I culled my first cockerel, now what?

[BigBlueHen53]

When Sweety started raising a clutch of chicks Taz went from a minor occasional nuisance to an unmanageable menace overnight. He didn't want me anywhere near the chicks even though Sweety didn't mind. Once he drew blood that was that, he was done.

Yup. We want them to be protective, but also selective, yeah?

 

[redinator]

Yup. We want them to be protective, but also selective, yeah?

Yeah, I might have to go through a few before I find a good one, which is fine, I have few males to choose from:

1 Black Barnyard Mix (8 months), 1 Black Jersey Giant (17 weeks), 1 Self Blue Old English Game Bantam (14 weeks) and 1 Easter Egger (13 weeks). Oh and I have at least 5 males that just turned 6 weeks.

I need to do a recount but there are roughly 40 females to go around. Of those 40, 6 are bantams and will likely be seperated to go with the Self Blue Old English Game Bantam, but I'll see how everyone gets along as the younger males mature.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lucky you! I ordered ONE black Ameraucana cockerel in this last batch along with 7 pullets. I finally spotted him last week and he looks pretty good. There's a small runty looking one out there too. There's also three lovely BA cockerels, but they're all doomed by their breed. It's an Am I want for breeding. I also have 7 BA pullets, so I'll be able to produce some OE chicks. He better be a keeper, that's all I'm saying!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lucky you! I ordered ONE black Ameraucana cockerel in this last batch along with 7 pullets. I finally spotted him last week and he looks pretty good. There's a small runty looking one out there too. There's also three lovely BA cockerels, but they're all doomed by their breed. It's an Am I want for breeding. I also have 7 BA pullets, so I'll be able to produce some OE chicks. He better be a keeper, that's all I'm saying!

They're all just 12 or 13 weeks old. But I also have a dozen or so OG hens to raise him up right, so here's hoping!

 

[redinator]

Lucky you! I ordered ONE black Ameraucana cockerel in this last batch along with 7 pullets. I finally spotted him last week and he looks pretty good. There's a small runty looking one out there too. There's also three lovely BA cockerels, but they're all doomed by their breed. It's an Am I want for breeding. I also have 7 BA pullets, so I'll be able to produce some OE chicks. He better be a keeper, that's all I'm saying!

I'm loving my EE roo. If he turns into a turd my heart will break. He doesn't run when I go to pick him up and his comb and wattles flush red when I scratch his fluffy lil muffs. I swear he blushes, it's so damn cute.

 

[redinator]

They're all just 12 or 13 weeks old. But I also have a dozen or so OG hens to raise him up right, so here's hoping!

My two oldest girls are only 8 months, lol. But they still don't take crap from the boys.

 

[ChickenChick46]

The breast meat tastes awesome! The legs are a bit chewy and didn't soak up much flavor from the vegetables. Next time I'll definitely inject the legs with broth or something to get more flavor in them and make them a bit juicier.

That's a great start!! I prefer thighs and breast meat over legs anyway, so that is probably about it would go here too. I bet the buttermilk that @BigBlueHen53 suggested does work great. I've mixed up plain some Greek yogurt with a little lemon juice and seasonings before. It does make a great marinade.

 

[cavemanrich]

I bet the buttermilk that @BigBlueHen53 suggested does work great.

Am pretty sure its the acid contents that softens the meat.

As I mentioned before, I specialize in soups. DW does all the other chicken dishes.

I also don't have my own aged chickens to process,, But for those that do,, a good option for tough meat is to run it thru a meat grinder, and make taco meat .
Reason I mention Tacos,,, We make it with ground turkey regularly.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Am pretty sure its the acid contents that softens the meat.

As I mentioned before, I specialize in soups. DW does all the other chicken dishes.

I also don't have my own aged chickens to process,, But for those that do,, a good option for tough meat is to run it thru a meat grinder, and make taco meat .
Reason I mention Tacos,,, We make it with ground turkey regularly.

We want a meat grinder anyway to make ground venison. That's a great idea!

 

[redinator]

Am pretty sure its the acid contents that softens the meat.

As I mentioned before, I specialize in soups. DW does all the other chicken dishes.

I also don't have my own aged chickens to process,, But for those that do,, a good option for tough meat is to run it thru a meat grinder, and make taco meat .
Reason I mention Tacos,,, We make it with ground turkey regularly.

I have grinder and slicer. I'll try that next time, I don't think the seasonings I used would work well for tacos. I might try slicing it for sandwiches or something. If all else fails I'll toss it in the dehydrator and make dog treats, lol.