First time having (heritage breed) meat chickens - how to handle them?

[Ruthster55]

How are your little guys doing?

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

They are still wild haha, but getting big! We just moved them into the big coop and I think they will be much happier there. There are a couple that want to attack/bite so I'm sure they will go in the soup first. Each of the breeds seem to have distinct personalities which is interesting to see!

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

Yea. I have a light brahma cockerel. Hes my 16 week old GIANT! Long time to mature into a meal though so we named him Saul. The gentle giant. Hes in with the hens now. Haha

So did you keep him for real?? I'm hoping one of the Brahmas stays polite enough to keep

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

@FortCluck It is hard to not get attached even though we tell them we are going to eat them and some of them already are on my "shit list" haha. We definitely haven't named any of them. We've also only been handling them when we have to, which has made them really skittish. I'm not sure if that's a personality/breed thing or a handling thing. We'll have to learn where the line is.

 

[FortCluck]

@FortCluck It is hard to not get attached even though we tell them we are going to eat them and some of them already are on my "shit list" haha. We definitely haven't named any of them. We've also only been handling them when we have to, which has made them really skittish. I'm not sure if that's a personality/breed thing or a handling thing. We'll have to learn where the line is.

I have one that is on that list too because it pecked my leg really hard. It can be removed from that list when it is nice again

 

[Ruthster55]

Which breeds are worse for pecking, in your experience?

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

Which breeds are worse for pecking, in your experience?

My experience is VERY limited, but the Delaware chicks seem to bite a lot. Like, not just peck but grab onto you. They also seem to cry a lot and are more whiny than the rest. Which is unfortunate because one of them looks to be a handsomely maturing cockerel. We also have some kind of red chick, either RIR or New Hampshire and one of them pecks as well. The ones I have not been bit or pecked by are the Brahmas, Speckled Sussexes, and Barred Rocks. Although the Barred Rock will run up and look like they are going to challenge they haven't done anything... yet! We'll see how they are once they start maturing. The Brahmas live up to their reputation and are very mild mannered thus far.

Of our adult hens, my Buff Orpington was the worst but she has mellowed out after she was told by me that pecking and biting are not appropriate and that's a good way to end up in the soup

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

I have one that is on that list too because it pecked my leg really hard. It can be removed from that list when it is nice again

I suppose they deserve a second chance, haha!

 

[Ruthster55]

Brahmas, Speckled Sussexes and Barred Rocks will be your keepers with another selection further down the line....

My guess is you will wind up with a contest between Barred Rocks and Brahmas!

If you have space and isolated coops, try breeding either one to a Naked Neck for a meat bird. Results might be fun!

 

[six_chooks_for_now]

Brahmas, Speckled Sussexes and Barred Rocks will be your keepers with another selection further down the line....

My guess is you will wind up with a contest between Barred Rocks and Brahmas!

If you have space and isolated coops, try breeding either one to a Naked Neck for a meat bird. Results might be fun!

I was actually hoping McMurray would send us some Turkens with our assorted bunch even though I don't particularly care for how they look. I read they are good meat birds! The other cross we wanted to include was some Dorking, but all the hatcheries ran out this year (I was too late anyway).