Kristen’s Chickens and Farming Ventures

[Kris5902]

Oh, and that’s how light it is here at almost 9 pm now! See why the candling pics didn’t quite work out? I’m going to need to stay up to like midnight to get them (there’s no window coverings in the building the incubator is in)

 

[Ribh]

See, it’s totally not offensive! And I didn’t even suggest the “just got laid”, “fresh AF”, or “mother cluckers” one...

...I like the Just Got Laid one...And I don't like goats...

 

[MaryJanet]

Cackleberries has always been my favourite

 

[aart]

Well, my last ratio on a hatch was even

We can hope...but...
...broody here just hatched 7 of 8, 5 males and 2 females

 

[Kris5902]

...I like the Just Got Laid one...And I don't like goats...

I’m not really a fan either, usually I smell them long before I see them, this time I was thankfully upwind and alerted to them by strange noises outside the trailer that couldn’t be my chickens!

We can hope...but...
...broody here just hatched 7 of 8, 5 males and 2 females

Need to buy a pink tutu for your broody hen too! Andrew thinks it has something to do with the existing female/male ratio. He’s probably just trying to reassure me because most of my Meat Birds are cockerels I don’t know about chickens but some reptiles are affected by incubation temperature, a few degrees one way and you get boys, the other and, surprise, girls. I’m sure if this was the case for chickens (with all the $$$ that goes into breeding production birds) we would know by now.

I’m honestly ok either way, because if it’s fairly even or it’s skewed to more boys, as long as I get a decent hatch rate, I’ll have enough boys to bring into the processor, and an excuse to buy some CCL, a different line of Marans, and maybe some ameraucana hatching eggs I also want Bresse, but they are expensive and sold as chicks at $25/ea straight run.

 

[Ribh]

I also want Bresse, but they are expensive and sold as chicks at $25/ea straight run.

Did you read the thread on Bresse? I think someone was saying it's as much about what they're feed & how they're raised that affects the quality of the meat.

 

[Kris5902]

I haven’t read it, basically I’m looking for a good heritage meat breed, the white feathering is preferable, which I can cross and breed from for a sustainable meat breeding program, maybe with the Rangers or Dark Cornish... it is one I could find from a reliable breeder in my area that looks to have very nice lines. The Dark Cornish I’m going to start with isn’t quite as nice of stock.

Good meat breeds for small scale production?

This was one of the first questions I asked after I joined this site in the Meat Birds forum. Here’s a link to the thread. I’m still leaning towards Chantelacer as well, but haven’t found a good nearby source. Barred Rocks are also on my potential breeding list, as are Marans for Dual Purpose. A local breeder has a line of extra large BCM meat birds, I’m thinking about maybe introducing some of those, and another line as well that’s got a bit darker color on the eggs.

I really find that in almost all animals it’s more to do with the husbandry and feed than the breed for a quality end product in meat, although pigs and chickens are a bit more breed specific in fat distribution and meat texture in the commercial varieties vs heritage breeds. Our pasture raised beef bears very little resemblance to what you find in most grocery stores and is hands down much richer in flavor.

 

[Ribh]

As you know I'm vegetarian so the taste test is not something I can verify but I know my BR hens are a mighty size ~ quite a bit meatier & heavier than my Australorps, which are also a dual purpose bird, so I don't think you could go too far wrong with them. The males must be bigger again. I don't know the Chantelacer.

I really find that in almost all animals it’s more to do with the husbandry and feed than the breed for a quality end product in meat, although pigs and chickens are a bit more breed specific in fat distribution and meat texture in the commercial varieties vs heritage breeds.

I would agree with this. Well kept animals always produce better, whether it's for eggs or meat.

 

[Ribh]

Chantelacer: ok. Looked it up. No wonder I've not heard of it.

 

[Kris5902]

As you know I'm vegetarian so the taste test is not something I can verify but I know my BR hens are a mighty size ~ quite a bit meatier & heavier than my Australorps, which are also a dual purpose bird, so I don't think you could go too far wrong with them. The males must be bigger again. I don't know the Chantelacer.



I would agree with this. Well kept animals always produce better, whether it's for eggs or meat.

The Chantelacer is a Canadian meat breed, and we also eat several vegetarian meals a week For us it’s about balance and sustainability, as well as animal welfare. If I didn’t have access to our humanely raised meat, I’d probably be a full on vegetarian by now as well. I want all my food to be treated respectfully and not to have a huge detrimental effect on the environment. All large scale Factory farming is quite aberrant to me, from corn, soy, and almond mono-cultures to the commercial meat industry.