HERE is where we are going to talk about a sustainable meat bird flock

[Soccer Mom]

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So you still have the pekins, or have you already traded them all? I'm looking for some pekins and I'm local to you. I have a big place with two ponds, so the mess isn't an issue. I was about to get ducklings again, but I wouldn't mind acquiring older stock, particularly if you have POL birds.

I just traded them today for a spotted donkey! LOL.

Doh! I could have traded you a mini donkey for them. Lol! Oh well. Ducklings it will be.

 

[CARS]

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I hear it tastes like chicken

 

[Bossroo]

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I just traded them today for a spotted donkey! LOL.

Never ate a spotted donkey!

I ate some donkey meat at a Southern Cal. Mission BarBQue annual hoopla about 30 years ago... it tasted just like grass fed beef.

The grass fed label must be for the city slickers ... and here I thaught that all cows always ate grass.

 

[dancingbear]

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You mean after all the times you've disparaged grass fed beef, and said it was the toughest, awfullest nasty stuff you ever ate, (or didn't eat, because it was so terrible you left it on your plate, just like every bit of anything raised organically that you ever had) you didn't know about feed-lot finishing? You didn't know that cattle are also fed grain? You didn't know that there are people who prefer beef that's been raised entirely on grass and hay, without being fed grain?

 

[Bossroo]

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You mean after all the times you've disparaged grass fed beef, and said it was the toughest, awfullest nasty stuff you ever ate, (or didn't eat, because it was so terrible you left it on your plate, just like every bit of anything raised organically that you ever had) you didn't know about feed-lot finishing? You didn't know that cattle are also fed grain? You didn't know that there are people who prefer beef that's been raised entirely on grass and hay, without being fed grain?

I am consistant with my assessment... in addition to all cows eating grass most of their lives , some spend the rest of their lives at the feedlot where they are fed high quality grain and high quality alfalfa hay for 90 to 120 days wich puts a fine marbling of fat to the meat that results in a much MORE flavorful and MORE tender morsel of meat. Way out in the arrid West most beef cows on the open range ( little rain, no irrigated pastures, just sunshine) get to eat dead brown grass

for about 1/2 the year and boy oh boy do they need to indulge the spa treatment offered at the feedlot.

Do you ever wonder why cuts of beef that are labeled at the supermarkets , as well as fine restaurants,"Corn Fed Mid West Beef" sells at a premium ?

You enjoy your grass fed beef, if you are so disposed. I will enjoy my pampered spa treated savory steak .

 

[hensonly]

Sure, lots of people can read - the problem is with being sure brain is engaged before putting mouth (in this case, keyboard fingers) in gear.

THAT'S A GENTLE TEASE, FOR THOSE WHO MISUNDERSTOOD THE PREMISE OF THE ORIGINAL POST!! It is NOT meant as an insult!!!! Please don't take offense!!!

More seriously, I think everyone has their own definition of "sustainable" and some apparently have a broader definition than the original poster. The cornish crosses are not sustainable in this sense because they do not reproduce themselves; in fact, most can't live long enough to achieve reproductive age, due to their genetic liabilities. So in the original poster's stated definition of "sustainable", cornish crosses are a moot point. I'm sure this has been said already, as I have not had a chance to read every post in this topic - but I will, because I am also interested in a self-sustaining flock of meat birds (oh, no, did I just introduce another term to be misunderstood??!!)

I just ordered my first meat birds - Rangers - but would prefer to keep one flock which provides both meat and laying hens...hatching out subsequent generations for subsequent years of yummy meat and eggs. I will follow this topic with great interest. Keep the information coming, BYCers!!




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But, my freezer runs on electricity provided by a power company that burns fossil fuels to produce that electricity. I think that means I cannot claim sustainability when it comes to the chicken portion of my food supply regardless of what kind of chickens I put in there.

Tim

I am not talking about your family being completely sustainable. Just like I pointed out in the first post. Breeding for new stock, hatching the new stock, raising the new stock, processing the excess yourself, etc. I don't even want to know what or how you feed them.

Can't anyone read today or am I just going crazy???? I don't care if you use your grandma's bike to do chores with a wicker basket your mom made. I just want to know about the dang chickens!!!!!

Maybe sustainable is not the right word. Would you prefer "renewable"?

Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms from reorganising living conditions (e.g., ecovillages, eco-municipalities and sustainable cities), reappraising economic sectors (permaculture, green building, sustainable agriculture), or work practices (sustainable architecture), using science to develop new technologies (green technologies, renewable energy), to adjustments in individual lifestyles that conserve natural resources.

 

[Mervin]

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You mean after all the times you've disparaged grass fed beef, and said it was the toughest, awfullest nasty stuff you ever ate, (or didn't eat, because it was so terrible you left it on your plate, just like every bit of anything raised organically that you ever had) you didn't know about feed-lot finishing? You didn't know that cattle are also fed grain? You didn't know that there are people who prefer beef that's been raised entirely on grass and hay, without being fed grain?

The dairy I get milk from has become "fashionable" in recent years. They have ground "grass-fed" beef in their freezer case. I always thought it was an interesting way to market old, dry (as in not producing milk) cow. Honestly, I do prefer it myself but then I'd prefer venison to beef too.

 

[saddina]

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Read away dear:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/2004-10-01/Marvelous-Muscovies.aspx

Thanks darling

No problem. I keep tabs on odd bits and pieces for later use. In recipies i've seen muscovy swapped in for veal (less guilt for the foodies). I think the taste is similar, but mr saddi doesn't exactly choose restruants that serve veal (he's more a joint you order by numbers guy).

 

[pepper48_98]

I hatched some marans X jeresy giant along with some welsummers and am very impresses with their growth. They are almost twice the size of the welsummers. Well, maybe note twice the size but a big difference.

 

[CARS]

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Are you breeding them again for more hatches??