Raising our 1st set of CX meaties

[kuntrygirl]

Great looking birds and great weights! I think I have to up the feed as well because they gobble it up within minutes.

 

[Coralietg]

Hey. I"m not far from you. I'm in Opelousas. Welcome to the world of meaties.

I'm actually in Opelousas too, well, outside of town into the country. And thank you! We have never processed chickens before, so I have a whole lot of reading to do. We've had layers for over 4 years now, but I've been too "chicken" to take the next step.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Hey. I"m not far from you. I'm in Opelousas. Welcome to the world of meaties.

I'm actually in Opelousas too, well, outside of town into the country. And thank you! We have never processed chickens before, so I have a whole lot of reading to do. We've had layers for over 4 years now, but I've been too "chicken" to take the next step.

I'm on the country too.

It's a fun process and a lot to learn . I"m enjoying all of this talk about meaties. Taking the next step takes a lot of courage. I have never "done the deed" but I have plucked the feathers and cut them open. If you can get pass doing the deed, you will be fine.

I also have a thread going about broilers if you want to jump over there in addition to this thread. A lot of information shared as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/832053/100-broilers-and-fermented-feed-project

 

[Coralietg]

I'm on the country too.

It's a fun process and a lot to learn . I"m enjoying all of this talk about meaties. Taking the next step takes a lot of courage. I have never "done the deed" but I have plucked the feathers and cut them open. If you can get pass doing the deed, you will be fine.

I also have a thread going about broilers if you want to jump over there in addition to this thread. A lot of information shared as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/832053/100-broilers-and-fermented-feed-project

I'm actually reading through that thread in another tab. I came to the US 7 years a go as a vegetarian, it's funny how much I've changed. I can handle whole chickens now, I'm such a big girl, haha. We get all our beef from the farmers market in Lafayette, but the whole chickens there were too far out of our price range. I'm sick of the slime covered store chickens.

We're in the Plaisance area, I like it up here.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I'm on the country too.


It's a fun process and a lot to learn . I"m enjoying all of this talk about meaties. Taking the next step takes a lot of courage. I have never "done the deed" but I have plucked the feathers and cut them open. If you can get pass doing the deed, you will be fine.


I also have a thread going about broilers if you want to jump over there in addition to this thread. A lot of information shared as well.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/832053/100-broilers-and-fermented-feed-project

I'm actually reading through that thread in another tab. I came to the US 7 years a go as a vegetarian, it's funny how much I've changed. I can handle whole chickens now, I'm such a big girl, haha. We get all our beef from the farmers market in Lafayette, but the whole chickens there were too far out of our price range. I'm sick of the slime covered store chickens.

We're in the Plaisance area, I like it up here. 

I love the vegetarian life style. Although I"m not one, I do have a lot vegetarian meals and I love every bite. I can go without meat for a while but eventually I have to get me a nice piece of meat. Congrats on handling whole chickens now. Now it's time for you to get some broilers so that you don't have to spend a lot on chicken.

I know where the Plaisance area is. Nice area. I buy my local raw honey at a farm in that area.

I love going to the farmers market. I get my Tilapia from there. I have heard about the high prices for the whole chickens. They were out of my price range. I'm glad that I will be able to stock my freezer with a lot of chicken.

 

[Didymus]

Wow! I have never seen any adds around here (CO) for fresh birds, except at the grocery store for "red bird". I am a big baby so I could never cull? a chicken. We just eat eggs and would sell them, but can't find any egg cartons that are somewhat reasonable. I just buy already roasted chickens for $4.88 at Sams Club. There are probably a hundred reasons why that is not real good chicken to eat. Hormones, etc. There probably are, but a 15,000 chicken farm just got shut down about 40 miles from here. It was approved by the council, but people started complaining about the smell. So they reversed their decision and made them shut down and bankrupt the owners. The leader in this event was a local vet, who claimed she was allergic to chickens. Amazing. I felt so sorry for the chicken people. They lost everything over a vet who supposedly had an allergy. I guess that is politics. And I sympathize with the owners.

All the respect in the world for those who raise meaties that are free range, and hormone free for those of us who "just can't". Bravo for you!

​

 

[Coralietg]

I love the vegetarian life style. Although I"m not one, I do have a lot vegetarian meals and I love every bite. I can go without meat for a while but eventually I have to get me a nice piece of meat. Congrats on handling whole chickens now. Now it's time for you to get some broilers so that you don't have to spend a lot on chicken.

I know where the Plaisance area is. Nice area. I buy my local raw honey at a farm in that area.

I love going to the farmers market. I get my Tilapia from there. I have heard about the high prices for the whole chickens. They were out of my price range. I'm glad that I will be able to stock my freezer with a lot of chicken.

I didn't even know there was anywhere nearby with raw honey, d'oh! I've been getting it from the Farmers Market. I'm pretty sure their whole chickens were upwards of $20's. Same stall sells their eggs for $6 a dozen. I've always been tempted to buy some to see if there is any difference to ours, lol.


I don't recall where I read it, but someone described "backyard" chickens raised for meat as having a lovely life, with one bad day. I really liked that.

 

[jenifry]

Weighed today, we have about 12 at the heaviest, 20 at the mid weight and 4 or 5 (lol hard to count should have marked them) at the low weights. Still planning this weekend, we have doubled feedings for the last week and they're still foraging so I think they'll weigh close to what we want this weekend.
Heavies

Middleweights

light weights


One rooster in this bunch, many in the next batch lol

When we butchered, we found that even though the roosters had good weights, their breasts were still scrawny. They seemed to carry more of their weight in their legs, which were definitely larger and longer. I don't know if that's normal or not

. Our hens had smaller legs and carried more weight in their breasts. We butchered the roosters earlier though, so maybe I am biased toward the hens. Our meatbird roosters were our monsters, fighting and eating each other's feathers.

Also, I would weigh when their crops aren't full... the crop looks pretty full on a couple of those, and they can hold about a half pound of feed in their crop.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I love the vegetarian life style. Although I"m not one, I do have a lot vegetarian meals and I love every bite. I can go without meat for a while but eventually I have to get me a nice piece of meat. Congrats on handling whole chickens now. Now it's time for you to get some broilers so that you don't have to spend a lot on chicken.


I know where the Plaisance area is. Nice area. I buy my local raw honey at a farm in that area.


I love going to the farmers market. I get my Tilapia from there. I have heard about the high prices for the whole chickens. They were out of my price range. I'm glad that I will be able to stock my freezer with a lot of chicken.

I didn't even know there was anywhere nearby with raw honey, d'oh! I've been getting it from the Farmers Market. I'm pretty sure their whole chickens were upwards of $20's. Same stall sells their eggs for $6 a dozen. I've always been tempted to buy some to see if there is any difference to ours, lol.


I don't recall where I read it, but someone described "backyard" chickens raised for meat as having a lovely life, with one bad day. I really liked that.

Chenier Farms down the road sells local raw honey. If interested, I can inbox you her number.

$6.00 eggs huh? They will taste just like others who have chickens in the backyard.

Good to know there is someone right down the road from me.

Let me know if you are ever interested in Chicken Sitting.

 

[Coralietg]

Chenier Farms down the road sells local raw honey. If interested, I can inbox you her number.

$6.00 eggs huh? They will taste just like others who have chickens in the backyard.

Good to know there is someone right down the road from me.

Let me know if you are ever interested in Chicken Sitting.

We probably drive by there all the time, I will definitely look into it. Thank you!

Chicken Sitting?! Give me a shout! Lol.