The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[KnobbyOaks]

Gawley! My internet goes down for 5 days and everything's fallen apart. I'll eventually get this new one read, hope it's still here when I have time and Christmas has passed. At least there's some recognizable posters here. Thanks to everyone here.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

it is a job that needs to be done. I'll put it that way. Killing roosters I really don't have a problem with because it is best for the hens. For me it is a mind set. When I go hunting I know I'm going to shoot once and kill something for our family to eat. When we raised 30 turkeys a year for the freezer in my teens I knew every day that I went out to feed them that I was going to eat them. And beleive me, the best slaughter day was the day I got promoted to axe guy from plucker.
For me on rooster slaughter day (of which another is coming up quickly) it is all about the mindset. The morning of, I have no reservations grabbing the roosters and doing what needs to be done for the good of the flock, the hens in particular.
It isn't being cold. It is about survival and eating healthy.

The only time I really hurt me was recently when I had to butcher Boo Boo my Pekin drake. For 3 days after every time I thought of him lying there dead due to a mink I welled up with tears. But in the end, he had to be butchered and not wasted.

Does it get easier leading up to butcher day? No. Does butcher day get easier. It has for me.

I agree with all of this.
Being completely prepared, beforehand, has also really helped me make it easier for myself. Having the bird caught the night before, having the station prepared, the tools laid out (and in good condition- ie, freshly sharpened) and the kettle hot in advance, make all the difference in the world. Especially if you have to do the job alone. I also use the "best days" chart from the Farmers Almanac to choose my butchering date. Being prepared minimizes my stress and the trauma of the bird.

The first time, I made a hot mess of it. I had no one to help me, and no instruction save for what I read and what people told me. The guilt of having that bird's death not be clean haunted me.
Then I got some assistance from my Aunt and Uncle from ND who butcher 100s at a time. They gave me the "grand tour" and kindly explained one while I watched, then again while I did the next one.
For weeks before I have to do it, I feel dread. But as I have done it, it has gotten easier. Not enjoyable, but easier.
I have 5 to do next month, and while I am not looking forward to it, I am at peace with my decision.
I keep the wish bone from every bird I butcher, to remind me that food is not free.
This is part of why I got chickens, and the job falls to me, as I knew it would. It is my responsibility, and I take it very seriously. I would never entrust the brooding and care of my birds to anyone else. I certainly wouldn't leave this, the most critical and sacred aspect of their lives, to anyone else.

Knowing what you're doing helps, and being completely prepared before you begin can really make things easier.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

I was going to post a picture of my home made feeder but then I remembered I had the IPad and it' isn't even my IPad. Guess the pictures will have to wait until I get home.
When I first joined BYC, I talked about my dogs. They are large herding dogs but they live inside too and I know that without a doubt, they would kill my chickens if given a chance. I was admonished because I was told that dogs belong outside. This morning at 5:30am I scraped my "Teddy" off the road. I had just let him out 15 min before while I fed the chickens. This year I have lost 2 cats and 1 dog to the road. Funny thing is, all my animals are inside animals. (The dogs go in and out). I will miss him so much. What else is ironic is that 8 years ago today we had a house fire and I lost a very old cat inside. I'm done now.
Done with whining, not with animals.

Oh Sally8, I am so sorry for your loss.
I know there are no words, so

Lighting a candle for comfort for you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sally wanted to say how sorry I am about Teddy, it's so hard to lose a good friend.

 

[aoxa]

I do not want to make anyone panic, but, it is a good idea to have a different set of clothing and shoes when going to the feed store. It is also a good part of bio security. Every birds disease walks in the door at one time or another.

Again, this is why I love my drive through feed store.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

You can blow this up to help learn where every thing is suppost to be in the chicken

what internal digestive tract should look like and how they are connected

difference in colors of livers with different type of feeding

Diseased liver

enlarged pancreas
diseased

OK..this should give you a wide variety of healthy and diseased
I am going to post normal healthy that look a little off
Tell me what you think is the problem with this hen

The liver looks a little 'chewed up'??? and what are these last organs? They look gnarly & chewed up...not sure what they are ? Also, is the amount of fat deposits on the hen 'normal' or 'good'??? I am so not good a looking at pictures and applying...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not even a little easier? I don't ever want it to be fun, but I don't want it to break my heart everytime either.

Hopefully I can get to the point where I can do it without bursting into tears and having nightmares.

Well I will say, when it comes to roos there is no way around it, like stony said it better for the flock not to have some many around, I feel bad but I have gotten where I don't cry any more. Now we just had to put down a hen who was my very first chicken she was having quite a few issues, going on 5yrs old. that broke my heart , but it had to be done. Another thing stony said thats so true, the mindset, knowing it has to be done and carrying it thru.

 

[AlivianAcres]

Hi all! I'm poking my head in hoping to learn more . We free range during the day (weather permitting) and ferment feed. I have ducks and chickens (quail in the bator). And we feed a middle of the road all flock...I have yet to find an organic all flock locally. I reuse our egg shells instead of buying oyster shell (simply dry and pulverize). My gals usually get a treat or 2 a day consisting of organic veggie/fruit scraps as well as the occasional hunk of day old bread, oatmeal or yogurt. They seem happy and healthy (oh and btw my pullets are growing so much better on FF! Plus I have been getting an egg every single day from my layers!!)

 

[Bulldogma]

Delisha -
It's a little hard to tell from the photos, but the way the fat is deposited looks a little weird to me - like in little lumps here and there. Then again, I don't have a lot of butchering experience. Also - it looks like there are small lumps on the liver. That looks odd to me. All the ones I've seen before had a smooth appearance.

Annnnnddd... perhaps I'm totally missing the thing you want us to see. I LOVE these opportunities to learn! Thank you for doing this!

 

[Bulldogma]

Hi all! I'm poking my head in hoping to learn more

. We free range during the day (weather permitting) and ferment feed. I have ducks and chickens (quail in the bator). And we feed a middle of the road all flock...I have yet to find an organic all flock locally. I reuse our egg shells instead of buying oyster shell (simply dry and pulverize). My gals usually get a treat or 2 a day consisting of organic veggie/fruit scraps as well as the occasional hunk of day old bread, oatmeal or yogurt. They seem happy and healthy (oh and btw my pullets are growing so much better on FF! Plus I have been getting an egg every single day from my layers!!)

Welcome to the thread! An egg a day? Wow - that's GREAT!