Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[dutchbunny83]

I've heard a lot of people say they had RIR roo's become very aggressive, more so than other breeds

 

[3 NH reds]

I promised pictures of Silkie carcasses, so here they are. The meat is quite grey with dark black sheets throughout. These were hatchery birds, two were without the proper black skin or proper combs. After slaughtering and cleaning them last Sunday, I just put them in a pot and told my husband to cover them with a moist paper towel and take care of them. I could not bear to deal with their little bodies any more. He let two dry out a bit, but when I cooked them in a curry tonight they were perfect. I got over one pound of boned meat from two. The third is in the freezer. Tonight, I actually tasted them and I was surprised at just how good they tasted. I made a soup out of the first one I slaughtered a couple of weeks ago and the broth seemed very rich and dark. I will not be able to go back to store-bought blandness again!

Thanks I was wondering what it looked like.

 

[Kassaundra]

I promised pictures of Silkie carcasses, so here they are. The meat is quite grey with dark black sheets throughout. These were hatchery birds, two were without the proper black skin or proper combs. After slaughtering and cleaning them last Sunday, I just put them in a pot and told my husband to cover them with a moist paper towel and take care of them. I could not bear to deal with their little bodies any more. He let two dry out a bit, but when I cooked them in a curry tonight they were perfect. I got over one pound of boned meat from two. The third is in the freezer. Tonight, I actually tasted them and I was surprised at just how good they tasted. I made a soup out of the first one I slaughtered a couple of weeks ago and the broth seemed very rich and dark. I will not be able to go back to store-bought blandness again!

Mine aren't silkies, but I have those that carry Fm, the one I processed this week looked almost identical, but I have others coming up that I think will have darker flesh. The next one coming up is one I believe will be darker.

 

[Beekissed]

My first batch of meaties (jumbo CX) were much more docile and friendly than my friendliest layer. They were more like begging dogs than chickens. When they would run to the door of the pen when I brought food, they were like happy round feathery puppies. I just looked at my husband and thought, "oh boy. This is going to be tough." All in all it's been a really good learning experience for me.

The freedom rangers peck at me when I try to pick them up, and have a bit more fight in them.

This last bunch of CX were much like that for me too. My mother and I would be sitting out at the picnic table and one of them would hop up between us and settle down for a little visit. I just sat there petting him and thinking, "Never had a DP bird just walk up and sit down by my side and let me pet it...Frankenbirds? Folks are crazy!".

Each bird has their own personality and these meat birds are much like that. I had a few hens I would have loved to have kept...they hardly ever came in for the nightly feeding but would be the first out and the last in as they foraged all day by the wood line. They were calm and had less of the meat bird build...should have kept them to see what would happen.

Thanks I was wondering what it looked like.

Me too! Freaky lookin' meat!

But I bet it taste just like....chicken.

 

[Kassaundra]

This last bunch of CX were much like that for me too. My mother and I would be sitting out at the picnic table and one of them would hop up between us and settle down for a little visit. I just sat there petting him and thinking, "Never had a DP bird just walk up and sit down by my side and let me pet it...Frankenbirds? Folks are crazy!".

Each bird has their own personality and these meat birds are much like that. I had a few hens I would have loved to have kept...they hardly ever came in for the nightly feeding but would be the first out and the last in as they foraged all day by the wood line. They were calm and had less of the meat bird build...should have kept them to see what would happen.


Me too! Freaky lookin' meat!

But I bet it taste just like....chicken.

Yep, ate some yesterday and it tastes just like chicken.

 

[3 NH reds]

This last bunch of CX were much like that for me too. My mother and I would be sitting out at the picnic table and one of them would hop up between us and settle down for a little visit. I just sat there petting him and thinking, "Never had a DP bird just walk up and sit down by my side and let me pet it...Frankenbirds? Folks are crazy!".

Each bird has their own personality and these meat birds are much like that. I had a few hens I would have loved to have kept...they hardly ever came in for the nightly feeding but would be the first out and the last in as they foraged all day by the wood line. They were calm and had less of the meat bird build...should have kept them to see what would happen.


Me too! Freaky lookin' meat!

But I bet it taste just like....chicken.

Yikes

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I've heard a lot of people say they had RIR roo's become very aggressive, more so than other breeds

My RIR are hatchery birds and will NEVER buy hatchery RIRs again. They are the worst birds. We will be processing Sat. and they have been culled for a little over a week now and since that time my flock has changed SO much. The day after culling I went out for morning feed and it was like a had different birds. My girls are calm and friendly and even the culled birds seem a bit calmer now that they aren't fighting over the girls. Next year the meat birds will be culled as soon as their sex becomes apparent.

 

[fisherlady]

This last bunch of CX were much like that for me too. My mother and I would be sitting out at the picnic table and one of them would hop up between us and settle down for a little visit. I just sat there petting him and thinking, "Never had a DP bird just walk up and sit down by my side and let me pet it...Frankenbirds? Folks are crazy!".

Each bird has their own personality and these meat birds are much like that. I had a few hens I would have loved to have kept...they hardly ever came in for the nightly feeding but would be the first out and the last in as they foraged all day by the wood line. They were calm and had less of the meat bird build...should have kept them to see what would happen.

We had a roo and a hen who were particularly friendly and they all seemed to love the dogs! I was very happy with their friendliness, and never had trouble handling them. In general I enjoyed them and if I happen to luck into 3 good hens next year I hope to keep some for a year or two to see how they do. I don't want to only keep one or two because I expect they will enjoy having a buddy or two to hang out with if they can't quite keep up with the others in the flock.
A lady I know has a hen who avoided butcher day (she happened to disappear that day, smart bird!) That hen is now 3 yrs old and lays jumbo eggs for her on a regular basis, and she forages with the rest of the birds. Sounds like a good bird to me.

 

[Beekissed]

I've never had a problem with hatchery RIRs...sweet, moochy birds and good roosters. Maybe it depends on the source. But, I'd dearly love to have some dark red heritage line RIRs...LOVE that coloring and the good body types I see on some of the birds on this forum!

 

[ronott1]

My RIR are hatchery birds and will NEVER buy hatchery RIRs again. They are the worst birds. We will be processing Sat. and they have been culled for a little over a week now and since that time my flock has changed SO much. The day after culling I went out for morning feed and it was like a had different birds. My girls are calm and friendly and even the culled birds seem a bit calmer now that they aren't fighting over the girls. Next year the meat birds will be culled as soon as their sex becomes apparent.

Get Heritage RIR from Ron Fogel: https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/70479/fogelly

Nice, friendly and Big!

See my Avatar picture for 22 week old birds from his line.