Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Shellz]

Been putting off a few roos here ourselves. Weather is nice, but too busy with last minute Christmas stuff to do. I'd do it myself, but hubby is a big help. We can wait, I guess. Loving the stories how the kids are involved with the process. We moved to the country when our son was 13, so that boat has sailed. He can't wait to move to the big city. We will wish him well when that time comes.

Its interesting how some birds store fat. Could it be a seasonal thing? Storing more of it to keep themselves warm through winter?

 

[Shellz]

I'm sure the extra fat would be good to bake biscuits with. If flavour isn't right to your taste, try 1/2 fat & 1/2 butter.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Well, I think I may know what happened to the rabbits near my house......I just saw a bald eagle fly over the house! It was close enough to the ground that I saw its white head and right eye! About 4-5 years ago, a pair were released about 7-8 miles away from my house near a TVA man-made lake.

My Great Pyr saw it and took off toward it, but by that time it had pretty much cleared our property. Fortunately the chickens were still penned up. I guess Ben will have some serious guard duty.....he'll even have to guard the cats....

.

 

[Demosthine]

That conversation on schmaltz was amazing! I've never heard of it and went to look it up. None of my butchered animals had anywhere near enough fat to even think about doing that. My Christmas turkey had a bit more than the others, but even he is extremely lean. We're not a fat-eating or a food-frying family, though, so there isn't much use for it. I might use our frier once a month, if that.

BC, bald eagles are amazingly majestic animals and top my list for every predator I can think of. We have a sanctuary at the lake near us and we see them occassionally, but they are few and far between. On the other hand, we have a mated owls that love perching on the street lamp three doors down from us. I'm not sure a great horned owl would take a full size chicken or not, but with my two roosters, I think it'd be a heck of a fight to get anyone. At least I hope so.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Well, Bee, I broke the news to my daughter about GilBird. She got home from work about 2am, and I told her I had some bad news....GilBird is in the fridge. She immediately said, "Oh good! I can make chicken and dumplings out of him to take to my potluck on Monday!" Gotta love that girl...

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Speaking of flying predators you guys... Look who I found today. INSIDE OF MY ****IN' CHICKEN TRACTOR!!! D<



WHAT THE HELL, WILDLIFE!? WHAT THE HELL!?

Now I have to check for major injuries on my meat chickens who are currently loose in the yard but I can't right now. I literally JUST woke up and they are scattered now of course.

Did I mention our city doesn't handle wild animals calls? Ever? Yeah....

 

[Beekissed]

Wow! Maybe a very hungry juvenile bird. Good luck getting that thing out and dealing with it. Look at those talons!!!

 

[Beekissed]

Well, Bee, I broke the news to my daughter about GilBird. She got home from work about 2am, and I told her I had some bad news....GilBird is in the fridge. She immediately said, "Oh good! I can make chicken and dumplings out of him to take to my potluck on Monday!" Gotta love that girl...

Most definitely!!!

 

[Shellz]

OMG! BC & CM! Ack! Hope you two will be able to deal with these raptors. I do find them beautiful, but annoying when they're after my flock.
I once had a golden eagle drop down behind me into a tree to grab some prey. I was walking with my young, free range ducks at the time to show them the pond. Too close! I wondered why it didn't just grab a duck. I'll never forget those gargantuan wings!

Just thinking...I might try some thick gloves & bodily remove that raptor from your chicken tractor. Very carefully!!!

 

[Bitterroot]

I'm not sure a great horned owl would take a full size chicken or not, but with my two roosters, I think it'd be a heck of a fight to get anyone. At least I hope so.

You better believe they could.



I still have scars from this ol gal. I shudder to think what those feet and that can opener of a beak could do to a chicken.

Good luck getting the bird out of your tractor, Chocolate. If it's injured and you're at all inclined to help, the rescue/rehab I used to work for in WV may be able to help. I used to love driving out to pick up birds from people. Got lots of funny stories.