INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[PeacefulWalls]

I've heard that Martins is good. I also have a private source for a good price that comes highly recommend in our area. The one thing I am concerned with if I take any of my animals for processing is that I get back the animal I brought in. Some butchers have the philosophy that if 30 birds come in, and 2 of them are yours, you'll get 2 back....they just may not be yours. So I always ask before going somewhere to be sure that I get my own meat back. I feed my animals specially and that's the meat I want!!!!

I think your older guy would be a "stewing" bird rather than a roaster..... Anyone else...would I be right there? @SallyinIndiana probably knows....

I was happy with Martin's the last time I used them. She packaged the birds how I wanted them & kept the gizzards, hearts & livers for me too (well, treats for the dogs!) And she also packaged up the feet for me -- I think they were skinned first. I put them in the freezer and we would pull them out during the summer so the dogs could have "popsicles"! I know that sounds gross, but the dogs LOVED them.
I was figuring I would crockpot him if he was still edible. I was just wondering if older roos become rather unpalatable. I thought I read somewhere that they don't taste good????

 

[PeacefulWalls]

The oldest rooster we have eaten was around 18-20 months old. I really just don't keep birds around for too long, yet. Pets are rehomed and others are eaten as soon as they are large enough. I let processed chickens rest (chilled) for at least 3 days but not more than 5. For those roosters that are not 9 week old giant meat birds, I prefer to roast or crockpot them. I'm sure the 6-9 month old roosters from the heritage breeds would make some nice frying and grilling meat but with the dark meat making up a higher share of the meat than a store bought chicken. Some like to Brine as well for the older chickens during the resting period.
My family enjoys the roasted chicken and pulled BBQ chicken so for now I have not been frying or grilling our chickens no matter the age.
Stonykill posted a recipe somewhere for a chicken chowder of sorts that would work great for an older bird. I have made it a couple of times. It reads a lot like a chicken soup recipe but it comes out so much thicker. Great time of the year for soups and chili meals too.

Another hint, is to mark which birds are the older ones before putting them in the freezer. So the freezer bag might read 2014 March Roo 18M.
This is very useful in the spring butchering as many of the backup breeder roosters get processed in the spring here but it is not until fall that I would be making soups.

So it sounds like we should be OK keeping him to crockpot for ourselves. Thanks!

 

[minmin1258]

My roosters are well trained... Lmbo....not really. Headed for bed...figured I'd set my alarm on the coffe pot. How'd I do? Lol

 

[Mother2Hens]

I live in Culver. A small town in Marshall county.

@chickgirl12 @samirah226 Welcome to the Indiana Thread! Please click on the Indiana events link at the bottom of this post to find out more about our great Indiana Thread!

Originally Posted by atrueb00

This has been a very tough week for me. Last Friday, I got a letter from the city saying I needed to remove the chickens from my property by November 9. Someone supposedly complained about the chickens and honeybees. I don't really believe this. All of my adjacent neighbors love my chickens. They come and visit them every week. They bring their kids and grand kids over to walk around the garden, play with the chickens, watch the bees work and help "on the farm". They also get free eggs and honey. The letter says I need 10 acres to have chickens. They included the ordinance they are citing, and when I read the ordinance, it actually says I need 0.2 acres for chickens. I actually own 0.33 acres and personally called the mayor's office and 2 different departments to make sure chickens were legal in city limits before buying them.

Sadly, I am not going to fight this. Instead, I am going to re-locate my chickens to my cousin's farm in Terre Haute this weekend. He has graciously offered to let me keep the chickens on his land indefinitely.

So why I am I not going to fight this? Because I am taking a page from Atlas Shrugged and leaving this place. I am getting everything in order to sell my house and move out of this place asap. I am taking my tax dollars with me and going to move out into the country, hopefully closer to my family in Terre Haute. I wanted to move anyways, but I am not going to wait until next year anymore.

Apparently, there are currently no ordinances banning beekeeping within city limits, so I don't have to move them right away. However, I have heard rumors that they are going to ban bees in town soon too. The town I live in is so backwards. As cities across the US, including Indianapolis, Chicago and even New York City, are passing laws to protect backyard beekeepers and chicken keepers, my tiny city is moving towards an outright ban.

atrueb00 ~ I'm catching up on posts and was so sorry to read about this! I applaud you for moving on to a more progressive area. People are so ill-informed. Next, they'll be saying that chickens spread Ebola. Glad you are moving farther south-- it's warmer down here, too!
@Rhandi74
I love this photo of the ducklings listening attentively to their mother's instructions-- hope her chicken lessons apply to ducks, too!

@pbirdhaven ~ Great to see you post-- I just thought about you the other day!
@racinchickins ~ What a handsome guy!

I think I've asked before but not sure.
HAS ANYONE ON THE THREAD USED THE SWEETER HEATER FOR BROODING CHICKS?
http://sweeterheater.com/

I was actually looking at that earlier this evening. I'm thinking about getting one for my coop for my CHICKENS to replace my ceramic heat emitter bulb/ceramic installed fixture/installed safety guard/etc.etc. I'd like to have more even and efficient heat. I will keep you posted . . .
Btw, your new roos are stunning!

 

[Mother2Hens]

Thanks to @ellymayRans @kabhyper1 @pipdzipdnreadytogo for suggesting that my three Bantam Black Cochin chicks are girls! I took a few more photos this evening and another video that also shows some of my big hens. @kittydoc might like to see the Imported English Orps . . . btw, your Jubilee cockerel is quite a catch and is a great price! (No, I'm not interested in breeding -lol).
And @ellymayRans -- I'd love to see pics of your sister's little frizzle Cochin chick.


Here's the youngest of the three. Born on Monday, Sept. 8


This is the oldest one, born Friday, Sept. 5

Didn't get a good photo of the middle one, but all three are on this video: Chicks and Chickens (another look for all you experts to determine sex)

I saw the middle one and the oldest one sparring today. Hope that doesn't mean anything!!!

Here are some of my other girls in the front yard where they can go when supervised. They love having grass since they ate most of it in the fenced-in part of our backyard!

I like the design they make with their heads/bodies.


Okay, it's getting late-- haha I need some sleep.

 

[horseshubob]

Hi all horseshubob here.I'm just getting back into chickens after 30 years of having no birds I live across the river from Louisville.I'm building a 12\14 lean to ....Just getting started picking up my roofing material today.it's been too long in coming.

 

[chickiebaby1]

Hi all horseshubob here.I'm just getting back into chickens after 30 years of having no birds I live across the river from Louisville.I'm building a 12\14 lean to ....Just getting started picking up my roofing material today.it's been too long in coming.

It's great to have another new member. The more the merrier is what I say.. (about chickens too)

. Do you know what kind of birds you are wanting or going to get? We love pictures, lots and lots of pictures. Good luck with your build and again Welcome to the crazy world of chickens.

 

[chickiebaby1]

So excited, got up this morning and I have at least 5 out of 15 eggs pipped.

I was beginning to worry, because yesterday was day 21, but with all the power outages it makes since they would be a little slower. I'm just glad something has started to happen. Maybe by the time I get home from school this afternoon I will have some new fuzzy butts.

Hope everyone has a great day!!!

 

[horseshubob]

Testing testing

 

[horseshubob]

Im also new at this thread game lol bear with me folks