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

[Elke Beck]

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

RIR's have had that reputation for decades. During WWII, my grandmother had a big RIR rooster that she traded to a neighbor for two hens because he kept attacking my aunt, who was about 4 years old. OTOH, they also have a reputation for defending their hens to the death, so there is a trade off, I guess.

A few weeks ago I butchered 4 cockerels that my constantly broody BO hatched this spring, two RIR's and two red sexlinks. One of the RIR's was mean to the bone, while the other was sweet and friendly. A dog breeder I used to know would say that there is more difference in personality between individual dogs within a breed than there is between the personalities of different breeds, and I think it is the same for chickens, too. There are some that are good and some that need to be taken out of the gene pool in every breed.

 

[Beekissed]

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.

Very beautiful!!!

 

[ronott1]

RIR's have had that reputation for decades. During WWII, my grandmother had a big RIR rooster that she traded to a neighbor for two hens because he kept attacking my aunt, who was about 4 years old. OTOH, they also have a reputation for defending their hens to the death, so there is a trade off, I guess.

A few weeks ago I butchered 4 cockerels that my constantly broody BO hatched this spring, two RIR's and two red sexlinks. One of the RIR's was mean to the bone, while the other was sweet and friendly. A dog breeder I used to know would say that there is more difference in personality between individual dogs within a breed than there is between the personalities of different breeds, and I think it is the same for chickens, too. There are some that are good and some that need to be taken out of the gene pool in every breed.

The mean ones are Production Reds. None of my Boys in two hatches have been mean. The Production Reds are crossed with Brown Leghorns and that mix makes them mean. It appears to have started in the 20s or 30s to help egg farmers win egg laying competitions.

The line from Ron Fogel is pure.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

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.

Yes that is what I've heard! Thanks for the link. This is my first year with chickens. I now have an idea of the breeds that will be best for my family, I am a huge fan of Jersey giants. I hope to in the future have some good hatchery RIRs, but for now I plan to get a good heritage Giant roo. As the hens I have start to reach the age where they stop laying I plan to replace with good heritage birds. For now at least I've learned that true Heritage birds are always superior to hatchery.....live and learn! Thank you for the link!

 

[ronott1]

Yes that is what I've heard! Thanks for the link. This is my first year with chickens. I now have an idea of the breeds that will be best for my family, I am a huge fan of Jersey giants. I hope to in the future have some good hatchery RIRs, but for now I plan to get a good heritage Giant roo. As the hens I have start to reach the age where they stop laying I plan to replace with good heritage birds. For now at least I've learned that true Heritage birds are always superior to hatchery.....live and learn! Thank you for the link!

I am now moving into my third year of moving over to Heritage Breeds. They are so much better and nicer than the hatchery breeds.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I am now moving into my third year of moving over to Heritage Breeds. They are so much better and nicer than the hatchery breeds.

I have found a great breeder of JG I hope to find a good breeder of Amerucanas eventually.

 

[dutchbunny83]

Yes that is what I've heard! Thanks for the link. This is my first year with chickens. I now have an idea of the breeds that will be best for my family, I am a huge fan of Jersey giants. I hope to in the future have some good hatchery RIRs, but for now I plan to get a good heritage Giant roo. As the hens I have start to reach the age where they stop laying I plan to replace with good heritage birds. For now at least I've learned that true Heritage birds are always superior to hatchery.....live and learn! Thank you for the link!

I've seen blue JH hatching eggs from breeders before, they are REALLY pretty!!!

 

[jajeanpierre]

I have found a great breeder of JG I hope to find a good breeder of Amerucanas eventually.

Go to the Ameraucana Breeders Club web site. They have a list of the members that sell, what they sell (chicks, eggs, varieties) and if they'll ship.

 

[aoxa]

Here's an excellent video of skinning a bird and removing the meat for canning, but without gutting it. I've done this many a time on birds that don't have much meat on them, especially when it's just the one bird that I'm culling.

He makes it look so easy :| I found it difficult. Especially around the wings. I ended up giving up on the wings and cutting it straight off for the dogs (feathers and all).

I should try again.

 

[aoxa]

Have to process the girls this weekend (11 weeks). There are one or two that I may even keep until they lay because they are small and very mobile. But for the most part, they need to go. They can be food aggressive with chicks that are motherless. I need to let the next batch of CX out to range, and they won't get much of a chance of eating with these girls hogging it all!



There are two boys left that weren't big enough at 9 weeks.




Here is one of our smaller 9 week CX before freezing. Weighed a little over 4 pounds

I have not tasted a better chicken in my entire life.

We cut up 10 chickens to sell and made stock out of the remnants for gluten free chicken soup (with rice) SO GOOD. We are going to sell the soup as well. What I don't keep for myself.

The flavour..