideas...)

- Ant Farm

DW always makes everything better