NY chicken lover!!!!

[vmdanielsen]

We bought a GMC envoy to downsize from a Ford 250 (gas prices) because we had a buyer for the truck. Finally got the paper work done on the envoy and called the kid buying the truck so we could deliver it to him. He said he didn't want it anymore because it took too long (he had to ride the school bus for a week). It has only been a week since he looked at it. Now we have an additional vehicle payment.

Stinker!

 

[demp4]

I have a home made "killing cone" (which it turns out isn't long enough) and then I hold their bound legs and Ray cuts the artery ....IF my killing cone was large enough it would be a one person operation, but since it isn't...it takes two....and I swear he made it too small so I wouldn't be able to walk away and leave him to do it himself. We don't have a really sharp knife, since we can't find his fish knife so the best thing we have found is a single edged razor blade in a gloved hand. One cut and hold on til they expire. *note to self: rebuild killing cone to accomodate the size roos I grow*

This last one I did, I was Pis#%* OFF at and he just got the axe....however that was a two person operation too, cuz I still had to hold him while Ray did the deed. (And then resharpen the hatchet...darn neck bones)


Edited to add: There is no "fun" way to do it....it's a mindset, I think. Some I saw as a meal, the last one I saw as a problem solved. I have to eat and I can't spend my life looking over my shoulder waiting for the next attack. Personally I think it would be easier to kill and eat someone else's roosters. I propose a Stew Rooster swap, so you are not emotionally attatched to your meal.

Mine almost got the ax today cleaning the coop he came over tried to attack me then proceeded to "growl" at me and kept coming closer....

I agree its hard when you are attached but roo's are becoming easier for me to process since I get so many. They seem to be okay for about a year then they get mean. My husband wants us to keep our polish roo cause his crow is cute but I know deep down he will prob turn mean too. So I might as well do them all because there are bound to be more in the 32 eggs in the bator.

It was hard last year because it was the first year we raised and processed our own turkeys. They were so good on Thanksgiving though that I am going to do it again this year.

 

[demp4]

If I hadn't sold the other two BR' roos I'd have one for you. I take a stick with me when I go out to collect eggs. That SOG , might me his end on the end of my foot. I've never had a roo like him before. He's really beautiful but protective of the girls and the coop. I'll just have to deal with him.

Well if you ever want to get rid of a roo let me know since you are close. We drove by your house the other day and the kids said hey thats where we got our dels from...

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Personally I think it would be easier to kill and eat someone else's roosters. I propose a Stew Rooster swap, so you are not emotionally attatched to your meal.

We could do that in August if you want. I personally haven't dispatched any of ours. We sell them first. I can cook it. I just can't kill them. Most of the ones we have I've raised myself, it would be like killing my babies.

 

[featherz]

We could do that in August if you want. I personally haven't dispatched any of ours. We sell them first. I can cook it. I just can't kill them. Most of the ones we have I've raised myself, it would be like killing my babies.

I can't do it either, especially since I don't eat chicken. I either put mine on CL or bring them to the auction. =( I have dispatched two sick hens, using the broomstick method, but it's hard for me. =(

 

[Cass]

We could do that in August if you want. I personally haven't dispatched any of ours. We sell them first. I can cook it. I just can't kill them. Most of the ones we have I've raised myself, it would be like killing my babies.

You haven't raised a child through the teen years....once you have done that and come to understand why some animals EAT THEIR YOUNG, it is easier to kill the baby chicks you have raised to adulthood. Believe me. BUT it was much easier for me to process some roos I got in trade for my silkies than it was to process Houdini and Rowdy, roos I had held in my lap and watched TV with. (But I still did it and they were YUMMY)

 

[featherz]

You haven't raised a child through the teen years....once you have done that and come to understand why some animals EAT THEIR YOUNG, it is easier to kill the baby chicks you have raised to adulthood. Believe me. BUT it was much easier for me to process some roos I got in trade for my silkies than it was to process Houdini and Rowdy, roos I had held in my lap and watched TV with. (But I still did it and they were YUMMY)

You are lucky to have an SO who will help you do the deed.

My DH won't have anything to do with it, even on my poor pox chicken that was in horrible distress. /sniff

After the easter hatch, I hope to shut down the incubator - it's just to stressful to send all these poor babies to their doom, but I know it must be done. Heck, if they didn't fight, terrorize the girls and make so much racket, I'd be happy to feed more freeloader roos, but..

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

If I had to do it to survive or feed/protect the family I could do it. Right now it's not something I have to do so I don't.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well if you ever want to get rid of a roo let me know since you are close. We drove by your house the other day and the kids said hey thats where we got our dels from...

They are laying if you want eggs. What are friends for, if they can't give you eggs to hatch? Just let me know the day before and I'll save them.

 

[Henicillin]

I have everything I need to process, and am ready to do so at short notice if necessary (DH is willing to help, but I could also do it myself if need be), but still haven't done it to any of them, even my huge, goofy freeloader of a gamma rooster. He's a total klutz, and seems to be too uncoordinated even to mate successfully - he usually loses his balance and falls off the hens, the big goon. The alpha appears to be pretty proficient, and the beta is warming up to his task nicely, but Chester could be a lost cause. He's still not even a year old yet, though, so I hold out some hope that he'll get his act together. He dances for the girls and feeds them nicely, so he has turned out to be a gentleman, but he isn't of a whole lot of use if he can't seal the deal.

He's a huge beast of a bird, and I'd like to see him figure out exactly what he's supposed to be doing, as I want to put him over some nice, big DP hens like Delawares to see what results. I'd think any cockerels resulting from that type of cross would be good freezer camp candidates.

I need an incubator. My BOs are still showing broody tendencies, but it's like having a bunch of little girls playing house - they're going through some of the motions, but they aren't serious about it.