Eggs for food vs eggs for chicks...sound off please

[Ebony Rose]

I have a constant rotation in the incubator, I raise Japanese coturnix quail & chickens. I eat both eggs & meat, and my neighbors LOVE me as I've also helped them raise flocks as well, with gifts of chicks. Costs me nothing more to incubate them and gift them to my neighbors. I'm a citizen of the USA and cannot work here with the visa I have, and they define work as selling eggs or chicks... but nothing says I cannot give them away I only incubate chicken eggs when I need replacements, but I have a steady incubator full of quail eggs. I harvest my chicken roosters about a month after they start getting randy. I harvest chicken hens when needed, sometimes rehome them. I harvest my quail cocks at about 9 weeks. I plan to harvest the quail hens for meat at about a year to a year and a half. Economically speaking, I find quail a bigger bang for the cost of feed. They go from hatched to laying (or harvest) by eight weeks and only eat an ounce of feed daily. Chickens take anywhere from 6 to 9 months for the breeds available here; production reds, which I may never buy again due to the high morbidity rate of the laying hens (or not laying but should be hens), and what they call "gordos" (meat birds). I back-yard sourced some bantams and I don't eat enough eggs for the size to matter, and now that I have my quail production up to sufficient... I don't really need to raise chickens for meat anymore.

 

[Alo]

Don't know with whom or when the " Don't Eat Fertilized Eggs " started, but it is ridiculous! Well then, Don't drink milk cause that's an UTTER EXCRETION! Don't eat Honey cause that's Bee VOMIT! Don't eat Organic Vegetables because they are Fertilized with COW POOP! Don't eat Cheese because it made with BACTERIA and MOLD! Don't eat Mushrooms because they are FUNGUS! Don't drink Spring Water because Animals POOP IN THE WOODS! Don't eat Imported Asian Rice because the People who pick it, POOP IN THE PADDY'S! I'm sure there are others Stupid Reasons not to eat some this or that. SILLY PEOPLE...JJ

Animals pooping in the woods is not a good reason to avoid drinking water.

Fish fornicating in it is...


Fertilized eggs are better for you.

Less cholesterol.

 

[goldysgirl]

Ok. Somehow I think I am a bit misunderstood and now more confused.

I am hearing
-don't keep the cockerels
-keep a cockerel
-no point in having cockerels if you aren't breeding to sell or have a huge coop.
-choose the one with best personality and behavior (Pride)
-keep only the top cock (Lil Bit...he is hateful and hormonally psycho
And that's just on the boys so...I am lost. I have several here commenting that I look up to QUITE a lot and the opinions differ. That makes this hard for me

To answer several posts at once:
I have and intend to keep my 7 pullets, 2 of which started laying this week. All are 4 months (boys and gals). I do intend to sell eggs once I am in abundance. We have several places locally that buy and sell locally grown eggs. Getting rid of eggs won't be an issue. I have only production a chickens for now so I will likely not so eggs to hatch. I intend to keep just one male. For later breeding purposes. (That was the reason for my original post. To learn whether the flock should have a male in it right now or not until later and when it is safe or acceptable to allow mating. Currently they are separated from the flock while I learn more.

The chickens I have serve all purposes...pets/visual entertainment, eggs for my family and eventually to sell, and for meat once they quit laying or space is needed for younger or more preferred breeds as I learn what I like.

I would like to hatch our own at some point to replenish as they age and for my interest in backyard farming and successful providing of meat and eggs for my family. I hope to one day increase to several flocks...one for meat and one for eggs. Of which I intend to either cull, rehome or slaughter males hatched here. (I would like opinions on what age is best to slaughter males for meat).

My children are all grown...mostly. 12 to 25 with ages 15 and 17 home and involved. 12yr old part time. The cockerels we have currently are human timid/tolerant. No aggression to people. Yet

From replies I am reading, so far I am feeling that I will slaughter the 2 least pleasant cockerels very soon and keep my most pleasant and most flock protective (before I separated the flock) for my flock roo. He will be reintroduced to the flock in the spring at a year of age. Until then, my 10'x10' coop and 10'x20' run I assume (so I have been told here over the last few months) should suffice...for winter as well...for my 7 females and one male (still sectioned off).

When I reintroduce Pride to the flock in the spring, I will at that time be hoping to increase my coop size (likely divided for 2 flocks) to 10'x20'...also intending to double the run. (They do all get half of the day free-ranging...males then females). I would like to double it to house new chickens I hatch or buy in the spring.

I think those are the choices so far from what I have learned here. And yes, chicken math is FOR THE BIRDS lol

You can always butcher your roo if he doesn't work out...but you can't bring him back once he's gone. You can also butcher your birds if you find your chicken math was off. I think it can be a hassle to find and integrate new birds and would be nice to have the option to raise your own from the egg. I had a gorgeous but nasty wyandotte roo once that gave one of my hens a nasty wound. I kept him separated for a long time even though he was wicked because I am a softy and he was so pretty. Eventually though, I decided his quality of life wasn't very good being locked up on his own indefinitely and I was afraid I was going to lose an eye. He was butchered and processed into dog treats. I didn't have the heart to eat him since I had him for quite a while and I figured he would be very tough. I have butchered a couple of younger roos and served a couple meals entirely from the garden and coup. They were delicious! Your plan sounds good! I don't think there is a one size fits all answer.

