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BirdbyGavin1103 said:
I haven't done too much checking about the age they should be butchered at, yet. What is the recommended age for the CRs? Although the CR's will be the first to be processed, we will be processing all except the "true pets" eventually. The layers will be given time to "dry up" before they go in the pot. Since we have so many that he want's to name I doubt we'll come up with enough food names or I'd give that a try. The buck I got this past season was named Spike. They're all wild and whole herd gets renamed every year, but my son loves naming everything even the wild birds that come to the feeders.
I agree with you (bins and teaching). I did (most of) my research beforehand and knew which ones were meaties before I went in to our TSC, but it we're a college town (as well as fairly rural) and I'm sure several were picked up because they were cute and the people who bought them have no clue what the breed is meant for or any of the issues they have.
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Cornish X meaties need to be processed by 10-12 weeks MAX. If you get the colored broilers (red, black, rainbow rangers, etc.) they take longer so go between 14-18 weeks. There are all kinds of food names...Stir-fry, Chicken Strip, Kiev, Teriakyi, Soup, Patty, Shredded, etc.
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My kids call our broilers Nugget, Thigh, Leg, Drumstick, Strip, Dinner, Lunch...and we have so many that look exactly alike it doesn't matter who gets called what which day. They just know they are food. We also call them "Vultures", "the Fatties" & "the Pigs." We just do it so we don't get attached. If you don't give it a true name it's easier to kill & eat it when the time comes.

Reyvaughn said:
I am in between Benton, Millville and Unityville - Hello, neighbor!


$10-14 for a 8-10lb duck. Sadly, we are having the same issues. Except my ganders are hurting the ducks. The goose is a doll, but those ganders are all kinds of crazy. It's not just a breeding season thing with them either, they have been idiots since their 2nd molt. I set up the appointment for the 2 ganders to be processed next Thursday. We are on the fence about the ducks. I have 4 Pekin (2 jumbo, 2 reg.) and 4 I was told were blue Swedes, but Camo is blue pied and the girls are solid blue. I also have 4 young KC hens that are about 10wks now and 2 black Swede looking ducklings in the brooder that hatched from my eggs. I will sell the KCs, but freezer camp is looking pretty good for the others. It's up to Dewey, they are his birds.

Silkie Sensations - Would a trip to Benton, PA be easier for you? I would sell you a gander and the goose.
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That's 5 hours away, but maybe if we can find someone in between to run a train for us. I'm sure there are others over that way who would like some of the birds I have for sale so if someone in between can play transport I'd pay them in chickens for helping
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Anyone wanting to help out PM me or Rey & let us know. Rey, PM me & let me know what you want for them.

pagumby said:
OK. So I decided that since I like the peeps myself I think a pretty box filled with peep poo would let them know how I feel
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I sure have enough of it.

SilkieSensation, thanks for the photo.
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Personally, I can't eat peeps. Give me an instant sugar headache. But my kids love them so I vote for the box of poo as well. I'll even donate some. We can make it a really BIG box!!!
And you're welcome. I just happened to have pix handy of 2 roos that hatched together so were same age for comparison. Those were taken the same day even.

wingstone said:
help from those that ferment feed

This batch of 24 meat birds is actually hubbies project....he asked if i could mix up some ferment to try with them...

i have buckets and vinegar

do I completely cover it, doesn't it need to breath, if i leave the lid slightly off won't bugs get into it...
will a 5 gallon bucket be enough for 24 birds
how many times a day to feed them this

Told him I will mix it up in morning after work, will this be ready to start feeding by say friday...

I knew i would get sucked into dealing with these birds,,,,I kind of wanted some time off from dealing with multiple pens,,,,it be nice to only deal with the 1 pen of layers for awhile...
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Here's how I do it:

Fill your bucket 1/2 full of feed (whatever your preferred mix may be) to start (it will swell up). Dump in 1-2 cups UN pasteurized ACV. You can add 1/2-1 cup brown sugar if you want to kick start the process. Fill bucket to 3/4 with luke warm water. Stir. Cover LOOSELY (I just lay a feed sack across my buckets) so air can escape. Check water levels in a few hours, stir, & add more water if needed. Depending on temperatures where you have your bucket you should start to see bubbles & foam within 6-48 hours. If it's taking longer it's either too cold or you need more UPACV. You can start feeding it as soon as it absorbs some water, but 12-24 hours is better to allow the process to get started. Use a mesh strainer to dip out what you need to feed. We feed our babies & meaties 2-3 times per day as needed (just whenever they run out & no food at night while locked in the coop, but everyone is over 5 weeks old, under 3 weeks need food available at all times). Add more feed & water as you use it or just fill once per day after all feeding is done for the day. Keep 1-2 inches of water over top of the feed to keep it from getting moldy (it will mold if it dries out but the fermentation process keeps it from molding as long as it's wet.) A trick I have learned for younger chicks: add feed to thicken the batch & soak up excess water about 15 minutes before dipping out feed. This helps soak up excess water in the baby/meaty crumbles to keep it from caking to the babies & getting them all wet & cold. Once the food is dipped out that you need for that feeding just cover back over with water.
You (and anyone else) are welcome to PM me with any questions. And yes, a 5 gal bucket should be sufficient for 25 meaties even once they grow out a bit. You can likely start with a 1-2.5 gallon bucket & have plenty. As they get bigger they will use more but don't use much at all when they 1st start out.

Sangreyhenhouse said:
To anyone that is hatching turkey eggs please let me know if you have any extras to get rid of. My hubby wants turkeys and we can not find them anywhere.
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I have 2 batches of 12 eggs going in (mixed heritage breeds) in the next 2-3 weeks so HOPEFULLY will have some extras available in the next 2 months.

chiques chicks said:
Three weeks from today I'll know how many I get. 27 eggs in, I only need 3-5.
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I may snag a few if my 2 batched don't do well.
 
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So I'm going to be needing another bag of feed soon. My question this time is should I switch to medicated feed? I did not get it the first time around. If I do switch how long do I keep them on it? I guess a better question may be how much should I buy?
 
Sally Sunshine said:
I HAVE A MAJOR ORDEAL TODAY! and of course the Day DH takes off work and is home to witness it!!
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Our Ancona Drake, Clem is trying to kill the brahma roosters in the run!
The one rooster is ripped top of wattle down about 4 inches long! we put veterycin on it and gave him some antibiotics but DH don't care, the ducks have to go.
I locked him alone in the duck house for now, DH heard the commotion and came running and said I need to get rid of the ducks or he will get rid of them.
OMG the drake was physco and I couldn't even stop him! He flipped physco I swear! Is this normal or what!! I am so upset I have 17 eggs in the bator too!


I don't need this crap after I called the processing guy and dealing with setting all that chicken sheat up!
hy cant everyone even ducks and chickens get along!
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I would get all female ducks.. less likely to have this issue/
 

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