Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Exactly... that's the part that would gross me out. Wet feathers and bad smell. I'll be so grossed out I won't even eat the dang chicken. Maybe I need to find a processing place. Although by the time I do that it's like paying $7/lb for chicken!!

I know you're not butchering him, but for anyone with a light gag reflex, there is always the option on just skinning the bird. I do this sometimes with my DP roosters when its too cold to stand outside next to the scalding barrel, I just skin them in the enclosed barn. I always piece out my DP roos and about 1/2 of my CornishX broilers, it saves a ton in freezer space.

 

[trsturself]

I have been talking about raising chickens for food too (even though I'm yet to get an egg!!!). Having these chickens has brought out the homesteader in me.
My family wants to eat my chickens, but no one wants to do the deed. Now I have been a vegetarian for almost 15 years and I feel like raising the chicken makes me feel like I could eat it, but there's no way I'm killing a chicken. Especially not one of my favorites. It would be nice to have meat that you know was raised properly. I kinda think I'd have to end up with a mean one or the instance of too many boys. Perhaps a situation like that could break the ice.

I've got a new issue with a rooster. My son and I, usually me, muck a few stalls,feed/water the horses, ponies and sheep and take care of 2 roosters almost every day. There is one bantam roo and one very large barnyard mix roo in a 4X4 coop and a small run. Since there's so much snow they don't come out at all and I think they're bored. The little guy is harmless but the big one has taken to coming at me when I change the water and feed him. As soon as I open the coop door he comes right at me. He drew blood on my hand today! I can't grab him cause it's only a 4X4 coop and maybe 4' tall so I don't go in, just open the door and reach in. Any ideas? He attacked me 3X about 1 1/2 years ago but he was free ranging then and that was at another location and I just never went back there because I wasn't working for them then. I guess I can have a stick or something to push him back but the doorway is so small I'm not sure how it will work. Any ideas are welcome.

I've only had grocery store chicken and would love to try fresh but the plucking the feathers is the part that I think will bother me. But maybe one day.

Very nice Po and Marge are a cute couple.

I know you're not butchering him, but for anyone with a light gag reflex, there is always the option on just skinning the bird. I do this sometimes with my DP roosters when its too cold to stand outside next to the scalding barrel, I just skin them in the enclosed barn. I always piece out my DP roos and about 1/2 of my CornishX broilers, it saves a ton in freezer space.

I broke the ice by raising a few red ranger meat birds. Knowing they are for meat from day one helps a lot. You start seeing them as dinner instead of cute animals with personality. We processed a few ourselves and while I still couldn't bring myself to do the killing, the feather plucking wasn't a big deal at all. We also skinned a couple to see which we liked better. I like the skin if I'm leaving the bird whole (who would want to roast a whole chicken with no skin keeping it moist?) but the skinned ones were great for piecing out.
It was expensive meat since we did all organic and they were at a friend's farm whose goat and sheep insisted on breaking into their area and eating their food.

 

[jonsccm]

Here is another one in can't seem to identify I'm one of Meyers rare layer assortment. Can any one help identify?

 

[jonsccm]

Also this one. Has clean light legs

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Jonsccm,
The first pic you posted could be a splash (blue) Orpington.
The second one is most likely a Buckeye.

 

[NanaLynn]

Here is another one in can't seem to identify I'm one of Meyers rare layer assortment. Can any one help identify?

Possibly a Splash Blue Andulasion too. One of my rare breeds was one.

Here she is by the water at a day or two old.



I think she was a week here:


A few weeks ago. "Splash" the Splash Blue Andulasion. She is one of my high flyers and a great escape artist when free ranging.

 

[sonderah]

These baby chick pics are KILLING me!!! But I can't order any this year! I have 6 new hatching eggs coming next week though! I wanted some bantam chocolate Orpingtons. So I'll have babies in about a month, but until then, I'm SOOOO jealous!

 

[jonsccm]

Thank you!

 

[NanaLynn]

I have been talking about raising chickens for food too (even though I'm yet to get an egg!!!). Having these chickens has brought out the homesteader in me.
My family wants to eat my chickens, but no one wants to do the deed. Now I have been a vegetarian for almost 15 years and I feel like raising the chicken makes me feel like I could eat it, but there's no way I'm killing a chicken. Especially not one of my favorites. It would be nice to have meat that you know was raised properly. I kinda think I'd have to end up with a mean one or the instance of too many boys. Perhaps a situation like that could break the ice.

My family is talking about eating my chickens too. We're all talk right now since no one wants to do the deed.

I've got a new issue with a rooster. My son and I, usually me, muck a few stalls,feed/water the horses, ponies and sheep and take care of 2 roosters almost every day. There is one bantam roo and one very large barnyard mix roo in a 4X4 coop and a small run. Since there's so much snow they don't come out at all and I think they're bored. The little guy is harmless but the big one has taken to coming at me when I change the water and feed him. As soon as I open the coop door he comes right at me. He drew blood on my hand today! I can't grab him cause it's only a 4X4 coop and maybe 4' tall so I don't go in, just open the door and reach in. Any ideas? He attacked me 3X about 1 1/2 years ago but he was free ranging then and that was at another location and I just never went back there because I wasn't working for them then. I guess I can have a stick or something to push him back but the doorway is so small I'm not sure how it will work. Any ideas are welcome.

I've only had grocery store chicken and would love to try fresh but the plucking the feathers is the part that I think will bother me. But maybe one day.

Very nice Po and Marge are a cute couple.

That is terrible about that crazy rooster! Too bad he can't become a good stew

I remember being attacked by one when I was really young. He kept attacking my eggs when I went to collect eggs. I was scared to death of him. I learned to wear jeans and high boots to save my legs, but still was terrified.

I know you're not butchering him, but for anyone with a light gag reflex, there is always the option on just skinning the bird. I do this sometimes with my DP roosters when its too cold to stand outside next to the scalding barrel, I just skin them in the enclosed barn. I always piece out my DP roos and about 1/2 of my CornishX broilers, it saves a ton in freezer space.

That's what we talked about too since we usually skin the chicken before cooking anyway.

I broke the ice by raising a few red ranger meat birds. Knowing they are for meat from day one helps a lot. You start seeing them as dinner instead of cute animals with personality. We processed a few ourselves and while I still couldn't bring myself to do the killing, the feather plucking wasn't a big deal at all. We also skinned a couple to see which we liked better. I like the skin if I'm leaving the bird whole (who would want to roast a whole chicken with no skin keeping it moist?) but the skinned ones were great for piecing out.
It was expensive meat since we did all organic and they were at a friend's farm whose goat and sheep insisted on breaking into their area and eating their food.

Smart move. We may try that one day, but we have too many chickens right now,so we'd probably "break the ice" on one of the mean ones that no one really likes. (Poor Daisy, I am starting to feel sorry for her)

 

[christine9]

22 weeks and no eggs. Three of four are really red-faced everyday. No more sometimes red sometimes pink. Now two of the girls are pacing and squawking. No real squatting though. No interest in nest boxes.

Apricot's comb is still pink most of the time.

Kiwi is the one I expect my first egg from. She's been pacing for a few weeks. She may have squatted yesterday but it might have been my imagination. Her comb is bright!

Persimmon is not pacing or making much noise, but her comb is big and she's starting to whiten around the earlobes.

Olive is right behind kiwi with the noisiness and pacing. Caught her feverishly pacing this morning.