Meat chickens was a bust!

[annewandering]

We butchered one. Some died or were killed. We have four left but now neither of us is willing to kill them. lol. I guess we are going to be keeping a few meat chickens for eggs. ^^ We will also get to hatch eggs since two are roosters!

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Don't give up on meaties just yet. We also first timers. We did not raise particularly "meat birds" We got 12 heritage type breeds. But we had a PROBLEM. We got MArek's which took away 5 chickens for nothing. We also butchered 3 roosters. amazing taste - rspeccially Black Copper Marans a re increadible meaties. Huge birds with a lot of meat, which has a gourmet taste to it.
we were planning to breed them, but it did not work out with Black copper MArans - the female died of mareks'. We still have couple hens - Chantecler and Dorkin, hoping for eggs, and couple Lavender Orpington Roosters.
After I tried their meat - I am not going back to the Supermarket meaties. Not me
Especially when you COOK IT RIGHT))

 

[annewandering]

The one we butchered was delicious.

 

[ronott1]

We butchered one. Some died or were killed. We have four left but now neither of us is willing to kill them. lol. I guess we are going to be keeping a few meat chickens for eggs. ^^ We will also get to hatch eggs since two are roosters!

You are having a very common problem.

Go here for help and inspiration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...hrough-the-emotions-please/2420#post_12216648

 

[BCMaraniac]

Don't give up on meaties just yet. We also first timers. We did not raise particularly "meat birds" We got 12 heritage type breeds. But we had a PROBLEM. We got MArek's which took away 5 chickens for nothing. We also butchered 3 roosters. amazing taste - rspeccially Black Copper Marans a re increadible meaties. Huge birds with a lot of meat, which has a gourmet taste to it.
we were planning to breed them, but it did not work out with Black copper MArans - the female died of mareks'. We still have couple hens - Chantecler and Dorkin, hoping for eggs, and couple Lavender Orpington Roosters.
After I tried their meat - I am not going back to the Supermarket meaties. Not me
Especially when you COOK IT RIGHT

AnneWandering: I agree, don't give up on the meaties! I absolutely hate to kill the chickens(except for this really mean rooster I have.....but I digress), but I also don't ever want to eat supermarket chicken again! I started with chickens a year ago just for eggs, buying 8 pullets who were a few weeks from laying......then I got a rooster.....then I thought I would have meaties.....then I let a broody hen hatch chicks......then I incubated chicks......then I decided I would raise my own meat birds.....I have gone CRAZY!!! I have a medical background, and still had trouble bringing myself to kill chickens. But I still do it. Go to the thread mentioned above. It has great information and support.

I have had losses, everybody does.....whether it be layers or meaties. I don't know how you butchered, but after trying other methods, we found that the cone does best for us. In less than a year, I was even caponizing my young roosters. YOU CAN DO THIS!! it is a good feeling knowing where your food comes from, and having some self reliance, even though it is not pleasant. The first one is the hardest, and it does get better.

Natali, I have BCM's........and I also have a Lavender Orpington rooster who guards my layer flock.....he is such a sweet bird. I incubated some of the their eggs, and the roosters are HUGE!! I caponized them, so I am expecting those to be really big. You might consider getting some more BCM pullets and cross with those Lavender Orpingtons. Even though I now have a BCM rooster, I am considering crossing my BCM's with the Lavender Orpington again next year.

 

[Natalijaasbj]

BCMaraniac! I love your name! I became BCMARANIAC number 2! Aren't they gorgeous birds! Roosters are beauties. I loved my birds I got from this local breeder. But the problem is - he is not vaccinating for Marek's. It was a tragedy to lose birds to it. I had 3 Maran Roos. We had to kill the first. He was too agressive and loud - neighbours started complaining. He would be the beautiful breeder bird. He had a lot of Copper in him and was huge. The other roo was intelligent and quiet, but nevertheless good "lider" to the flock. I was supposed to breed him. But recently he started limping, and I know what limping "means" in my flock. I saw it and watched it is not improving - and ate him quickly while he still had his good weight on(((( the pullet died from Marek and so is another roo. Dreaming about Marans again.,Need to find a good vaccinating breeder. I do not believe in Hatchery birds. if you know how to find one with BCM, let me know in PM, please
Annewandering, sorry to hijack your post topic. May be next meaties you should try Marans - they are really worth it
I am not really about eggs so much as I am about meat so I can not tell how good they are in the egg department, but I heard they bring very dark color eggs.