Probably, but I have such a small flock, that it isn't feasible. If anyone knows of one, please post back. It is a challenge for me. My dad used to butcher chickens for us to eat on a regular basis when I was a kid (60 years ago), but those memories aren't particularly pleasant. HEChicken has convinced me that doing it myself is potentially more humane than taking them somewhere anyway, so we shall see how it goes.
Congrats on your children's wins. Very nice.
Just a quick brag on my kids and their 4-H chickens--
They will stay skiddish unless you handle them a lot. They need to imprint on you.My baby ducks are doing well they have grown so much in the 10 days I have had them doubled in size... though they are still fairly skittish(( My hens are getting along real well and I can tell who the pigs are out of my flock lol I am hoping to take my camera out and get better pictures my phone camera is pretty lame
So sorry about your rooster. I was really hoping you caught him in time.On a sad note I lost my rooster that wasn't doing too well.I'm very sad!!! He was slow but still alive when my husband checked on him this morning. At noon he was dead. He was a sweet rooster and had fit into my flock almost flawlessly. So now I need a new Silver Laced Wyandotte rooster. If anyone has one or knows of one please PM me.
It was most likely a virus. That is what 99% of the illness is, aside from poisoning or mold. Like I explained earlier you can't treat the virus, only the bacterial infections that can result from it. Those will cause pneumonia etc that will end up killing them...which is why you use the antibiotics at all. Combining the virus that wild birds bring in and the heat its just a really bad time of year. I live in dread this time of year for fear of what my birds might catch. Again in fall when the migratory birds go through the virus are pretty bad. I really wish I had an answer to stop all this.Thanks for the PM Trish! I'm clueless as to what it was that got him. I'm doing preventative measures with all my other birds. So far so good, X fingers!Any idea if it's a virus or a bacteria? I wasn't sure which it might be. I've been trying to boost their immune systems as well as give them plenty of time in the fresh air and sunshine.
You can sell cockerels for meat if you care to raise them. There's a fairly good market for them but of course you never make money on them. I sell mine as meat birds simply because I feel it is the most humane. Giving away cockerels isn't easy unless they are pure bred and good breeding quality.
Thanks for that link. I've been looking for a source for grass fed beef. Do they do their own processing of beef, do you know? I noticed that they don't sell much beef, but if they do their own processing it would be a real positive. The best beef I've ever had was processed by a man at Fall River who used humane slaughter practices (as I recall, and it was a long time ago, he was kosher), and the beef was much more tender than commercially processed varieties. I'll give them a call on Monday.
) Hoping I can catch more tomorrow at my moms and bring them home.. also got my Black East Indie duck to eat 2 of them ... that is a big step for him he usually runs when trying to feed him... my compost is doing awesome ) very excited for this batch to be ready to plant in... my babies are so fun they still run but not as skittish today though I spent a bunch of time in their run feeding and watering them.. their pool was filthy... but I added to the water level today .. very fun to watch them chasing eachother in the pool.... lovin my flock
