Dixie Chicks

[minihorse927]

I think this year I am going to buy a caution cone and cut the end off, screw it into a tree and use the killing cone method.  Last year I used a huge stump, and hand axe.  DH nailed a rope to the stump and said it would be easier if I put the string across the roos neck.  Ummm, I kinda thought he was crazy, but sometimes it's easier to go along with him than to argue.  So, I put the rope over the roo's neck, covered his eyes with a hand towel & 1st whack, chopped his head and the rope off!  LOL!  DH didn't put another one on there.

We only got 23 eggs today.  It's been crazy nasty weather though.  Tomorrow is suppose to be worse.  I did get 2 CCL eggs though   Funny story about the CCLs.  They are being kept in my greenhouse right now until they get used to the place and quarantine is up.  So, not thinking, the little dog follows me everywhere when I get home from work.  He went to the greenhouse today to feed them with me and the 2 cockrells started flapping around screaming:cd :cd  and the poor little dog ran to the corner of the greenhouse  also freaked out!  I quickly snatched him up and got him out of there.  I am going to have to work with them on being more comfortable with him.

they will get used to your dog. They got used to mine but it does take time to recognize an acceptable dog from an unacceptable. They were comfortable with my rottweiler once they realized she was not a threat.

 

[apteryx]

Oh my, glad I am not a chicken. What about the killing cones? I dont have one and I am looking for a quick, painless as possible and easier way of doing it. Also the tools. I have heard the Chinese rools are better. Do you know anything about these tools.

When I first started processing my surplus cockerels I did not have a cone. It worked, but could be messy. Last summer I got a cone and now I wouldn't go back. I find it to be easier and cleaner than with no cone.

The Chinese tools you are asking about, I believe they are for caponizing - not something I have done.

Re: when to cull - I cull surplus cockerels that I can't sell/re-home, sick birds (injury or serious illness), bad temperament/mean and bad layers (only had on fall into these last two categories; was mean and a bad layer).

 

[Beer can]

When I first started processing my surplus cockerels I did not have a cone. It worked, but could be messy. Last summer I got a cone and now I wouldn't go back. I find it to be easier and cleaner than with no cone.

The Chinese tools you are asking about, I believe they are for caponizing - not something I have done.

Re: when to cull - I cull surplus cockerels that I can't sell/re-home, sick birds (injury or serious illness), bad temperament/mean and bad layers (only had on fall into these last two categories; was mean and a bad layer).

I probably won't build a chicken guillotine, but it would be a cool winter project. I need to invest in a couple cones or build some. Not only does it make it easier and less messy ( I got sprayed with blood using the block of wood with a rope to hold the neck method, I didn't miss and hit the rope but once the head is loose, the flopping and spraying begins), with cones the bird stays put, you can have bruising in the meat when they fly and flop around, I didn't but I've seen it with 50lb turkeys before.. My culling method while yes is for 'SOP' breeding methods, isn't just for that purpose. Yes I plan to cull when their colors are not similar to SOP, or their size isn't SOP, but the non-hackers are grown to full size before butchering, they just won't be used for breeding. The culled birds are our food, pullets, cockerels, doesn't matter, better than the who knows what they are or what they ate or how they were raised and treated, from the store.

 

[hennible]

Cool gardening "hack"

 

[Alaskan]

had no idea the bantams and LF couldnt co habitat ...and I thought @Alaskan had a buncha hippy dippy fowl that all lived together with some mysterious peaceful commune type living area.. except the quail which might or might not have lived together at one time or another...

I started out with ducks, standard, and bantam chickens all together.

I hated having the ducks with the chickens.

When I got back into ducks, they got their own coop.

This last summer I finally divided up the bantams from the standard. They used to live well together, because the bantams were much faster and better fliers than the standard sized roosters that I had. The bantams just lived on the second story area, and were fine (high poop shelves).

But, this year I got standard sized roosters that are acrobatic, nimble, fast, and fly well. The bantams couldn't out manouver the standard sized roosters.

I was worried that those big roosters would smash my tiny bantam girls flat.....

SOoooooo I now have a bantam coop and a standard coop, quail separated in the standard chicken coop, and one separate duck coop.



As to killing... my sister always does the broomstick method to kill chickens... for eating. She tried everything, and finds this works the best for her.

She tends to panic, and actually ends up popping the head clean off...



I just string them all up, upside down from whatever (a fence, a T-post, the hoist on the tank), and after they have hung for a bit, slit their necks........

The kids prefer doing a lasso around the feet, a separate lasso around the neck. Strech out bird on ground by means of the two lassos, and whack with an ax.

Cool gardening "hack"

 

[Beer can]

Depends on what kind of bantams you have. My father always was fond of what he called 'fighting banties" mixed them with his Rhode Island reds. Now that I know more about chickens that is probably why they were such good broodies, and the roosters tried to kill us kids Lol!

 

[Amberjem]

Peeled and cubed taters
white or yellow hominy your preference
Mushrooms
red onion
Cooked and chopped bacon
chopped ham
Also can use leftover meat from roast pork, beef, chops or steaks ect
White and Yellow cheese whatever flavors appeal to you at the time


salt
pepper
garlic
basil
fennel
sage
rosemary



cook the bacon chop up and set aside
cook the taters and hominy in the bacon grease add all the seasonings, cover with lid and let steam cook
About half way thru when taters are starting to get a done appearance toss in the veggies (Optional add some salsa now as well)
Mix in about ten eggs with a dash or two of milk toss the meat in now if it's already cooked add cheese last..stir frequently...
enjoy


if you add the salsa can serve in flour tortilla make breakfast burritos

 

[Beer can]

Mmmm!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Anyone know what the best bait is for baby possums? I took out the mama in my EE pen tonight and she has rat sized babies under our house. I have some rat traps I wanna try to catch them with. Do ya'll think that'll work?

 

[Amberjem]

gawd no sorry done forgot all my possum keeping knowledge ............catfood might work that seems to ring a bell..