Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

 

...she can't reach me! HAAA!

 

[Beekissed]

Just finished! Will be posting the vids of the silkie and a standard LF rooster getting cut and bleeding out so folks can know where to cut them and see the process. If it's any consolation for you folks, I cut my knuckle pretty deeply about 4 birds in while using poultry scissors. First time I've tried poultry scissors...I'm not real impressed and I need 3-4 sutures, from a nursing assessment standpoint.

The silkie cried out once when he was cut and he squawked all through the evisceration, though fully dead. I think maybe his body was just designed to scream when he moved because I've had a few make those noises during processing but not as much as his body did. Weird. It's just a body thing and not a bird screaming thing, just so you know. Air spaces being compressed and all.

My sweet Bertha struggled the most during the heart stop, but she always was a strong girl. Sweet right up until the end, she was docile right into the cone. Now, if anyone out there thinks her flock mates were stressing over her demise, I have pics I can show you to the contrary as they tried to steal her head from the cat, chased each other for her enormous fat layers and gobbled down her liver. All in all, I think they might have been pretty content with it all unless that was just stress eating.

On a lighter note, the two young roosters that were not big enough for processing were let loose today to free range...their very first time out on green grass and forest floor. They are having a ball and it's good to see them being real chickens and also not getting bullied by the older roosters that were in the pen. They had their revenge though, as I saw them standing on his gut pile having a feast. Natural chickens doing what natural chickens do...nothing better!

 

[akelley]

Here's a question: At what age do you process roosters? I just got a straight run of dual purpose chicks and any males that don't toe the line will be culled. I just don't know how old they should be...

 

[Beekissed]

Some say 3-5 mo. but I've had them clear up to 6 mo. and they were still tender, but that extra month really seemed to fill out their breasts.

 

[akelley]

Some say 3-5 mo. but I've had them clear up to 6 mo. and they were still tender, but that extra month really seemed to fill out their breasts. 

Thanks! I'll try to hold on to them for 6 months, then. We'll see how they behave...

 

[waltandlori]

@ Bee congrats, nice days work all in all...

Now, as I said I put a little FF in the little chick trough and put it in with the meatys, not a big hit, but to be fair they had dry food available. If it ferments (I'm sure it will), they won't have an option. FF in sun outside, temps headed for mid 80's figure maybe sun shining on it might give it a kick in the .. well get it going. The hens had no such problem with it they gobbled it, I had them all outside while I clean their pen. I wonder if it's ok to give the hens gamebird feed fermented, that's what I got for the meatys it's 22% protien. Has calcium of some sort in it and I give oyster shell free choice, which they seldom eat.

Bee I used shears last time and didn't care for them, didn't work for me. Heavy SHARP knife worked best. I have a problem with instruments of distruction like sharp (or new) knives...I just gotta cut myself. Don't know why just do. One time at work I had just bought a dandy kershaw pocket knife, I was squatting down cutting off a tire plug and it jerked when it cut and before I could stop it, it stuck 1/2 or 3/4 inch into my thigh, didn't even hurt... til later lol. either tape yours up tight and go about it or go to the clinic/er and sew it up. I don't worry too much I got so many scars that 1 more wouldn't matter, 'cides bad bugs can't even live in some of the stuff my hands get into....

Walt

 

[Beekissed]

I don't get sewn up...just did the nursing thing, as usual, big bandage that will splint the joint and keep those wound edges closed so they can seal. I'm not one to run to the doc for things.

Sounds like you know all about getting cut, so you understand the ol' bleach it, ointment, bandage does more than most trips to the surgery can do.

 

[LOVEIGEE]

I don't get sewn up...just did the nursing thing, as usual, big bandage that will splint the joint and keep those wound edges closed so they can seal. I'm not one to run to the doc for things.

Sounds like you know all about getting cut, so you understand the ol' bleach it, ointment, bandage does more than most trips to the surgery can do.

So sorry BF.....That's not a real good place to get cut doing what you do........

 

[LOVEIGEE]

I am so far behind on this thread....it's gonna take me a while to catch up......can't wait for the pictures!

 

[Beekissed]

So sorry BF.....That's not a real good place to get cut doing what you do........

It's just for a little while, then it's gone. It wasn't the only cut of the day, which is just the hazard of home processing, but it was the deepest. My poor ol' ma has been cut so deeply and so many times, I wonder she has any fingers at all.

Good to see you, Sis!!!