Texas

[TherryChicken]

So what do you do with your birds if you don't cull?

I hatch and sell. I keep some for eggs though. I don't have a huge flock. I have a decent sized flock withen 2 homes, but not huge like some.

 

[Starfire669]

I hatch and sell. I keep some for eggs though. I don't have a huge flock. I have a decent sized flock withen 2 homes, but not huge like some.

I don't have a problem culling chickens or ducks. I haven't culled a goose yet, though 2 are on the list to be culled.

If people close to me want to watch us cull some chickens next time I have no problem with that. But I have no chickens at the moment to be culled, so it could be a while before we do that again. Next year though, when I start hatching I will be culling all the cockerels and a few pullets that don't make the cut, for the dinner table. I won't keep any of my own roosters, I want to bring in big, outside roosters for breeding and eat their male offspring while keeping their better pullets for the next rooster we bring in.

 

[TherryChicken]

I don't have a problem culling chickens or ducks. I haven't culled a goose yet, though 2 are on the list to be culled.

If people close to me want to watch us cull some chickens next time I have no problem with that. But I have no chickens at the moment to be culled, so it could be a while before we do that again. Next year though, when I start hatching I will be culling all the cockerels and a few pullets that don't make the cut, for the dinner table. I won't keep any of my own roosters, I want to bring in big, outside roosters for breeding and eat their male offspring while keeping their better pullets for the next rooster we bring in.

idk why, but I just couldn't do that. I have a chick that needs culling, but I just can't do it.

 

[bnjrob]

I'm very interested in the idea of raising meat chickens to stock my freezer but I live on .45 ac in the city so 4-6 is all I have room for and no roos... Still, I'm doing the research because the wife and I plan on getting 3-5 rural acres in the not so distant future. In the mean time, I'm considering meat rabbits because they require little space and rabbit bucks don't crow so no worries there. lol Anybody here raise rabbits?

If you got the "hatchery meat mutts" that are ready to slaughter by 2-3 months old, you might be able to get away with males in the city - depending on how soon they crowed. Our original flock didn't crow until later, but all the offspring now seem to crow sooner because they hear the big boys crow and feel they have to do their crowing part.

Definitely doesn't hurt to plan and research for the future. I did a lot of research and spent several years trying to get our birds because breeders are few and waiting lists are long. Always nicer to get some homework done before the chicken math overwhelms you.

As long as you don't get the Cadbury bunny that sounds like a chicken, you might be able to swing rabbits in the city.

 

[wday]

So I heard about some German chickens called bielefelder. Heard they are the greatest thing since sliced bread anyone had any experience with them?

 

[Starfire669]

idk why, but I just couldn't do that. I have a chick that needs culling, but I just can't do it.

Some people can and some can't. I don't find it easy, but as I am not ready to give up meat in my diet, I get through it.m

 

[TherryChicken]

Some people can and some can't. I don't find it easy, but as I am not ready to give up meat in my diet, I get through it.m

I hear you.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I'm in the Austin area and would like to learn how to process chickens for eating. Is there anybody within a 50 miles radius or so of Austin who would let me come help the next time they need to do this? Possibly even let me bring a few of my own birds and process them at the same time?

There is a thread on here with some good pictures about how to process chickens. I took it and put it all in a Word file, so I could access it anytime. PM me with your email address and i will be happy to send it to you. It is very specific and was a big help to me when I processed my first ducks. If you can find somebody to show you in person, all the better!

 

[Starfire669]

I hear you.

On a happy note, my family is enjoying watermelon and so is my flock. It hits the spot in this heat. My Chinese geese and white ducks have pink faces again. But they are heading to the pools to wash off, lol.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I'm very interested in the idea of raising meat chickens to stock my freezer but I live on .45 ac in the city so 4-6 is all I have room for and no roos... Still, I'm doing the research because the wife and I plan on getting 3-5 rural acres in the not so distant future. In the mean time, I'm considering meat rabbits because they require little space and rabbit bucks don't crow so no worries there. lol Anybody here raise rabbits?

If you go on BackYardHerds.com they have threads about raising rabbits. I have taken a look at some of them and I have considered raising some for meat. They have some good information. I remember when my dad did it, and the meat was excellent. Rabbit stew and fried rabbit, yum!!