The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hellbender]

So I'm curious. Did he do commercial meat processing there?

Never commercial. Just as we do today, he helped those who help us. if a friend needs to butcher a beef but has no facility, we either do it for them or help them. We hang and age their beef and we will cut to order and help them wrap their beef but can not keep their finished beef here because of federal regulations.

We flaunt the local and state nonsense, just about every day but the Feds. have limitless funds (our money) to try and bring us down so we don't mess with with them.

 

[NanaLynn]

Sorry you are going through this. Do you have a friend who can help you? I have a friend who has chickens and I cull her birds and she culls mine, so we don't have to kill our own.

My DH will be helping me out. I think he is actually more skeemish then me about it though. That is a great idea though. I am really the first one of my friends and family to have chickens, so I have no one to trade off with. We knew we'd have to do this one day, but we figured it would be to put one out of it's mystery due to some sort of illness or to process roosters that we ended up getting. I have gotten 3 orders from Meyer Hatchery and each time I was lucky to have all hens, so we had no roosters to practice on.

Lynn -
I've been getting advice on separation from a couple of people. One told me that they have done it 2x consecutively to see if it would work. sometimes yes, sometimes no. One also told me that it's works best if they do it for 2 weeks.

I did just have a conversation with one of the Indiana people that tried 3x with a rooster and finally did process him as it didn't work for him.

If you're at the point of processing for food, this is my favorite video demonstration to help.

I believe she is a hopeless case. Thanks for the video, I have watched a few others, but this one is really good since it goes from the very beginning cut to cleaning etc. I wish I had a plucker like him. We need to go buy a good knife and a large pot. If anyone has good knife suggestions that'd be great.

PS: I know you have the cones and you can do the process the same...just using the cone instead of hanging. When we did one that we learned on, we did hang by the feet but after cutting the neck, we held the wings to the body to keep him from flapping blood all over since it was done inside an unfinished basement. In that situation he was hung over a 5 gallon bucket to catch the blood.

Our plan was to hang her over the bucket too, we'll bury the blood, guts, etc, in the yard afterwards. I am glad we have the cone already, the flapping will get to me, I'm sure. I am not quite at that point to use everything, like your recent discussion on here. I will keep the organs though. Sorry to go on so long about this, think it helps to work up the ability to do this.

Absolutely the best cure for a rampaging hen (or any nonconformist member of the flock)....given her felonious record.

I agree.

Here is a link to our "processing lesson" that I posted about earlier. I won't re-post but if interested, it's here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...keeping-thread-ots-welcome/4490#post_10304325

Thanks. It helps to get my mind set to feel like I know what I am doing before I do it.

Do you guys put your cleaned chickens immediately on ice? She is 11 months and a few days old. I know there are different steps for different aged birds. How long do they need to stay in the frig before cooking. Should I soak her in a brine?

I have to remind myself that I eat chicken and my chickens have a great life here, better then the store bought ones and my chickens are healthier for us too. So we can do this.

 

[CrzyMexican]

Hello all trying to go the natural route as much as possible just got five RiRs today, based in Italy and have been utilizing herbal methods so far for feed and wormer etc any suggestions?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I remember you mentioning that a long time ago. I quote it to people almost weekly but couldn't remember who said it. With meat birds it's different. But these layers are birds that we see every day and it seems like a different level of "connection". Always thought your idea was very good and have shared it many times.

 

[ki4got]

Quote:
I raised meaties..the mothers would let chicks starve if there was not enough food around. They were good mothers..but not at the risk of giving up food..My meatie chicks do very well under Orpington broodies.
oh I hadn't meant using meaties as broodies, but how they do under 'normal' broody breeds that free range a lot... wondered if they would find enough food with momma or would they need to be given access to more commercial type food... sorry I wasn't expressing my question well enough I guess.

