INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[tmarsh83]

Ok, now I need to talk this out...

I'm still learning a lot of this, and realistically I'm not planning on doing any breeding any time soon, or even my own meat birds, but all of it intrigues me.

So, back to this DelaDork. I've looked before, and not found many folks crossing those birds. Which on it's face to me, seems odd given the reputation of the dorking meat quality, and the fact that the Delaware was the meat bird of choice for several decades. I know dorkings are in limited supply, but it seems like something that would have been tried...

Woudn't that sex-linked variety be a good choice for a cross? If I understand correctly, the cockerels would be white, so the carcasses would dress cleanly, and would be of quality. Delaware stock has transitioned to more egg production since the CornishX took over, so wouldn't existing production stock add significant laying qualities to the deladork pullets? They wouldn't be golden comets by any means, but I would think a suitable laying bird.

I don't know, I'm sure I'm missing something, but it just seems like a good match for both sides, table and egg.

 

[chickiebaby1]

My babies sure don't know what to think of this wind!!! It's blowing all the little bantams around. I guess it's a lesson in flying today!!!

I just hope all the winter preps we did over the weekend aren't ruined. We put up plastic sheeting on most of the open areas on the coops. Just left some openings for ventilation. The wind is so fierce here it is coming in those openings and pushing against the plastic. I guess we will see if the plastic is going to stand up to the winter. One gust was so strong it actually blew one of the pen doors open and it has a latch. I guess it didn't get pushed down all the way last night.

I'm gonna have to start going out myself and making sure everything is shut up tight.
Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[chickiebaby1]

OH by the way..... A couple of months ago I had put some pictures up of 2 of my silkies and asked about sex. Well I got my answer a week or so ago....

Meet Tony


and Jethro Yep both are now crowing and making "friends" with pretty much anything that will stand still. And I love their colors.

 

[ellymayRans]

I like the pillow case idea for sprouts. I haven't gave in to much winter planning yet but, need to! Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away! Will also need to plan getting the turkeys ready.

This is my first year raising my own turkeys and would love to hear input on the best way to prepare them for DDay and then cooking? I was planning to process the 20th. Thoughts, experiences...??

 

[racinchickins]

Quote: We will be doing our annual Thanksgiving processing on the 21st (I'll post a note on that). We brine the birds in buckets of cold water from processing through Thursday morning. There are tons of brining recipes on the net. As for cooking, we've tried both roasting and deep frying. Both worked out well. And with heritage birds, the breasts aren't as large, so you don't have as many problems with breast/meat vs dark meat cooking as you do with the broad breasted birds.

 

[racinchickins]

I'll be doing my annual Thanksgiving processing on saturday Nov 21st. Anyone is welcome to come over and learn, or if you have a few birds of your own to process, we can work on those too. I know we will be processing some ducks and chickens as well, so there will be a variety to work with. I've already heard from several people who are coming over, so it will be a bit of a social event also. I have good equipment and an insulated workshop if it gets cold. my mother is promising to make a batch of chili too...... Contact me by pm and we can set it up.

It looks like we will have some extra turkeys available this year as well because I took over SallyinIndiana's Blue Royal Palm flock. If anyone is interested in purchasing a Thanksgiving turkey let me know by PM. We can talk prices and the proceeds will find their way back to her.

 

[ellymayRans]

We will be doing our annual Thanksgiving processing on the 21st (I'll post a note on that).  We brine the birds in buckets of cold water from processing through Thursday morning.  There are tons of brining recipes on the net.  As for cooking, we've tried both roasting and deep frying.  Both worked out well.  And with heritage birds, the breasts aren't as large, so you don't have as many problems with breast/meat vs dark meat cooking as you do with the broad breasted birds.

Is that bucket in a fridge or is it OK to have in a garage where it's cool?

 

[Indyshent]

Okay, broody and gamecock in my room was not the greatest idea ever (it was just what I was limited to at the moment). Now everyone's downstairs in the giant dog crate (mom, three chicks and the ex-fighting bird).

He actually has a splendid temperament now that he's calmed down a bit. If I had a free-range flock, he'd be the boy to watch them (my boys are great with kids, but they're pansies against threats). His feathers are coming back in pretty well, and he's now eating regular chicken feed (yay!). He's quite driven to perch. He's proved excellent where his manners with ladies are concerned, a most chivalrous man, indeed! He takes all kinds of flack from the broody, but will beat himself bloody against the wires to get at the other roosters. Once caught (he puts up less fight about it every day), he is easily held and doesn't fight at all. He also doesn't poop on me when I'm holding him, which is great.

If nobody here wants him, I'll have to process him because I just can't have a rooster in my house all the time. It's not fair to him for him to be stuck inside. I don't have a pen that I could trust against him yet, and with the way things have been here, that might not happen til spring (or later).

@racinchickins When you get poults, lemme know!

 

[Hholly]

Quote:
It's nice that you're doing all you can for that game cock. Whatever happens, at least someone cared for him.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Ok, now I need to talk this out...

I'm still learning a lot of this, and realistically I'm not planning on doing any breeding any time soon, or even my own meat birds, but all of it intrigues me.

So, back to this DelaDork. I've looked before, and not found many folks crossing those birds. Which on it's face to me, seems odd given the reputation of the dorking meat quality, and the fact that the Delaware was the meat bird of choice for several decades. I know dorkings are in limited supply, but it seems like something that would have been tried...

Woudn't that sex-linked variety be a good choice for a cross? If I understand correctly, the cockerels would be white, so the carcasses would dress cleanly, and would be of quality. Delaware stock has transitioned to more egg production since the CornishX took over, so wouldn't existing production stock add significant laying qualities to the deladork pullets? They wouldn't be golden comets by any means, but I would think a suitable laying bird.

I don't know, I'm sure I'm missing something, but it just seems like a good match for both sides, table and egg.

It probably would be a great dual purpose. Sexlink is added bonus, you know from the beginning what your table birds and layer count is.

OH by the way..... A couple of months ago I had put some pictures up of 2 of my silkies and asked about sex. Well I got my answer a week or so ago....

Meet Tony


and Jethro Yep both are now crowing and making "friends" with pretty much anything that will stand still. And I love their colors.

Handsome fellas!

Quote: I put mine on straight fermented feed about a week before D day. Less odors the day of.

I also brine my turkeys, always have. Definitely make it to @racinchickins if you can, lots of fun and he has a plucker, lol! Thats half the work right there.

Quote: As long as you are around 40 degrees or lower should be ok.

I'll be doing my annual Thanksgiving processing on saturday Nov 21st. Anyone is welcome to come over and learn, or if you have a few birds of your own to process, we can work on those too. I know we will be processing some ducks and chickens as well, so there will be a variety to work with. I've already heard from several people who are coming over, so it will be a bit of a social event also. I have good equipment and an insulated workshop if it gets cold. my mother is promising to make a batch of chili too...... Contact me by pm and we can set it up.

It looks like we will have some extra turkeys available this year as well because I took over SallyinIndiana's Blue Royal Palm flock. If anyone is interested in purchasing a Thanksgiving turkey let me know by PM. We can talk prices and the proceeds will find their way back to her.

This is seriously a great way to learn hands on. The hardest portion of the work is plucking, IMO. so fast and much cleaner finished bird.