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

[jajeanpierre]

I need some advice.

Some of my chickens have come down with fowl pox. The two cockerels that I keep putting off processing are the worst affected. Can I slaughter them and eat them? It might be the impetus I need to just go and do it. I'm a superb procrastinator!

Oh, and any suggestions on how to deal with the pox? Only one or two lesions on any of the birds that are affected except the cockerels I need to process. The lesions look old and dried.

Thanks.

 

[ronott1]

I need some advice.

Some of my chickens have come down with fowl pox. The two cockerels that I keep putting off processing are the worst affected. Can I slaughter them and eat them? It might be the impetus I need to just go and do it. I'm a superb procrastinator!

Oh, and any suggestions on how to deal with the pox? Only one or two lesions on any of the birds that are affected except the cockerels I need to process. The lesions look old and dried.

Thanks.

It looks like you can eat them--The Fowl Pox resolves in a couple of weeks, so if the look of them bothers you, wait until it is over.

I might be something to vaccinate for since it is in your area.

 

[dutchbunny83]

WOW I am behind on this thread!!!!
Going to take me a little while to catch up.
Still have those massive obnoxcious broad breasted white turkeys!!!! Couldn't do it alone, so they're still here eating $25/week in feed! (killing me that the grocery stores are running their turkeys for 45 cents a pound!!!!! But I don't do it for the money. Though the way these things live in their own filth, refusing to use their shelter, and all this rain laying in mud/poop I hardly think they are doing much better than the commercial operations right now!)

ANYWAY, I have a couple questions for you guys----

The incubation thread sold me on quail. So on an impulse (which unfortunately is pretty much how I make all decisions in my life) I ordered eggs. They were only sold in mass quantities so I could potentially have quite a few in a few weeks. I was planning on raising them for meat/eggs. Anyone ever do them before???

Also one of our freedom ranger roosters that was our favorite we kept when all the rest were processed. He's about 20 weeks old now and HUGE! I got the freedom rangers because they didn't have the health effects of the freakish broilers, but this particular one I've noticed is waddling around like he doesn't have much balance anymore. Can I put him on a diet or does he have to be put out of his misery? He still eats and drinks and gets around, but obviously I don't want it to get worse. My son will be crushed we moved him to the pet pen because he wanted to keep him.

Hope everyone on here is doing good and had a good Thanksgiving! It's been nice and warm here, but I could do without all the RAIN!!!

 

[Beekissed]

You might advertise for someone to butcher out your turkeys for you in exchange for keeping one or even pay them to do it....it would have to be cheaper than $25 a week.

Here's a forum where the folks are very serious about their quail raising and breeding: http://flock-u.org/forum/index.php

 

[ronott1]

WOW I am behind on this thread!!!!
Going to take me a little while to catch up.
Still have those massive obnoxcious broad breasted white turkeys!!!! Couldn't do it alone, so they're still here eating $25/week in feed! (killing me that the grocery stores are running their turkeys for 45 cents a pound!!!!! But I don't do it for the money. Though the way these things live in their own filth, refusing to use their shelter, and all this rain laying in mud/poop I hardly think they are doing much better than the commercial operations right now!)

ANYWAY, I have a couple questions for you guys----

The incubation thread sold me on quail. So on an impulse (which unfortunately is pretty much how I make all decisions in my life) I ordered eggs. They were only sold in mass quantities so I could potentially have quite a few in a few weeks. I was planning on raising them for meat/eggs. Anyone ever do them before???

Also one of our freedom ranger roosters that was our favorite we kept when all the rest were processed. He's about 20 weeks old now and HUGE! I got the freedom rangers because they didn't have the health effects of the freakish broilers, but this particular one I've noticed is waddling around like he doesn't have much balance anymore. Can I put him on a diet or does he have to be put out of his misery? He still eats and drinks and gets around, but obviously I don't want it to get worse. My son will be crushed we moved him to the pet pen because he wanted to keep him.

Hope everyone on here is doing good and had a good Thanksgiving! It's been nice and warm here, but I could do without all the RAIN!!!

I have read posts from several people that wanted to either keep Rangers or breed them. It has not worked for them--they are a hybrid and they get too big to breed well. Try a Dual Purpose Meat Breed--Bresse(my favorite), Red Dorking(Closer to SOP weight) and Cornish(not the X--the heritage breed that they make the cross from)

Yes, you can put him on a diet and make him exercise. Do not give him free choice feed and put the water as far from the feeder as possible.

