First Batch of Meatbirds Processed This Morning

[crj]

I was a "VOKEY ANIMAL" Weymouth Vocational Technical HS @Wey North class of 1975
I actually lived in Hingham but went to school in Weymouth. Hingham didn't offer vocational training. So I got paid to go to school in Weymouth. All my older bros and sisters went to Weymouth North before me.

We had about 50 chickens in the late 60's to early 70's and almost as many rabbits.
My friends liked it more than I did but they didn't have to feed and water every morning before school and every night before dark. sometimes I was glad to see them go in the freezer but there was always more to follow. We also had 2 China Geese and had eggs almost everyday from these girls as well.

Ahh.... to be young again.

 

[crj]

One more thing......
I'll bet you didn't know there was a turkey farm in the early 60's right on the beach (wessagussett)
My older brother worked there as a kid in the late 50's

I was right at the foot of Great Hill on Pequot Rd.

 

[Baymen Moe]

Natalie, that's fantastic. One day I plan on trying the meat birds as well. There is no greater feeling than eating something you had a hand in. I get that feeling when I chow down on game I've killed as well as my veggies.

Nice work!

Bill

 

[RocketDad]

How old did you let the first batch get? What did it cost to have them processed? I'm in town, we have a permit for 4 hens and the law specifically prohibits slaughter, but I'm thinking about raising a box of chicks for meat in the garage next spring.

 

[the simple life]

Crj,
I had no idea there was a turkey farm on Wessagussett, thats crazy! Things sure have changed around here huh?
Now people look at you like you have two heads when they find out you have chickens or anything else.
Officer Curtain, the animal control officer for Weymouth comes out to inspect your property and animals once a year to renew your livestock permit and he told me last week that more people in Weymouth are starting to request permits for chickens.
The vocational school is now part of the one big Weymouth High campus, that place is huge now.
Ahh, Great Hill the great makeout spot, you didn't have to go far to get there
You graduated the same year as my brother and sister but they were over at South High at the time.

Hey Bill,
Glad to see you around these parts, I didn't know you checked out the meat forum.
You should give the meatbirds are try, it was much, much easier than I ever expected and it feels good to feed your family food that is not tainted in anyway.
It was a good lesson for the kids, I eased them into it before I ordered the chicks by explaining how the supermarket chickens don't live a good life and are not as healthy as if you raised them yourselves. I gave them examples of their housing and told them how much better it could be if we raised them ourselves.
By the time we got them they were ready for it, now my 21 year old daughter is a different story..

Old habits die hard I guess, thats why I wanted to do it differently with the younger kids.
I bought a fresh turkey over at Bongi's Turkey farm last night in Duxbury.
I asked for the biggest one they had, they had 31 pounds so that will do.
He told me that it was a White Holland, I never had one so its something new to try. I hope its the last one I have to buy for a while but at least there is a local place selling locally raised birds.
I know exactly what you are saying, it feels great to know you raised your own food, I had some potatoes left over from this past year and if my carrots were not under a foot of snow I would have pulled some of those to go with it but I guess they can wait until spring.
I cannot wait until spring when I have my homegrown veggies and homegrown chicken.
I'll get my turkey poults then too.
Makes you wish you could raise a cow here too I will have to be content with order my sides of natural raised grass fed beef from Adams Farm, its the best meat I have found in our area as far as no chemicals, antibiotics and grass fed.
Don't be a stranger, let me know if you get those meatbirds.

 

[the simple life]

Quote:
I went 8 weeks with the first batch and I took them over to Denbastien's in Hanson, he charges various prices on how much you want down with the birds.
You are in my town or do you mean you just live in town?
You can get away with sneaking in meatbirds, they aren't around long enough to have most people notice and they aren't loud.
I have mine outside and I haven't had one neighbor say a word, they don't care anyway, but in my town its okay to have meatbirds as long as you have the poultry permit.

 

[Baymen Moe]

Hey Natalie, it's funny you mentioned Bongi's. I buy a few products there once and a while. I live close by. I get my fresh Thanksgiving bird every year free from my neighbor who raises 2 dozen or so each year. He also does pigs, a steer and of course has a flock of leghorns for eggs. I think he uses the same outfit you did for the bird processing.

Meat birds are in my future, I just don't know when. Might even try some turkey's too...

Bill

 

[the simple life]

You sure are lucky to have a neighbor that raises all that right in the neighborhood.

 

[RocketDad]

You are in my town or do you mean you just live in town? Oh, sorry to be confusing. No, I live in "a" town. Nowhere near you.

 

[the simple life]

No problem. I don't know if you have a processor in your area but you can usually find someone that will help you out.
I was fortunate enough to find a processor but I also know of a farmer that does them for people so you may be able to find someone like that.
I have also heard of local colleges (poultry science students) that do chickens as well.
My guy does different levels of processing, just the kill, cleaning it up and out or full packaging. So there are different prices to work with.
It starts at $2.75 and goes to $6.00.