BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[lpatelski]

Just an FYI - that book and other good, antique poultry books are available for free on sites like archive.org, Hathitrust, and google books. Various formats so you can download them to a computer, an electronic reader, or print them.

"The Call of the Hen"

https://ia800207.us.archive.org/14/items/cu31924003143629/cu31924003143629.pdf

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Wish me luck, this is the weekend we're actually going to eat our first homegrown chicken. The 12 week old cockerels are starting to become obnoxious, that makes it all easier. Even so I'm still a bit intimidated by the whole thing. I've chosen the largest single combed rooster, (I'm breeding for pea combs so that makes it easy) . He looks pretty meaty but I think it's all feathers, he won't make much of a meal. We'll see! I plan to put him on the BBQ. Have to dig out those brining recipes.....

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I totally agree. Even though I have names for some of them they're still livestock in my eyes intended for eggs and/or BBQ sauce. I don't view them anywhere near the same as my dogs. Dogs are a completely 'nother matter for me. I have a beagle now that's near the end of the line and just thinking about it really wears on me. When I lost my Springer Spaniel Opie back in 2009 I was pretty tore up for a long while afterward. We were a great team and he was the best hunting companion a person could ever have. But yeah, chickens are chickens and whenever I think of them I think of breakfast or supper whether they're named Snuggles or McNugget. Couldn't agree more.

I made pets out of the first flock of chicks last year, I did not name them but making them tame and firendly- that was a mistake. This year's chicks, particularly the roosters, are getting the minimum of attention as far as spoiling and treats go. They get what they need, good food, water, a large outdoor pen, clean bedding, a comfortable coop, but other than that I'm trying to ignore them.
Yeah dogs- we are down to only four now, I still grieve for the ones we no longer have. I am not getting any more dogs for now, I'd like a bit of freedom (anticipate 10 years or so) so we can just shut the door and do some traveling, without worrying about the dogs and critters.

 

[Beekissed]

I totally agree. Even though I have names for some of them they're still livestock in my eyes intended for eggs and/or BBQ sauce. I don't view them anywhere near the same as my dogs. Dogs are a completely 'nother matter for me. I have a beagle now that's near the end of the line and just thinking about it really wears on me. When I lost my Springer Spaniel Opie back in 2009 I was pretty tore up for a long while afterward. We were a great team and he was the best hunting companion a person could ever have. But yeah, chickens are chickens and whenever I think of them I think of breakfast or supper whether they're named Snuggles or McNugget. Couldn't agree more.

Same here. I name whatever I wish to name, but in the end they are still here for one purpose and one purpose only and possessing a name cannot change that. They are on this Earth as food, for us and for other creatures. Naming is a fun thing to do and it helps distinguish one animal from another if you keep them for any length of time, so it's just a wise thing to do.

If I raised dogs for food, I'd name them all the same and still eat them when the day is done...but I don't eat them, so they get names AND they get to stick around until they die or are killed for humane reasons.

The ability to keep things straight in one's mind is something to be developed and nurtured, especially when raising food animals...never could understand why so many folks glory in the fact that they treat one animal different from another simply because they named it, especially a food animal~it speaks volumes if someone has to trick themselves into feeling differently about a chicken by the use of a name or the absence of one. It doesn't negate the need for them to have good care, a gentle hand, a place in your thoughts and even your heart, but in the end they have an Earthly purpose and a name shouldn't keep them from fulfilling it. If it does so, that's all in the human's mind and it has no basis in reality, any reality, be it human's or chicken's.

Keeping chickens is fun, naming them is fun, eating them is even more fun....don't see why these three have to be mutually exclusive or meddled with in order to keep it all fun.

 

[DesertChic]

Wish me luck, this is the weekend we're actually going to eat our first homegrown chicken. The 12 week old cockerels are starting to become obnoxious, that makes it all easier. Even so I'm still a bit intimidated by the whole thing. I've chosen the largest single combed rooster, (I'm breeding for pea combs so that makes it easy) . He looks pretty meaty but I think it's all feathers, he won't make much of a meal. We'll see! I plan to put him on the BBQ. Have to dig out those brining recipes.....

Good luck! Once you have a homegrown chicken you'll never want to eat a "standard" chicken again. I don't even like to order chicken dishes when we go out to eat now. I usually order some kind of seafood instead because I just expect more from my chicken now.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Good luck! Once you have a homegrown chicken you'll never want to eat a "standard" chicken again. I don't even like to order chicken dishes when we go out to eat now. I usually order some kind of seafood instead because I just expect more from my chicken now.

Thanks DC. I'm actually looking sort of forward to it, but I think my hubby will be appalled at the total lack of breast meat! These are not Ipatelski's birds!
I prefer dark meat myself

he'll have to go hungry........

 

[DesertChic]

Thanks DC. I'm actually looking sort of forward to it, but I think my hubby will be appalled at the total lack of breast meat! These are not Ipatelski's birds!
I prefer dark meat myself

he'll have to go hungry........

I'm with you! I LOVE that dark meat.

 

[DesertChic]

I FINALLY snapped some decent photos of my #1 NN/White Rock meat breeding pullet, Willa:





She weighed in at 4.0 lbs @ 16 weeks and has a nice, meaty breast.

This is the first time I've really paid so much attention to the pullets I've hatched, and I'm thrilled that I have three really nice heavy girls to use in my breeding program.

 

[Beekissed]

VERY pretty hen...except for that bare patch around the neck.

Other than that, she's got lovely color and patterns and seems really meaty in her body.

 

[Kev]

Thanks DC. I'm actually looking sort of forward to it, but I think my hubby will be appalled at the total lack of breast meat! These are not Ipatelski's birds!
I prefer dark meat myself

he'll have to go hungry........

Haha I like both. for some reason I don't like the thighs very much. Really like the breast, legs and wings but the thighs... usually use them as leftovers and stuff between pieces of bread.

Had chicken feet for the first time in Las Vegas earlier this month and they were rather nice. I'd say better tasting than the thighs but could have been the seasoning on the feet(was very good). Kinda freaky to feel the toe bones moving around as you try to eat them.... (and very amusing to eye the table companions' reactions as I ate them..)