I hope he makes it!

 

[katbriar]

I got the freedom rangers because they didn't have the health effects of the freakish broilers, but this particular one I've noticed is waddling around like he doesn't have much balance anymore.  Can I put him on a diet or does he have to be put out of his misery?  He still eats and drinks and gets around, but obviously I don't want it to get worse. 

Don't be afraid of the broilers- many of us have successfully raised them without the "freakishness". Raised well, they forage, run, are friendly, and are healthy. In fact they only seem to have health problems when confined and left with *food* in front of them 24/7. Any bird would have problems with that set up. Including what it sounds like you're seeing from you freedom ranger.

Beekissed and aoxa have awsome testimonials, I mean posts, about their experiences with Cornish Xs. If you're interested in raising meat birds, think about giving them a try.

 

[loveourbirds]

Quote: aoxa's article on cornish x:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/raising-cornish-x-for-meat-the-truth

i read alot of both aoxa's and beekissed's posts. both are very talented, and can help you get a good start.

 

[DaveMorey]

I also had a successful year with broilers. Though they weren't free range they were in a tractor with regulated feed and daily moves. Not only did they come out nice but my lawn looks amazing after they were done with it. I finished with 142lbs of whole chicken from 24 birds. I say go for it. Do a bit of research on here about feeding schedules and just do it.

 

[JulieNKC]

Just wanted to say thank you for this thread and to those who have given advice and shared their experiences. I did a small batch of six meaties once, and a few mean roos here and there. Decided chickens werent really my thing and that i like waterfowl better. I still have a few layers and my seramas, but no chickens for eating. I kept two ganders from my goslings this year with the intent of making them my holiday meals. I dreaded it though, the geese are my favorite, feathered puppy dogs. However they are brats and mean and not great with kids during breeding time, and i didnt want three ganders around my toddlers come spring, so I finally brought myself to do one for thanksgiving. Since their legs are weak and they are just big heavy birds i couldn't hang them and cut the jugular like i did with the chickens. So i did the nails and stump thing. It went much better than i expected, seeing how hubby refuses to have anything to do with it so im on my own for butchering. I will practice my aim before next time, i went through the neck bone with the first swing but not all the way through the whole neck. So it was a quick death for the goose but too close to a not so good one. I dry plucked because i am saving the down. Absolutely horrid! Took close to four hours. Im slow, and they have thick thick feathers, I thought I'd never be done. I could only pull a few at a time or the skin would tear too. Besides plucking taking ages everything else went easy. I roasted him for thanksgiving, and a turkey too in case the goose didnt go over so well. I shouldn't have worried, everyone, kids and hubby included liked it. And now im not thrilled with, but not dreading processing the other spare gander and four extra drakes i have.

 

[ronott1]

Just wanted to say thank you for this thread and to those who have given advice and shared their experiences. I did a small batch of six meaties once, and a few mean roos here and there. Decided chickens werent really my thing and that i like waterfowl better. I still have a few layers and my seramas, but no chickens for eating. I kept two ganders from my goslings this year with the intent of making them my holiday meals. I dreaded it though, the geese are my favorite, feathered puppy dogs. However they are brats and mean and not great with kids during breeding time, and i didnt want three ganders around my toddlers come spring, so I finally brought myself to do one for thanksgiving. Since their legs are weak and they are just big heavy birds i couldn't hang them and cut the jugular like i did with the chickens. So i did the nails and stump thing. It went much better than i expected, seeing how hubby refuses to have anything to do with it so im on my own for butchering. I will practice my aim before next time, i went through the neck bone with the first swing but not all the way through the whole neck. So it was a quick death for the goose but too close to a not so good one. I dry plucked because i am saving the down. Absolutely horrid! Took close to four hours. Im slow, and they have thick thick feathers, I thought I'd never be done. I could only pull a few at a time or the skin would tear too. Besides plucking taking ages everything else went easy. I roasted him for thanksgiving, and a turkey too in case the goose didnt go over so well. I shouldn't have worried, everyone, kids and hubby included liked it. And now im not thrilled with, but not dreading processing the other spare gander and four extra drakes i have.

I am happy it worked out for you!

Do you have a 22 or high velocity air rifle? That might work better for you. There are posts on this thread about using them.