California - Northern

[ronott1]

Quote: Yes, this is all very exciting. A way to move them into Heritage would be to get a Dark Conish--Heritage and cross the Roo with your Silver Penciled Rocks. You could also try this with a Big Dorking Heritage. You would get Heritage crosses that way that should get big fast but not have the crazy leg issues. You also would have the benefit of great layers in the hens.

Waitout: The difference in the white vs the dark meat comes from the amount the muscle is used. Chickens do not fly enough to work the muscle to make it "dark". Quail have white breast meat. Doves have dark breast meat because they fly a lot. The same would be true with silikes, so the dark comes from genetics, not usage. The breast of the slikie would taste like white meat and the thigh would taste like dark meat.

Kim: It is great to know that the Dorking stays tender that long. The Delaware is very nice tasting. Both are good choices--the problem would be to get the friend to switch. It is hard to get someone that is used to processing in 6 weeks to wait 24 weeks let alone almost a year like the Langshans. Baby steps....

Pet Rock: The Breese have a different enzyme in their system that changes the meat. The milk probably does not change it that much for flavor. It might make the meat more tender and the yogurt is good for them. The Breese also have a different bone structure. They really are different. I wonder how these were developed.

 

[ronott1]

Interesting! Please report back on your Dorking x Rock crosses! My friend went to the Heirloom Expo and was amazed to see the difference in size between hatchery and breeder birds. She has always raised the cornish x for meat but now wants to start with heritage breeds. Maybe she would be interested in raising some crosses for meat as well as some purebreds to keep the breeding program going. How fun! I would love to have 10 acres like she does and set up a paddock system for my birds. I've been talking to her about it and gently nudging her to let me help her set it up.
I also have a Dorking Marans Cross, so I will be able to report on what that one is like too. The Marans was a blue marans and I hatched a Blue Marans Dorking Cross pullet and a Dorking marans Black Cockerel.

 

[PetRock]

Yes, this is all very exciting. A way to move them into Heritage would be to get a Dark Conish--Heritage and cross the Roo with your Silver Penciled Rocks. You could also try this with a Big Dorking Heritage. You would get Heritage crosses that way that should get big fast but not have the crazy leg issues. You also would have the benefit of great layers in the hens.

Waitout: The difference in the white vs the dark meat comes from the amount the muscle is used. Chickens do not fly enough to work the muscle to make it "dark". Quail have white breast meat. Doves have dark breast meat because they fly a lot. The same would be true with silikes, so the dark comes from genetics, not usage. The breast of the slikie would taste like white meat and the thigh would taste like dark meat.

Kim: It is great to know that the Dorking stays tender that long. The Delaware is very nice tasting. Both are good choices--the problem would be to get the friend to switch. It is hard to get someone that is used to processing in 6 weeks to wait 24 weeks let alone almost a year like the Langshans. Baby steps....

Pet Rock: The Breese have a different enzyme in their system that changes the meat. The milk probably does not change it that much for flavor. It might make the meat more tender and the yogurt is good for them. The Breese also have a different bone structure. They really are different. I wonder how these were developed.

Oh the possibilities!!! My friend is ready to change but wants to find a breed/cross that meets her requirements: size, decent egg production, good tasting, somewhat broody. I guess fast growth rate would be another plus. She does have most of her chickens free ranging in a field that is probably around 2 acres in size. It would be interesting to see the difference in amount of feed eaten between a 10 week old meatie who only eats chicken feed and a 20 week old free ranging bird who has access to feed along with vegetation, bugs, etc. There might not be that much difference in the cost of raising them. I know that my birds prefer vegetation and bugs to chicken feed. They do eat it but it is not their first choice.

thorleif said that he believes that the milk he feeds his bird results in a delicate, fine texture to the meat. I like hearing from people who actually raise the breeds. thorleif is very passionate about his langshans!

 

[zooweemama]

I am going to go bonkers. The fancy new auto waterer/fountain we bought this summer? Has mildew IN it. I have been putting ACV in it. You can even smell it slightly. I am going crazy. How would mold even get in there? IN the water around the sides? It doesn't need to be messed with or anything. I am really frustrated. I bought it avoid this problem. I am back to bucket waterers. Maybe simple is best.

Ron how is yours doing?

 

[tls_ranch]

Just wanted to share a link to a neat site: http://www.standardbreedpoultry.com/large_fowl_chickens_for_sale.php

I think many of the "big names" of APA and ABA poultry people are supporting this site and I originally found the link here on BYC (just can't remember where, LOL)

Trisha

 

[ronott1]

I am going to go bonkers. The fancy new auto waterer/fountain we bought this summer? Has mildew IN it. I have been putting ACV in it. You can even smell it slightly. I am going crazy. How would mold even get in there? IN the water around the sides? It doesn't need to be messed with or anything. I am really frustrated. I bought it avoid this problem. I am back to bucket waterers. Maybe simple is best.

Ron how is yours doing?

Mine did not take to the nipples so I replaced it with and

I plan on putting the nipple one on to the outside of the coop soon and let them figure out how to use it. The gqf fountain bowl has to be cleaned out every 5 days or so, but like you are finding out, none of the water systems are completely work free.

 

[liz9910]

Hi all, I desperately need to re-home two standard size Cochin roos. I've posed in the re-homing section in the classifieds but no luck. The feed store has too many right now so they can't take them. I'm sure everyone has too many lol. Please PM me if you know anyone who can take them. Thank you.

 

[cherylcohen]

Lavender Marans babies, first born of the 4th generation!

 

[cherylcohen]

Oprah now after her entire body molt.... She's at home in my layer flock, got her from Christina Korfus

 

[cherylcohen]

Reconstruction time, tore down the middle coop and hope to change this into a broody pen (typically for Abby!), area for the steel brooder and a small area for young grow outs