***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[lonnyandrinda]

One of these days, I'll feel like I'm asking a question of substance, rather than a newbie question. But, here's another newb question.
What, if any, advantage is gained by raising caponized males, for meat production?
Now, the reason I ask is this. Since getting into having chickens, just this past March, my wife, who used to help her mother dress out their chickens, as a child in Mexico, has felt (and I saw it coming) that she is far too attached to the chickens we have, to be able to use any of them, for anything other than egg production.
However, we went to a breeder's place, a couple of days ago, to get some guinea keets, and Gold Laced Wyandottes, and she saw how trying to care for a "Tyson chicken". Of course most anyone in E. Oklahoma, knows who Tyson Foods is. But, she had no clue, how their chickens are raised, and the inhumane methods used to "grow" them. This was a chicken, that literally fell off of the back of a Tyson truck, on the highway, and this breeder is trying to bring it to a decent life. But, after seeing it's condition, my wife is having an epiphany, about raising our own meat birds, as she was semi traumatized, by the condition of this bird. In order to do this, where she won't be traumatized, I am going to have to build a new coop, and run, that will keep chickens, where she will have little, or no, interaction with them.
In looking around for good meat birds, I found some nice Cornish x Rocks, from Murray McMurray, that seem to be pretty fairly priced ($1.91 each, in quantities we would be interested in buying). The info on the chickens, indicates that buying males may be more desirable, since their cost is more, as is the cost of straight run. Then, in the description, they say, "If you want to raise capons, buy males and have them caponized at 2 or 3 weeks of age."
Does this mean they will be bigger, and meatier? Being new at this, I'm just ignorant, and trying to learn. The idea I have, is to get 100 birds, to raise for meat birds, then everytime we get down about 20 birds, or so, (around 80) then buy another 20. Figuring that if we get too many, we can always help friends, neighbors and family, with some free or cheap chickens, for meals. It certainly seems healthier, and far more humane, to do this, than to give Tyson, or some other producer, our money, rewarding them, for their methods, that frankly, I never much liked, but ignored.
Y'all have been an amazing source of good info, for me, and I hope to tap into that expertise, once more, if I may.
I guess, eventually, I'll know the basics, but it feel so stupid, having to ask.

You got sone great answers already from Kass. But I agree if you only plan to slaughter a few at a time go for a good dual purpose bird like marans or orpingtons not Cornish crosses. If you want to do Cornish crosses you want a tractor style pen to force them to exercise for their food, with measured feedings twice a day.

I talked to you this week lol. You were going to send me a price list for eggs. But I haven't gotten it yet. My email is [email protected].


I also started feeding fermented feed this week and I must say I am impressed. I use to step outside to a flock of hungry hungry chicks every time I stepped outside. They just couldn't get or wouldn't stay full. Now with the fermented feed one scoop a day in their feed bowl and they are happy all day long! Also seems to be working for my keets. Good! Cause with a growing flock my feed bill was getting up there and its not even close to winter yet!

I am so glad you said something! I wrote down your email wrong and have been trying different ones but it keeps bouncing back at me. I will resend it tonight!


Capons are supposed to grow bigger with more tender meat. No crowing, fighting, or mating hens.

 

[vanahjeane]

Hey everybody! Just thought I'd post a pic of the chicks having an afternoon nap. I like to bring them outside when it's pretty warm so they can get used to the big wide world. I thought it was cute they ran around for a while, but then all konked out at once lol

 

[Kyzmette]

Quote:
And their tails grow longer and prettier. I'm not sure what causes that, but I've seen some Leghorn capons I thought were Phoenix mixes.

 

[Sagetown]

yes,I have seen brooders like that but we need a small coup for 7 adult bantams.
.

Hmmm!; Well; with a little ingenuity I can see how that would work out very well. It would be nice to see it once he completes it.

