New Jersey

[mame1616]

Hi all. Newbie here.

Just joined the forum today. I'm in S. Plainfield. I have a longer post in the Intro section of the forum, but I'm picking up 6 pullets this week to get started.

Mike

Welcome! I was just at your wonderful Plainfield Public Library a couple weeks back.

 

[Rothgardens]

Ocean County NJ relaxing with the Chickens
!

Chickens are 7 weeks old now Rhode Island Reds and Ameraconna

 

[mame1616]

Ocean County NJ relaxing with the Chickens
!

Chickens are 7 weeks old now Rhode Island Reds and Ameraconna

Nice! But, I think you mean Ameraucanas. Nice big coop!

 

[Callmechef]

Hi all,

Can anyone reccomend a place to get Cornish x birds in nj. Northern nj preferably. We're in Essex county.

Thank you!

 

[Callmechef]

Joel salatin uses Cornish x for his meat birds.

 

[jbravo54]

Nice! But, I think you mean Ameraucanas. Nice big coop!

or more likely Easter Eggers

 

[mame1616]

Hi all,

Can anyone reccomend a place to get Cornish x birds in nj. Northern nj preferably. We're in Essex county.

Thank you!

Have you ever had them before? They're not for beginners, nor are they like normal chickens. That's why we call them "frankenchickens."

 

[Callmechef]

Mame,

No, we've never had them, but I have done a lot of research on them. They sound like great meat birds with a great ROI. There is really nothing frankenbird about them; just a chicken that is selectively bred to turn good feed into great meat quickly. I have even emailed Joel salatin about it and these are the birds he says he uses on his farm. He is the one who recommended to source them as locally as possible as breeders select specific traits for specific geographical regions. So, as long as the godfather of pastured chicken is ok with these birds I don't think I have anything to worry about. Do you know anybody locally who might have some to sell?

Callmechef

 

[chickenlindz]

Callmechef - good timing as there is a great article this week featured on the home page of BYC on raising meat birds

 

[mame1616]

Mame,

No, we've never had them, but I have done a lot of research on them. They sound like great meat birds with a great ROI. There is really nothing frankenbird about them; just a chicken that is selectively bred to turn good feed into great meat quickly. I have even emailed Joel salatin about it and these are the birds he says he uses on his farm. He is the one who recommended to source them as locally as possible as breeders select specific traits for specific geographical regions. So, as long as the godfather of pastured chicken is ok with these birds I don't think I have anything to worry about. Do you know anybody locally who might have some to sell?

Callmechef

I know what selective breeding is. I don't know anyone who sources them, but I do know experienced people who have gotten them for the reasons you state. They didn't believe in the frankenchicken theory either, until they got them. Joel Salatin's got an amazing set-up, which took him many years to develop. He is a true expert with a lifetime of experience, and the only non-factory set-up that I'm aware of that is successful with this bird on that scale. They don't act like normal chickens, and tend to start dropping at about six weeks. They're filthy, and look grotesque. I attended a processing demo with these birds at someone's house, someone who's had chickens for years, and keeps them in pristine conditions, and she told me she had to start butchering her first at five weeks, because they collapsed under their own weight. She had others die of heart attacks at six weeks old, because they can't handle any stress. The run was a disaster because the birds just sit around in their own mess because it's too much effort to move. All they do is move from the feeder to the waterer and back again. Five of us went into the run to collect them - at eight weeks - and they didn't have the strength to move away from us. They just lay there screaming, and we just hefted them up. The ones that could move only managed to stagger a few steps, then flopped down again. They had problems breathing, and not from the heat. Others in the crowd affirmed her conclusions. In fact, most of the people there - out of a crowd of almost 75 people - were horrified at them. Having seen them in person, I would never have them. I actually consider it cruelty to breed an animal like that. Sure, they have a great ROI, but they are monsters. Just because we CAN breed birds like that, doesn't mean we SHOULD. There are other hybrids out there that mature in only a few more weeks than the crosses, but they do not suffer the same physical hardships that these birds are forced to endure so we can save a few dollars. I'm all for people providing their own meat, but these birds are just wrong.