International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[Red Banks]

So did the man want your culls to process? That would be good, you would get rid of your culls and he would get free meat. Win, win! Roosters are plentiful and someone could have very little money in fresh meat if they were willing to go through the trouble of processing them. Around here you can't even hardly give them away so that's why I want to eat my culls. They may as well serve a purpose.

I officially skinned and gutted my first rooster all by myself today. What I took from the experience is that I am definitely NOT going to be skinning anymore chickens. I felt like it was a lot of work to cut and tear the skin away from the muscles of the bird. In theory it probably would have been easier, but dealing with all the feathers sticking to the meat while I was trying to skin it was difficult. The last bunch we did we scalded and plucked them and it was a lot of work, but it was just tedious and not necessarily hard because there are so many feathers. I also struggled to scrape the lungs out of the chest cavity of the bird. I need to invest in a de-lunger tool for sure so next time won't be so difficult.

The rooster is chilling in the fridge "resting" as we speak to allow rigor mortis to pass. The resting period is supposed to be around 48-72 hours so the meat won't be as tough. I will soak him in a brine solution the last 12 hours or so and will use him to make a pot of soup for my husband on Saturday.

So proud of you! The man ran out the door! Put the bird in the Instant pot with the Coq au Vin recipe. Let me know how it turns out!

 

[KF0002]

So proud of you! The man ran out the door! Put the bird in the Instant pot with the Coq au Vin recipe. Let me know how it turns out!

Oh I thought you meant he ran out the door like in a hurry to go to your house to get the roosters! Lol

My husband is wanting a pot of homemade chicken soup with this rooster, but I definitley want to try the coq au vin soon! My neighbor is going to help me butcher the next set of roosters probably next weekend so I will have plenty of meat to work with.

 

[Red Banks]

Chicken soup or dumplings is amazing with a big old fat hen. We can't buy chickens like that anymore.

 

[marchick]

I can't give these roosters away. I have given away over 100 cockerels/roosters. Not all Marans. Some Bielefelders, Ameraucanas. This time I am going to throw in some hens. I have an egg eating little Araucana, the only non Marans I own. She is a bad influence in the flock, always bringing the flock to the porch to eat cat food. No eggs from her, I guess she eats them or hides them. I used to find nests of 15 or so little blue eggs, haven't found one in a long time.

I just put a ad on Craigslist. I never have a problem finding homes for them.

 

[KF0002]

Chicken soup or dumplings is amazing with a big old fat hen. We can't buy chickens like that anymore.

Ive heard old timers say how cheap you could get stew hens back in the day. They were cull hens that were past their laying prime and tougher than broilers, but made good soup birds. I have plenty of big fat Marans hens but it seems a shame to cook birds that lay such beautiful eggs. Maybe once they get old and stop producing well.

 

[Red Banks]

Ive heard old timers say how cheap you could get stew hens back in the day. They were cull hens that were past their laying prime and tougher than broilers, but made good soup birds. I have plenty of big fat Marans hens but it seems a shame to cook birds that lay such beautiful eggs. Maybe once they get old and stop producing well.

Yellow chicken fat, delicious gold.

 

[Red Banks]

Oh I thought you meant he ran out the door like in a hurry to go to your house to get the roosters! Lol

My husband is wanting a pot of homemade chicken soup with this rooster, but I definitley want to try the coq au vin soon! My neighbor is going to help me butcher the next set of roosters probably next weekend so I will have plenty of meat to work with.

Yes he ran even when I told him James Bond said Marans are the best eating chicken!

 

[KF0002]

Yes he ran even when I told him James Bond said Marans are the best eating chicken!

My neighbor and I processed our roosters last year, my Marans and her Orphingtons, and they were good. It takes Marans roosters longer to fill out in their breast though, much longer than 6-7 months. I had complained last year that my cockerels didnt have much breast meat, but the cock bird I butchered yestereday had plenty. Not as big as a Cornish cross of course but still good for a dual purpose bird.

 

[Old Man Tom]

My neighbor and I processed our roosters last year, my Marans and her Orphingtons, and they were good. It takes Marans roosters longer to fill out in their breast though, much longer than 6-7 months. I had complained last year that my cockerels didnt have much breast meat, but the cock bird I butchered yestereday had plenty. Not as big as a Cornish cross of course but still good for a dual purpose bird.

I have a processing plant close, all my cull males were processed at 18 weeks. Dressed out at 4.5 lbs average. We did 14 last year. Might process these hens in few weeks if they do not start laying soon! Feed just cost too much for birds that do not lay!!Tom

 

[KF0002]

Just wanted to share. Here is one of my favorite barred Olive Egger pullets. I love her feathered legs.