 

[Beccazon]

I have a constant rotation in the incubator, I raise Japanese coturnix quail & chickens. I eat both eggs & meat, and my neighbors LOVE me as I've also helped them raise flocks as well, with gifts of chicks. Costs me nothing more to incubate them and gift them to my neighbors. I'm a citizen of the USA and cannot work here with the visa I have, and they define work as selling eggs or chicks... but nothing says I cannot give them away I only incubate chicken eggs when I need replacements, but I have a steady incubator full of quail eggs. I harvest my chicken roosters about a month after they start getting randy. I harvest chicken hens when needed, sometimes rehome them. I harvest my quail cocks at about 9 weeks. I plan to harvest the quail hens for meat at about a year to a year and a half. Economically speaking, I find quail a bigger bang for the cost of feed. They go from hatched to laying (or harvest) by eight weeks and only eat an ounce of feed daily. Chickens take anywhere from 6 to 9 months for the breeds available here; production reds, which I may never buy again due to the high morbidity rate of the laying hens (or not laying but should be hens), and what they call "gordos" (meat birds). I back-yard sourced some bantams and I don't eat enough eggs for the size to matter, and now that I have my quail production up to sufficient... I don't really need to raise chickens for meat anymore.

Very nice read! If I were to give away meat regularly my friends would be quite happy. In fact...you may have me considering a meat only flock for trade with my neighbor/best buddy's family further down the road who raise dairy and beef cattle!!

 

[aart]

Yes, lots of different opinions/practices....all can work.

That was the reason for my original post. To learn whether the flock should have a male in it right now or not until later and when it is safe or acceptable to allow mating. Currently they are separated from the flock while I learn more.

I would say leave the male with the flock, but you have the problem that your family won't eat fertilized eggs. Too bad they even know, as they wouldn't notice otherwise. I really think they need to get over that, as it will greatly complicate your management. That you have lots of space and can make a permanent separate enclosure will help. Keep the male in there and add hens when you want hatching eggs, but then you'll have 4 weeks to wait for 'infertile eating eggs' and may need to isolate those hens from the other hens and the cock while you wait.

(I would like opinions on what age is best to slaughter males for meat).

I slaughter cockerels at 13-16 weeks, before they start causing chaos and while still tender enough to grill for that crispy skinned deliciousness. Not much meat but the grilled bones make for some excellent stock. Anything older than that I pressure cook until meat is done and is saved aside then a couple more hours to get that bone broth.

Resting the cleaned carcass in fridge for 48-72 hours for rigor to pass is essential for chewable meat from any bird(except maybe CX?). Tho no homegrown bird I've eaten, layer or meat breed, is as soft as a grocery bird, they are more 'toothsome'.

Until then, my 10'x10' coop and 10'x20' run I assume (so I have been told here over the last few months) should suffice...for winter as well...for my 7 females and one male (still sectioned off).

Sounds like you have a good space to work with. Does the isolation pen have access to the run? It your run winter proofed for more space in winter?

 

[Beccazon]

Yes, lots of different opinions/practices....all can work.

I slaughter cockerels at 13-16 weeks, before they start causing chaos and while still tender enough

Sounds like you have a good space to work with. Does the isolation pen have access to the run? It your run winter proofed for more space in winter?

My family inhouse has no issue with fertilized eggs. So we are good to go. Luckily I do not care what in-laws think. They can eat here...or not! Lmao

Would never have guessed to slaughter that young so thank you! I assumed "grow them to full size" but DUH! Tender is good lol!

The isolation pen does have access to the run but I don't allow it. Instead, he/they have free-range time half of the day. I assumed in winter the gals would spend more time in the coop and the cockerels would then be able to use the run more as I would simply close the gals coop door. But I am always up for other ideas!

As far as winterizing...what should I be preparing for changing/adding? Actually, I will post a new thread for that question lol

 

[aart]

My family inhouse has no issue with fertilized eggs. So we are good to go.

Oh good, I must have misread something. Keep the boy with the girls full time then.

Would never have guessed to slaughter that young so thank you! I assumed "grow them to full size" but DUH! Tender is good lol!

It's just easier than dealing with a bunch of rowdy cockerels, despite the minimal meat. Have you ever even eaten a layer breed bird? It's an acquired taste.

The isolation pen does have access to the run but I don't allow it. Instead, he/they have free-range time half of the day. I assumed in winter the gals would spend more time in the coop and the cockerels would then be able to use the run more as I would simply close the gals coop door. But I am always up for other ideas!

Flexibility is always good. My isolation portion of the coop, created with a temporary wall, has a separate people door for me and pop door to separate run for the birds. I usually only use that space for brooding and integrating incubated chicks and for a broody hen. I think any bird needs outside access at all times...even in winter.

As far as winterizing...what should I be preparing for changing/adding? Actually, I will post a new thread for that question lol

Good, I'll look for it.

 

[Chickengene]

Thank you! Haha well MOM here knows we can eat them but try telling the kids or the hubby. Those were some truly special facial expressions A year would be good. That would be spring of next year and actual decent weather in my area lol

How would they even know if the eggs were fertilized or not?
Does everyone cook their own eggs?

 

[aart]

Thank you! Haha well MOM here knows we can eat them but try telling the kids or the hubby. Those were some truly special facial expressions A year would be good. That would be spring of next year and actual decent weather in my area lol

There, I knew I'd seen it!

How would they even know if the eggs were fertilized or not?
Does everyone cook their own eggs?

Thanks for bringing up that quote, gene.

 

[Beccazon]

Lmao sorry yes you are right. I DID say that! I guess since this thread started and we as a family have discussed it further, (and my step-sons' gramma told them she feeds them fertilized eggs all the time), opinions have changedthank goodness! But inlaws...they are still the "city folk" stubborn nay sayers!