Oregon

[Nelson-90]

they are last year's turkeys, and not in great shape. She wants me to take them and process them, so she has room for more chooks, but I just can't do it.
Like hitting an elderly person in the head with a hammer, to me.
(sorry for the horrid reference)

oh ok i know that felling

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

oh ok i know that felling

She is really kicking herself, now. When she got them she thought she would have the heart to 'do' them, but last year's turkey holidays came and went. Now they are big lumbering beasts, and she still doesn't have the heart.
I tried to 'man up' and help her, but doing her old roos for her is where I have to draw the line.
I am no wuss, but these old turkeys just make me sad...

I guess this poultry game is a Live and Learn one for us all!

 

[Nelson-90]

She is really kicking herself, now. When she got them she thought she would have the heart to 'do' them, but last year's turkey holidays came and went. Now they are big lumbering beasts, and she still doesn't have the heart.
I tried to 'man up' and help her, but doing her old roos for her is where I have to draw the line.
I am no wuss, but these old turkeys just make me sad...

I guess this poultry game is a Live and Learn one for us all!

it is i have five turkeys that are going to get butchered soon and im already feeling it but its got to happen so i just got to suck it up

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

it is i have five turkeys that are going to get butchered soon and im already feeling it but its got to happen so i just got to suck it up

I feel ya, friend.
It is never a job I enjoy. My husband won't come near it with a 10 foot pole. But he sure likes fresh chicken.
Of course I am the farmer and he is the 'city folk' of this diverse family.

I have a roo to do on Tuesday, and I am not looking forward to it one bit.
Still, I know they have had good lives, excellent care and a happy place to be. Then it's my duty to dispatch them quickly and humanely. It's the job I signed up for.
I do find the worst part is the dread in anticipation. The doing of it is never as bad as I make it in my head for a week (or month or year) beforehand. I'm already dreading the roos hatched Wednesday.
At least the Wilco 5 are all girls!!! Don't have to think about them for years!

 

[countrybuffs]

Silverton Wilco had a lot of chicks left today, and they have a layer crumble that has no corn and no soy for anyone who is interested in that. It is the "Home Grown" brand and is 16% protein which comes from Alfalfa meal. My chickens love it!

 

[Oregon Blues]

Too bad Otis is too far away for me. I don't have any problem processing old turkeys.

If those are Broad Breasted turkeys, which is what people usually raise to eat, they are going to be miserable pretty soon as they continue to get bigger and bigger. It's not as bad is it is with Cornish Cross chickens, but they are not designed to be kept around forever.

All she has to do is to put an ad on Craigslist and they will be gone, fast.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Too bad Otis is too far away for me. I don't have any problem processing old turkeys.

If those are Broad Breasted turkeys, which is what people usually raise to eat, they are going to be miserable pretty soon as they continue to get bigger and bigger. It's not as bad is it is with Cornish Cross chickens, but they are not designed to be kept around forever.

All she has to do is to put an ad on Craigslist and they will be gone, fast.

Craig's List is a great idea! I will mention that to her, today!
Thanks!

 

[BonneTerreChick]

A friend in Kansas has a local place that does all of her chicken "processing". She does do them in lots of 5-10 birds or more and all kinds of breeds. Has anyone found a butcher/meat processor around Oregon that does this sort of stuff? Just curious if it is a midwest thing or what.

 

[Zanna]

A friend in Kansas has a local place that does all of her chicken "processing". She does do them in lots of 5-10 birds or more and all kinds of breeds. Has anyone found a butcher/meat processor around Oregon that does this sort of stuff? Just curious if it is a midwest thing or what.

There is a USDA processing place in Scio, not sure the name of it. We do our own so haven't had the need..........

 

[lovinchickypoos]

Whay don't we just call it "poultry math"?

Since once you start with chickens, inevitably, more birds follow.

Example: I started with one hen and have since had, Ducks, Gesse, Turkeys, Guineas, Peafowl, Quail, Pheasants, Pigeons, and even an EMU.

If you want to hear some funny stories, I'm full of them, too.

Hi! I'm a lurker from the Washingtonians thread. So out of all the various poultry you've had, which ones are your favorites and which are the hardest to deal with?