Do Happy birds = Good meat??

[Ragna]

I'm trying to get in order a poultry farm and I was recommended Cornish cross. I probably don't stand out as much in BYC but I absolutely love my chickens. I am in love with my chickens as if they were my children lol so I want them to be loved and taken care of their whole life.... Even when they are about to be processed I want them to have absolutely or very very little stress at all times... I have a choice to take my poultry farm in the direction of selling birds I process myself or I can sell live birds under a different permit to processing establishments... But I hear the chickens will be terrified for the last hours or days of their life. I want my girls to be happy but I'm also concerned about quality I don't want them to taste like... Stress but I didn't know if that was a myth or not. Do chickens really taste different if they are stressed before processing???

 

[Mosey2003]

Why would they be terrified? You calmly pick one up, gently lower its head to dangle, and then swiftly kill it. If they're terrified for hours beforehand, you're doing something very wrong.

If a bird is terrified before butchering it will be tougher from the adrenaline. Say, a bird that died from a predator attack would not be good to eat.

 

[Doc7]

Why would they be terrified? You calmly pick one up, gently lower its head to dangle, and then swiftly kill it. If they're terrified for hours beforehand, you're doing something very wrong.

If a bird is terrified before butchering it will be tougher from the adrenaline. Say, a bird that died from a predator attack would not be good to eat.

I think OP is referring to holding time in a process facility.

 

[Mosey2003]

I think OP is referring to holding time in a process facility.

Ah. Wasn't super clear. They won't be thrilled about being caged up and moved, but I wouldn't say terrified. Killing birds in front of others doesn't bother them, I do it in front of my layer pen all the time and they line up hoping for scraps.

 

[Ragna]

Why would they be terrified? You calmly pick one up, gently lower its head to dangle, and then swiftly kill it. If they're terrified for hours beforehand, you're doing something very wrong.

If a bird is terrified before butchering it will be tougher from the adrenaline. Say, a bird that died from a predator attack would not be good to eat.

So when they are transported to unfamiliar slaughter houses and killed by cutting the esophagus to bleed out... It's probably safe to say the meat will be tense then right? I always wondered why the meat was always so chewy there and even 2 days later sitting in the fridge still tense

 

[Northern.Ontario]

So when they are transported to unfamiliar slaughter houses and killed by cutting the esophagus to bleed out... It's probably safe to say the meat will be tense then right? I always wondered why the meat was always so chewy there and even 2 days later sitting in the fridge still tense

If it's a Cornish cross it wont be chewy.

 

[Ragna]

If it's a Cornish cross it wont be chewy.

They were new Hampshire red I think or production red. So a Cornish cross won't be chewy regardless of how it's slaughtered??

 

[Mosey2003]

They were new Hampshire red I think or production red. So a Cornish cross won't be chewy regardless of how it's slaughtered??

Firstly, they don't slit the esophagus, they slit the jugular/carotid. Slitting the throat does not make a bird chewy.

Secondly, those were chewy because they aren't meat birds, they're dual purpose. Cornish Cross is never chewy because they're butchered at 8 weeks. In other words, they're still chicks. They literally are not old enough to get chewy yet.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

They were new Hampshire red I think or production red. So a Cornish cross won't be chewy regardless of how it's slaughtered??

Not likely. Unless the bird tortured for hours, then slaughtered and immediately frozen. Heritage breeds will always be stringy and chewy. Most people have to apply special handling and cooking techniques such as pressure canning or stewing.

 

[Ragna]

Firstly, they don't slit the esophagus, they slit the jugular. Slitting the throat does not make a bird chewy.

Secondly, those were chewy because they aren't meat birds, they're dual purpose. Cornish Cross is never chewy because they're butchered at 8 weeks. In other words, they're still chicks. They literally are not old enough to get chewy yet.

So you're telling me THE ACT OF CUTTING A THROAT DOESN'T MAKE A BIRD CHEWY?!?!? I know that. I don't like you're attitude. Secondly does it matter what part of the throat they cut what does that have to do with my question