Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[Beekissed]

Thanks Vickie...guess we'll see how animated she becomes at Tucson.

Beekissed---When handling this bird, I don't get the impression that her cushion or weight for that matter are due to fat deposits...at 5 months, this bird feels rock solid....but that is an interesting theory..and your BA's photos prove that theory for that particular bird indeed. You never said how tasty she was...

I saw the lovely canned broth though. Impressive!!

VERY flavorful! All these birds fed fermented feed have such a refined taste..no gamey, older bird flavor. Mild, incredible flavor and deep, golden fat...on cheap ol' layer mash, barley and free range.

 

[Beekissed]

Australorps are prone to fatty liver disease. It has to do with their high egg laying ability. I found out about this due to a couple of mine dieing and going in for Necropsy. The condition makes them add fat--it does not indicate over feeding.

Still, that hen must have made great soup!

That's good to know...I'd never had a BA with that much fat before. All the others I've had were very lean egg laying machines!

 

[cbnovick]

Greetings. I lost my entire flock of RIR to a dog attack( saint barnards). I was in need of some good breeding stock to rebuild my flock. I called Jeremy Woeppel (XW Poultry Ranch) at Chambers Nebraska. He said he had some young New Hampshires he could spare. I live 35 miles to the north, so I made a date and purchased 12 pullets and 2 roos. That was yesterday and they are already growing on me,I like them. I can see myself putting a lot of time and energy into this breed. Here are a few pics. Thanks XW.

You will enjoy those birds....vigor deluxe, calm and hard working not to mention they are very good layers of nice, large eggs. The males mature rather fast for meat as intended by the creators..I have some from Jeremy as well. His cross has the Good Shepherd meat strain in it via the hen broodstock. Thanks for posting!

 

[ronott1]

That's good to know...I'd never had a BA with that much fat before. All the others I've had were very lean egg laying machines!

That fits. The report said rare but common in certain Breeds. Australorps is one of the breeds of course.

 

[Pozees]

You must have some native plant up there which grows tall. What could you use?
Karen

We have looked at and tried several things. We live on a windswept prairie near the foothills, the land was cattle pasture for decades before we bought it in 2006, so the only natives growing here were prairie grasses, cholla, prickly pear, yucca, juniper, and rabbitbrush - all fairly low and dense because that shape bears the wind better. There are few days we have none, not all days are bad, but it is common to have a day or more per week (and sometimes weeks' worth) with winds gusting in the high 30s and low 40s. This past year has actually been one of the easier years for wind since we moved here.

That said, I feel confident we will find something that works, and I particularly think if I grow something against a chain link or other fence, so it has a braced side, I will have more success. Because of the arid climate, I am leaning toward trying to dig a trench and fill it with amendments including peat moss. I would say I will mulch, but that would mean the chickens would have to stay on their side of the fence the entire spring and summer, and until I get the gardens going they usually are out every day at least part of the day if the weather is decent (meaning, above 20 degrees, not too much wind or precipitation). Chickens love them some mulch But landscape fabric over the top might do the trick.

 

[cbnovick]

VERY flavorful! All these birds fed fermented feed have such a refined taste..no gamey, older bird flavor. Mild, incredible flavor and deep, golden fat...on cheap ol' layer mash, barley and free range.

Excellent! I don't do 'gamey' flavor well...wondered about that on older birds. Do you think it's the fermented feed making the difference? It's reasonable to believe that what a bird is fed would flavor the meat I suppose...like 'corn fed' angus beef. I don't think that eggs from birds fed feed with fishmeal taste as good, personally.

 

[Beekissed]

Excellent! I don't do 'gamey' flavor well...wondered about that on older birds. Do you think it's the fermented feed making the difference? It's reasonable to believe that what a bird is fed would flavor the meat I suppose...like 'corn fed' angus beef. I don't think that eggs from birds fed feed with fishmeal taste as good, personally.

Most definitely the fermented feed..the eggs are sweet and mild~no sulfur/eggy smell or flavor~ and the meat is also. I've ate hundreds of old hens in my lifetime and I've never had any that taste like this. Neither has my ol' Ma...she couldn't believe how good they smelled while cooking and how flavorful the meat is. I imagine this is much how the famous Bresse birds taste after being raised on free range and finished on buttermilk.

 

[cbnovick]

Most definitely the fermented feed..the eggs are sweet and mild~no sulfur/eggy smell or flavor~ and the meat is also. I've ate hundreds of old hens in my lifetime and I've never had any that taste like this. Neither has my ol' Ma...she couldn't believe how good they smelled while cooking and how flavorful the meat is. I imagine this is much how the famous Bresse birds taste after being raised on free range and finished on buttermilk.

My husband won't eat any other eggs than ours for fear of the 'funky' sulfur smell and flavor. I never have fermented feed, but if I were to raise some meatbirds in the future for my family, then I would want to try this most definitely. More and more with the way things are going in the U.S. with agriculture/meat husbandry and processing procedures, I am looking forward to when we have some land to actually raise some of our own meat. Reportedly, China may start processing our poultry and sending it back to the states for retailers. One word= "SCARY"

 

[Beekissed]

If you're interested in saving money on feed, it can cut your feed costs nearly in half and provide probiotics for excellent flock health. Also increases the feather quality and yolk size and decreases the smell of feces. And that's just a few of the benefits of fermented feed.

 

[Pathfinders]

Thought this would be the place to ask (along with the CO thread of course, and I may also try the KY thread) - if there is anyone traveling from KY to CO in the near future who would be willing to transport a pair or two of Adult Speckled Sussex, I would gladly pay for fuel. Please PM me if this is a possibility. The gentleman who owns the birds (Walt Reichert) will be going to the show in Knoxville December 7th and 8th also, if someone would be coming to CO from there.

I saw Walt's Speckled Sussex at the Bluegrass show last month, they're gorgeous! You're going to love them. Good luck with the transport.