 

[subhanalah]

My DH will be helping me out. I think he is actually more skeemish then me about it though. That is a great idea though. I am really the first one of my friends and family to have chickens, so I have no one to trade off with. We knew we'd have to do this one day, but we figured it would be to put one out of it's mystery due to some sort of illness or to process roosters that we ended up getting. I have gotten 3 orders from Meyer Hatchery and each time I was lucky to have all hens, so we had no roosters to practice on.

I believe she is a hopeless case. Thanks for the video, I have watched a few others, but this one is really good since it goes from the very beginning cut to cleaning etc. I wish I had a plucker like him. We need to go buy a good knife and a large pot. If anyone has good knife suggestions that'd be great.

Our plan was to hang her over the bucket too, we'll bury the blood, guts, etc, in the yard afterwards. I am glad we have the cone already, the flapping will get to me, I'm sure. I am not quite at that point to use everything, like your recent discussion on here. I will keep the organs though. Sorry to go on so long about this, think it helps to work up the ability to do this.

I agree.

Thanks. It helps to get my mind set to feel like I know what I am doing before I do it.

Do you guys put your cleaned chickens immediately on ice? She is 11 months and a few days old. I know there are different steps for different aged birds. How long do they need to stay in the frig before cooking. Should I soak her in a brine? 

I have to remind myself that I eat chicken and my chickens have a great life here, better then the store bought ones and my chickens are healthier for us too. So we can do this. :/

perhaps there is a farmer with a flock of production hens with enough attitude to keep your bully in check? Someone with a big, manly roo? A productive layer is a good asset, for someone who needs it.

 

[hellbender]

perhaps there is a farmer with a flock of production hens with enough attitude to keep your bully in check? Someone with a big, manly roo? A productive layer is a good asset, for someone who needs it.

Another way of looking at it...don't put your problems off onto others. EAT the hateful hussy!!!!

 

[NanaLynn]

perhaps there is a farmer with a flock of production hens with enough attitude to keep your bully in check? Someone with a big, manly roo? A productive layer is a good asset, for someone who needs it.

We thought of this....

Another way of looking at it...don't put your problems off onto others. EAT the hateful hussy!!!!

.....but are kinda going with this philosophy. I hate the fact that she is a good layer, but I'd also hate to make enemies by giving a mean chicken to someone else. Plus in our flock she was interrupting laying for the others too, so her one egg really will not be missed since the others are laying much better since she has been away from them.

Thanks everyone for your great advice. Our plan was to eventually have chickens for meat too, so we do need to get past this point at some time. Our decision has been made and we have everything ready now. After seeing her abuse the other chickens right after I put her back for her trial run, I don't feel quite as sorry for her.

 

[subhanalah]

We thought of this....

.....but are kinda going with this philosophy. I hate the fact that she is a good layer, but I'd also hate to make enemies by giving a mean chicken to someone else. Plus in our flock she was interrupting laying for the others too, so her one egg really will not be missed since the others are laying much better since she has been away from them.

Thanks everyone for your great advice. Our plan was to eventually have chickens for meat too, so we do need to get past this point at some time. Our decision has been made and we have everything ready now. After seeing her abuse the other chickens right after I put her back for her trial run, I don't feel quite as sorry for her.

some hens just weren't intended to stick around long. I praying for you through your first cull.

 

[tjo804]

Quote:
I had a son that was bullied terribly! To save my son I would have gladly put that bully in *the cone*! that being said,
Your Goal is a safe healthy flock.
You can thank her for her sacrifice and for providing your family with a healthy meals.
You can do what ever ceremonies or prayers make you feel good.
This is so personal for a small flock owner that didn't yet have a mind set to deal with this.
Do not be sorry for Talking it out! Every one here will support and lift you up. As a society we have lost touch with the most basic skill of feeding ourselves.

When you go to look for a good knife check out the hunting knives for Duck or pheasant.

For a big pot look into a nice water bath canner or even a pressure canner that way you can use it to do more for your family than just scalding to loosen feathers.

Death is always final and for some of us that means there is a grieving process to come to terms with loss. That is Okay

I am sending up a support prayer for you! No worries it will still be good when you are ready!