California-Southern

[kmmp]

They are really sweet too. I like them and the eggs (ate them this morning) were just as good as ever! Now, they need to set an example for my lazy girls because those babes need to earn their keep!

About the dry ice solution, I am not sure I would eat one of them, I do not know if the chemicals could remain in the blood stream and for how long...anybody want to wager a guess at that? I only know that I refuse to pay the vet 80.00 a piece to put them down. I cannot chop off heads, I'm too chicken (pun intended) and we tried shooting them but their heads are so small and they move them around too much. No good solution there. If I could get ether I would do that, but you have to go to Ariz. to get it and then try to smuggle it back into state. Besides, it is illegal.

 

[chick4chix]

kmmp- you and Carlyle must own stock in the country store- ha

About the dry ice -it would be interesting to know if the gas created from the dry ice would stay in the meat. I have not processed chicken in years and years and have gotten as you say "very chicken" about doing the deed, but would like to raise birds for meat in the future- or if I hatch to be able to use the roos (I can't have them either). I thought with the dry ice method, after he "went to sleep" you could bleed it out and process as you normally do without the flopping around- but I wasn't thinking about any poisoning from the gas- does anyone on here know the answer to this? I know when you use dry ice to store food - it's really important not to touch it- but it's not touching the food in this case the food is breathing it.

 

[Carlyle]

The gas is not poisonous. It is just CO2. It is totally harmless. You breath and eat lots of it every day. Contrary to what EPA and Al Gore say, it doesn't even cause global warming. The reason it kills chickens (or other lifeforms) in the bottom of a closed container is that it is heavier than air and sinks to the bottom and displaces all the oxygen. They just suffocate. The dark and the cold puts chickens into a deep sleep - just like roosting - so they basically don't feel and "don't care" if they suffocate. (Yes, I am a scientist).

 

[flower]

In what type of facilities do they sell dry ice. While living in a large urban area we could find plenty. And I was able to locate some in a country turned suburban type environment at a local dairy. Here in RC I am not even sure where to look ?

Mary in CA 100 miles south of Death Valley

 

[Carlyle]

Try this: http://www.dryicedirectory.com/

 

[kmmp]

Albertson's sells dry ice and so do most liquor stores.

Thanks about the CO2 info. I was going to add that the gas is heavier and sinks to the bottom of the container and suffocates them, just like you said, but I didn't want to type that much....so lazy. I am glad it is not poisonous to the meat so it could be used as a better kill method.

 

[flower]

Thank you to both of you. Tthe link and the chemistry lesson is very helpful. I worked as a reg nurse for 4 decades and know something about CO2 but would have never used such an easy and painless way to cull roosters. Once a long time ago, my first experience with chickens was a mixed run from McMurrays. Would you believe they sent 20 roos and 6 hens. I didn't know enough about chickens then until they all grew to pullet and cockerel stage. I read about preparation and killing of the birds. Did some the usual way and then tried field dressing them. Too much work, I bagged up the rest and gave them to the husband of a co worker who said he was delighted to have them but I never asked about how much fun he had dressing them. LOL

 

[chick4chix]

great information Carlyle - thanks!

 

[MakeMineCadburys]

Hello to all you SoCal "Peeps!"

I'm in Murrieta (near Temecula) ... anyone from around here?

 

[Carlyle]

OK - official results - - -

Four RIR "Super Chickens" from County Feed in Vista. I sure hope they remember the "recipe" for
these chickens. They are the most productive layers I have ever heard of.

In my first complete week (exactly 7x24 hours) I got 19 eggs. That is darn close to THREE / DAY ! ! !
Three of the days were very cold (almost snowed) and rainy, four were warmer and mostly sunny.
But in any case IT IS WINTER and the days are short. I was hoping for three eggs per day in summer
and was ready to settle for 1 or 1½ in the winter.

I am really AMAZED. No, I haven't a financial interest in County Feed, but I hope somebody can get
them this information. They've got themselves some ovipositing MANIACS.