Hudson Valley NY *chat thread*

[Coupe]

http://s1262.photobucket.com/albums...289-000010E4FE03DD9A.mp4&evt=user_media_share

That is a great idea!!

 

[LSzajko]

Welcome Joan! Wow, broilers sounds cool...but I don't think I could do it. I tend to get a little attached. Lisa, I don't know as that I'm a good chicken momma or just touched in the head. Lol Ace is doing great. You'd never know she had a booboo.
Our chicken count is holding at 9 now. I have no idea what the dimensions of our coop and run are...I'll have to ask hubby, or measure it. The inside is a duplex...it was the kids play house...we have over kill with 10 nesting boxes..but it was free and came that way. Lol We have 3 ducks coming the week of the 24th. I miss duckies terribly. They are so comical. The chicks free range in the back yard all day...lots bushes and trees to hide under. Lisa, did you eat the duck and Guinea hen eggs? Okay, catch y'all later

Letting your chickens stay in the house with you = a good chicken momma!
Yep~ I've used almost all of the eggs...we had the Guinea hen eggs for breakfast and I used the duck eggs for egg salad for DH's lunch which he said was delicious and egg salad isn't my specialty so it must have been the eggs. I even made some scrambled eggs (<~~ the only way I'll eat them) to take to work with me a couple of mornings. I NEVER make myself breakfast on workdays! I'm addicted. I think I have 3 eggs left and I'm hoarding them. I've been telling the ladies it's time to start thinking about laying some eggs.

SO glad you're getting some ducks! What kind are you getting? Did you ever figure out what beast got to your ducks?

 

[Joanmcm]

The chickens don t seem to get worried about anything that I do not react to. The broilers are Cornish rock crosses. We decided to get chickens for eggs and then decided for meat as they would be better taken care of and better for you.

 

[LSzajko]

The chickens don t seem to get worried about anything that I do not react to. The broilers are Cornish rock crosses. We decided to get chickens for eggs and then decided for meat as they would be better taken care of and better for you

We used to have goats and their hut/coop/whatever remains empty. Soon after we got chickens, my DH wanted to get some broilers to raise in the goat coop. He'd made arrangements to pick them up from someone in Sullivan County, but at the last minute decided against it. I think he was afraid they'd be too much work to process knowing I'd be too squeamish to help! But I agree, they are healthier. I think if he had gone through w/getting the broilers and took care of them without my help, I would probably (maybe!!!) be able to eat one. As long as I don't form an emotional bond with them I think I'd be ok.

 

[Joanmcm]

Honestly I think about it every day. We ll see how this turns out.

 

[LSzajko]

Women think more emotionally than men so if we don't consider them pets and pretend we took them out of a package labeled PERDUE maybe it wouldn't bother us....?

Would your husband process them himself or would you have them done by someone? Having them processed by someone else might make it easier. Maybe??

 

[Coupe]

Iv culled some mean roosters i use to have...they where not meat breed chickens, but still good. I put a post on craigslist for somone to teach me how to process them..the lady stoped by my house and told me she was only going to show me once and then i had to do the rest. Once they are dead, its much easyer.

 

[Joanmcm]

A friend said he would show us how. I would have to help. There is a mobile unit that will come process the chickens for you. I have not heard back from them yet. It is expensive.

 

[LSzajko]

EEEK is all I gotta say! You're a brave lady!

How did you kill them? Was it a terrible experience or were you able to "separate" the pet vs. dinner thing?

 

[mountaindog66]

Hi everyone, interesting topic. I've been wondering about how I'll handle this myself, as I know I'll have some roos I'll need to deal with once I get my flock. I've decided, like Lexi, I need to take responsibility and learn how to humanely process them. I've never intentionally killed a mammal before (do mousetraps count?), but I'll try to reframe the experience by thanking the animal for giving the gift of food and respectfully do what is necessary. We'll see if I can actually do it when the time comes.

My husband had processed a few roosters when he was young on his grandfather's farm in France. He said it was not fun but he knows how to do it. My sister in VT also raises broilers and they process them every year themselves, their son is a professional chef and butcher so he helps (he butchers their pigs for them too). Hopefully I can get some good guidance from all of them when the time comes.