Making Lemonade [Selective Culling Project - very long term]

[U_Stormcrow]

I have one from last hatch with what seems to be some blue undertones in the fluff I'm keeping an eye on, since it has some unclear markings on the back and wings, unlike the one I caught in the photo above, but otherwise has the "softer" gold tones.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Took a hen, a Roo, and a young-ish duck today. Sig updated.

Good color, decent to heavy fat level, good condition on the organs.

His feet were a little odd, but I found no evidence of nutritional problems internally, nor evidence of injury externally. Gout??? Didn't have time to dissect to look at the bones directly.

Pretty bird, I just have too many Roos, and he's more mahogany than orange/gold. Parted him out before removing organs, not displeased.

No duck photo.

One bag with organs, one with bones for soup, one with all the legs and thighs for braising, one with the breasts for grinding.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Yes, but the ones currently broody didn't get culled Time after next unless they have hatchlings in tow...

I just took another hen, no picture, all black. 4.18# live weight. Also brahma ancestry, legs were pale white, which I take to mean not currently laying. Her fat was right where I want it - but the storm rolling in made me rush the job.

Didn't get to either of the roosters I wanted to take today, or the ducks I need to remove.

...and I have two small birds I didn't incubate, one white, one grey, who are coming up on 2 months of age.

So, I foresee another culling in the very near future, since those last two birds will make very moist and tender baked chicken, while the ducks will add to the "meatiness" of the poultry I'm soon to grind.



I thru them to the rest of the flock to keep them away from the table I was butchering on. I have way too many eggs right now, with my main buyer gone, which is also motivating the cull.

Do I see another chicken in the background watching you do this? What could their thoughts be?

 

[Molpet]

Do I see another chicken in the background watching you do this? What could their thoughts be?

If they are like mine, they are looking for scraps. I keep telling them they shouldn't want to eat their children.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Like @Molpet's chickens, my chickens LOVE culling days for the treats they get from their recent flock mates. and its taken a year, but they no longer try and join me on the butcher table, which is a great way to become the next bird hanging from the scale...

 

[MysteryChicken]

My birds fear butcher time. It's usually quiet a couple days before they go about their normal ways.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My birds fear butcher time. It's usually quiet a couple days before they go about their normal ways.

That's true of my goats, but not my poultry.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Mine love when I throw the... bits from the cockerels. The rest, they seem to prefer over nothing, but not as much as those.... bits

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Mine love when I throw the... bits from the cockerels. The rest, they seem to prefer over nothing, but not as much as those.... bits

The yolk balls in the hens. Like I was throwing gold onto the street. Even more than the boy bits. But yes, both are definitely much sought after treats.

Somehow, I suspect this was not the response @Nyhillbillies was anticipating.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The yolk balls in the hens. Like I was throwing gold onto the street. Even more than the boy bits. But yes, both are definitely much sought after treats.

Somehow, I suspect this was not the response @Nyhillbillies was anticipating.

I have yet to have a hen with yolk balls, processed or necropsied. One had a full egg in her, but none after that. I imagine it would definitely be an egg-xiting treat though