overrun with roosters!!

[bobbi-j]

There will be a taste and texture difference. How old are these roosters? They may be a little tough, so grilling is probably out. They're great in a pressure cooker (oh, and look into making bone broth - best thing ever!), or in the crock pot. I think some to them in the oven low and slow. They may seem stringy, but that's because they have been out and about, growing muscle. The chickens you buy in the store are raised to grow out quickly and are processed at about 8 weeks old. They don't have the space or time to grow muscles. Oh - and if you process, it's a good idea to let them sit in the fridge for 2-3 days until rigor mortis has passed, so they're a little more tender.

 

[Farmgal101]

There will be a taste and texture difference. How old are these roosters? They may be a little tough, so grilling is probably out. They're great in a pressure cooker (oh, and look into making bone broth - best thing ever!), or in the crock pot. I think some to them in the oven low and slow. They may seem stringy, but that's because they have been out and about, growing muscle. The chickens you buy in the store are raised to grow out quickly and are processed at about 8 weeks old. They don't have the space or time to grow muscles. Oh - and if you process, it's a good idea to let them sit in the fridge for 2-3 days until rigor mortis has passed, so they're a little more tender.

thx for the tip..there 10months old is that to young or are they ready....I have two roosters that are two years old that i think im going to cull if i cull any...They keep attacking my legs...then i could put two of my new sweet rooster in with those hens.they just get along with my hens so well im not sure how i feel about killing any...I have never done it myself i have always had a experienced person there.What do you feed your chickens?

 

[gimmie birdies]

Thanks for the waiting tip, I always would wait 24 hrs, then freeze, should I way 2-3 before freezing too?

 

[bobbi-j]

thx for the tip..there 10months old is that to young or are they ready....I have two roosters that are two years old that i think im going to cull if i cull any...They keep attacking my legs...then i could put two of my new sweet rooster in with those hens.they just get along with my hens so well im not sure how i feel about killing any...I have never done it myself i have always had a experienced person there.What do you feed your chickens?

Well, do you have someone who can walk you through it? I would definitely start out with the two mean ones as practice.

Thanks for the waiting tip, I always would wait 24 hrs, then freeze, should I way 2-3 before freezing too?

If 24 hours works, keep doing that. I read the 3-4 day thing, so that's what I do. Personal preference, I guess.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I never have had a rooster I raise attack me, but I would always pick them up when they came near me, and then they never came near me unless they wanted to be picked up which was alot. I have a new rooster he is a 8 month old SFH and he lets me pick him up. he doesn't seem afraid of me. The people who owned him had about 4-5 other roosters and said he was "skiddish"but maybe it was because the number of roosters.

 

[Farmgal101]

Well, do you have someone who can walk you through it? I would definitely start out with the two mean ones as practice.


If 24 hours works, keep doing that. I read the 3-4 day thing, so that's what I do. Personal preference, I guess.

What do you feed your chickens?

I never have had a rooster I raise attack me, but I would always pick them up when they came near me, and then they never came near me unless they wanted to be picked up which was alot. I have a new rooster he is a 8 month old SFH and he lets me pick him up. he doesn't seem afraid of me. The people who owned him had about 4-5 other roosters and said he was "skiddish"but maybe it was because the number of roosters.

thx for the tip.

 

[bobbi-j]

What do you feed your chickens?

thx for the tip.

Oh, sorry - I forgot to answer that. In the spring, summer and fall, I have a grower or layer feed (whichever DH picks up when he buys it - I'm not terribly fussy), available for them, but they spend most of their time free ranging, eating bugs, weeds, grass, whatever. In the winter if they're not laying, I try to encourage DH to get grower feed for a higher protein content. Our feed store is a little, locally owned place that we want to support, so if they don't have a grower, we just feed layer feed. If you are feeding a mixed flock of adults and young ones, you really want to give an all flock feed with oyster shell on the side. The non-layers don't need the extra calcium.

 

[gimmie birdies]

(Note if the rooster is nice, I will try and find him a home. It is not a money thing,but I want to think they can have a good life. Plus I have a husband who doesn't me to do in any roosters.) As far as processing, (when hubby is out of town...)I use a hatchet, and a block, you can put 2 tall nails on one end and thread the neck through and get it in one whack. then hang him upside down so it can drain.(Once the heart stops pumping it is not bloody.) I then use same hatchet and remove feet and wings. I don't pluck, I use a sharp knife, (careful, I have gone to the doc from almost cutting off my finger) and I remove the skin like taking off a coat, it is pretty easy. I harvest the legs and breast only, leaving the meat on the bones of the breast (using clippers to take off collar bone) I don't even have to worry about the guts, I just use clippers and cut away the breast from rib cage and I am done. The roosters have a good life up until the processing. I am lucky to have found homes for my roosters for the past couple of years, and I have had a high hen ratio, out of luck as well.

 

[Farmgal101]

Oh, sorry - I forgot to answer that. In the spring, summer and fall, I have a grower or layer feed (whichever DH picks up when he buys it - I'm not terribly fussy), available for them, but they spend most of their time free ranging, eating bugs, weeds, grass, whatever. In the winter if they're not laying, I try to encourage DH to get grower feed for a higher protein content. Our feed store is a little, locally owned place that we want to support, so if they don't have a grower, we just feed layer feed. If you are feeding a mixed flock of adults and young ones, you really want to give an all flock feed with oyster shell on the side. The non-layers don't need the extra calcium.

I feed all my chickens cracked corn and sometimes ill get cracked corn and grain...I have wanted to buy layer feed just noticed its more on the pricier side compared to what the cracked corn and grain is ..I also free range and give them a little bit of oyster shell.Do you think i should change it up?will it make a difference in anything?

 

[bobbi-j]

I feed all my chickens cracked corn and sometimes ill get cracked corn and grain...I have wanted to buy layer feed just noticed its more on the pricier side compared to what the cracked corn and grain is ..I also free range and give them a little bit of oyster shell.Do you think i should change it up?will it make a difference in anything?

I'm not sure what difference you're looking for, but chickens are better off with a higher protein diet. Cracked corn does not have protein, and I don't know about the grains you're feeding. If you're looking for optimal egg production, I'd switch to a layer feed.