Okies in the BYC The Original

[okcarla]

Quote:
Al I have to agree culling is tough, but there has been a few time that I knew that I was doing the bird a favor but none the less it is still hard!!!

I don't know maybe I am wierd or something but I have never had a problem processing, being a hunter and fisherman all my life it just never bothered me. I guess I just have the whole farm living thing to deal with and it needs to be done, kinda like a chore.

AL

I was born & raised a city girl .... I can't process anything either. It is definitely a disadvantage

Maybe I could talk Al into teaching Gerald how ???

Speaking of Gerald, he is glued to the TV watching some silly football game. His Vikings are on.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I don't know maybe I am wierd or something but I have never had a problem processing, being a hunter and fisherman all my life it just never bothered me. I guess I just have the whole farm living thing to deal with and it needs to be done, kinda like a chore.

AL

I was born & raised a city girl .... I can't process anything either. It is definitely a disadvantage

Maybe I could talk Al into teaching Gerald how ???

Speaking of Gerald, he is glued to the TV watching some silly football game. His Vikings are on.

I would really like to show Gerald the way of the Samuri, only because you would come out there and say Hey you guy's quit goofing off and get to chopping. We would have some big fun, I will do it for you this spring Ok.

AL

 

[bethinoklahoma]

Quote:
I would only get the vaccine for Marek's if you had problems with it in the past. From what I have read the vaccinated birds can still shed the disease and are actually made carriers of Marek's so you never want to mix them or have them in the same area as un-vaccinated birds.

The best thing for Cocci is the medicated feed as a preventative. The birds will become immune to the strains you have there at your house and will do fine. Chicks are the most susseptable to cocci and when they grow up it is rare for adult birds to get a new strain. There are I believe 29 different strains of Cocci that infect chickens and many are location specific. The vaccine only covers about 9 of the most prevalent strains.

Thanks....NEVER HAD MAREK'S .... JUST HEAVY HORSE WEAK CHICKEN LEG....

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I know it's a tough thing for some, I had a rooster break his leg last wk during the night. Probably hopping down from the roost, I put him in freezer heaven right off as that was the compassionate thing to do. I think it's so important for us who keep chickens to realize that sometimes the hardest things to do need doing. Don't let him suffer.

AL

Al I have to agree culling is tough, but there has been a few time that I knew that I was doing the bird a favor but none the less it is still hard!!!

I agree. I have found it helps a lot if you can find a system that is really quick to make sure the animal doesn't suffer even more during the process. I'm really happy with the new axe I bought at Home Depot. Just ground the blade down to extreme sharpness and it can handle even a big turkey with a single swing. Nice and broad, too. And flat, which keeps the neck from slipping from under it. I don't like the curved blade ones. I posted a picture of it a few pages back.

I've tried the slitting thing and don't like it for me. While people say it is fast, it isn't instant like the axe.

Carla, Al is a good teacher for this sort of stuff.

 

[GracefulBantams]

Quote:
Thanks, Besty, I'll have to look at those!

 

[okcarla]

Quote:
I would really like to show Gerald the way of the Samuri, only because you would come out there and say Hey you guy's quit goofing off and get to chopping. We would have some big fun, I will do it for you this spring Ok.

AL

Deal! Thank you Al!!!!!!

It's too bad processing couldn't be a display at out next Okies get-together, but I doubt any rented facility would allow it.

 

[GracefulBantams]

Bethinoklahoma, I hope your chicken does have a broken leg, then! I mean, that's still bad for the chicken, but much better for the flock than mareks!
As far as a coccidiosis vaccine, I prefer to feed medicated feed. Um-medicated chick feed is hard to find in my area. And it's a big no-no to vaccinate and feed medicated feed.

 

[al6517]

Jim : Just wait till we get the chance to do one of your pigs or goats, now that is fun and challenging but not very difficult. I can contribute my ease with it due to cooking, preparing meat in many different ways makes you feel more comfortable with the process. Just remember the quality of what ultimately goes on your plate starts with raising and processing correctly, if care is taken throughout the end result is life changing, LOL profound I know but true.

AL

 

[muesky]

All this talk of processing and culling birds is really making me think. I understand Queston's comments because with our birds and pets there is an emotional attachment. Now take a coon or that *&%^ opussum that has been hanging around and I have no problem blowing them away. It is just my chickens are my pets as well as egg and chick providers so it is difficult for me to put them out. I think I will be getting me an ax real soon, since that seems to be the quickest way to kill the birds.
Maybe this thread of conversation is bothering more then usual because one of my cats, we believe has cancer and it is about that time but I am having the vet do it. There is no way on Earth I am going to do it. I will be with her the whole time but there is no way I could do it myself. I hope with the chickens I can get past that because in the future I am going to have to eventually be able to put them down for their own sake.
Ok I am going to go cry now. Cr#p I hate being a girl sometimes!

 

[Jer-man]

Quote:
Try going to an auto parts store. They have plastic oil drain pans that are too small for a 5 gal bucket. Should work good for a 2gal. Around $3 if I remember right. Maybe a little tall, but that can be trimmed down. The metal pans they have are great for the 5gal buckets. For those of you still looking.