Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[SimpleJenn]

I prefered the taste of heritage birds and the full sized crosses. Granted one doesn't get anything like a smuch meat on them and they take a lot longer to get to harvest weight.

Yes, I grew up eating Rocks versus those cornish crosses. We also raised "california whites" that were likely a 90s meatbird hybrid, still nothing like those poor things raised today.
My husband was hooked as soon as he had his first cochinXamericana. He says it's hard to go back to soggy store birds after tasting home-grown.

 

[Shadrach]

A bit under an hour today. I had to wait for a delivery of stuff I need to make the chickens feed. Supposed to arrive in the morning. The delivery got to the falt a 3pm.
It stayed dry with a temperature of 5C.

Henry was still up when I arrived. He ate while I cleaned up and as soon as I shut the rear coop door Henry went off to roost. I hadn't given out the daily treat (Cooked pasta and Tuna) so I fed him his share while he was on the roost bar.

When surveyed, four out of four chickens said they prefered eating off the ground. They ate from the trays as well.

 

[MaryJanet]

A bit under an hour today. I had to wait for a delivery of stuff I need to make the chickens feed. Supposed to arrive in the morning. The delivery got to the falt a 3pm.
It stayed dry with a temperature of 5C.

Henry was still up when I arrived. He ate while I cleaned up and as soon as I shut the rear coop door Henry went off to roost. I hadn't given out the daily treat (Cooked pasta and Tuna) so I fed him his share while he was on the roost bar.
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When surveyed, four out of four chickens said they prefered eating off the ground. They ate from the trays as well.View attachment 4027042View attachment 4027040View attachment 4027041
View attachment 4027038View attachment 4027039

I've noticed that when given the choice, eating from the ground is preferred. It holds and moves the food better than hard surfaces. But then there's the mouse and rat problem to consider, so I haven't made up my mind which is best for my neighbourhood, and instead go with a little of both and trust the wild birds to do the clean up.

 

[Shadrach]

Oh arr, in the second to last picture above there is a small green container on the chair. That is what I take the treat food in for five of them.

And, we have just reached 2M views I see.

 

[Sally PB]

My husband was hooked as soon as he had his first cochinXamericana. He says it's hard to go back to soggy store birds after tasting home-grown.

My husband has had fresh home grown chicken. But he will have no part of eating any we grow here. As he put it, he's happy to eat their unborn young (eggs), but will have no part of killing or eating a bird we've raised.

So any culling duties fall to me. I honor their lives by burying them in the garden to feed the soil.

 

[Shadrach]

I've noticed that when given the choice, eating from the ground is preferred. It holds and moves the food better than hard surfaces. But then there's the mouse and rat problem to consider, so I haven't made up my mind which is best for my neighbourhood, and instead go with a little of both and trust the wild birds to do the clean up.

It's the small and comparatively expensive seeds like the hemp and Nyjer seeds I want them to eat along with the broken dry green peas and at least some of the Dari and Millet.

 

[Perris]

It's the small and comparatively expensive seeds like the hemp and Nyjer seeds I want them to eat along with the broken dry green peas and at least some of the Dari and Millet.

Why those? I've got mine into brown mustard seeds recently; they have all the essential amino acids and other nutrients of interest, and they are typically left behind in the feed bowls, for reason unknown. Tipped out they're either eaten or disappear into the soil; bit of both probably.

 

[SimpleJenn]

My husband has had fresh home grown chicken. But he will have no part of eating any we grow here. As he put it, he's happy to eat their unborn young (eggs), but will have no part of killing or eating a bird we've raised.

So any culling duties fall to me. I honor their lives by burying them in the garden to feed the soil.

Mine will build a fire to burn the skins and other bits, but it is on me and my dad to do the butchering.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I prefered the taste of heritage birds and the full sized crosses. Granted one doesn't get anything like a smuch meat on them and they take a lot longer to get to harvest weight.

One of the reasons I chose Chantecler as my main breed is their dual purpose. When I had to process my extra cockerels last autumn, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice and meaty they were! Good texture and taste, too.

Other reason I chose them is that they are a heritage breed that was developed in Canada, for Canadian weather (they're originally from about 3 1/2 hours away, so the weather is similar). And I find them very regal.

This is my cockerel, 6 months old a couple of months ago.

 

[SimpleJenn]

@Canadian Wind what a regal bird! I want to focus on cochin, they're such sweet bowling balls of cuteness. I'll look into chantecler too, always up for dual purpose birds.