 

[artsyrobin]

Hey everybody! Just thought I'd post a pic of the chicks having an afternoon nap. I like to bring them outside when it's pretty warm so they can get used to the big wide world. I thought it was cute they ran around for a while, but then all konked out at once lol

love how one minute they are racing around and suddenly the melt

 

[frogwoodforest]

He is sooo cute. I have had bantams in Oklahoma for over 40 years....they handle cold just as good as big chickens perhaps better!;Enjoy they are very personable!

 

[NanaKat]

Hi im Sharon. I joined this site in hopes to quickly find a loving owner for my 1yr old rhode island red. I rescued her when she was a baby and I grew so attached that I kept her. Well now she is laying 1 egg a day and is beautiful. Unfortunately my finances are shot and i must move to an apt. Im trying my best to find a loving no kill place for her. She would need help to adjust because she hasnt been around other birds. She is super sweet. Loves to be pet and would make a great 4h show bird. Loves kids and dogs. Literally has no instinctive guard from predators. Her name is Tipsy bcuz when i first got her she couldnt walk but now she is just fine. If anyone wants her or knows of a small farm that would be so helpful. My current landlords want her out this weekend. Im so stressed trying to find her a good home. In the Tulsa area but willing to drive a few hours.
Thx!!

and looks like Tipsy has several homes available.

We spent today working on changing out the barn water faucet....we have had a leak for the past few months and finally had a good day to work on it. Had to dig down to the connection and the leak was actually at the vacate valve. Put in a whole new pipe and faucet and refilled the hole.....a muddy project...but necessary,

Hens with new chicks brought them out of the hen house today and started teaching them to freerange....so cute to see barely feathered babies scratching in the dirt and running to a Mama's clucking.

 

[sadieh]

I had hen die about 3 weeks ago who seemed healthy, she was fine that morning and the afternoon was dead. I checked her out and her crop seemed full so I thought maybe she ate something and got impacted. Tonight another dead hen who was fine acting this morning. Also no one has laid eggs in 2 weeks or so at all. I thought maybe the heat but my nephews are laying and others I know of are still laying. No egg shells laying around like the chickens are eating them and I have 2 separate pens, one that has silkies that I'm not getting eggs from either. Any Ideas?? I don't want to loose any more. I wormed with Pyrantel about a month ago a pea size drop per bird, should I try another kind?

I've been throwing them veggies from my garden, could it be that?

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I had hen die about 3 weeks ago who seemed healthy, she was fine that morning and the afternoon was dead. I checked her out and her crop seemed full so I thought maybe she ate something and got impacted. Tonight another dead hen who was fine acting this morning. Also no one has laid eggs in 2 weeks or so at all. I thought maybe the heat but my nephews are laying and others I know of are still laying. No egg shells laying around like the chickens are eating them and I have 2 separate pens, one that has silkies that I'm not getting eggs from either. Any Ideas?? I don't want to loose any more. I wormed with Pyrantel about a month ago a pea size drop per bird, should I try another kind?

I've been throwing them veggies from my garden, could it be that?

That's a tough one. No it's not from the veggies. An impacted crop would be a very overly large crop for a long time, not just one full from a day of eating. Was her breastbone very prominant/thin? That would maybe indicate impacted crop because they basically slowly starve to death.

The only way to know for sure what killed her is to have a necropsy done. You can call the State Dept of Agriculture and see if they have an employee near you that day to swing around and pick the body up. It needs to be refrigerated (NOT FROZEN) as soon after death as possible, and they like to pick it up for autopsy within about 24 hours of death. It's free. They will do the necropsy, collect samples, and send you a report in the mail of the findings.

Sometimes chickens molt when the heat hits, and sometimes they wait until fall. Yours may be molting or it could be the heat affecting them. If you just wormed a month ago I would not worm again.

If they are eating eggs usually there are a few bits of shells left. However, if you have a snake sneaking in and eating eggs there would be no trace. How often do you collect eggs?

 

[miohippus]

Dosen't heat stress cause egg production to decrease? I have been getting fewer eggs since it has been hot.