The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Cute names,

Naming them or not naming them does not make it easier to kill them. After 30 years it still bothers me to kill them. It is fine after they are dead and I butcher them out. I like to take them apart and examine them. It is imperative that I make sure the flock is healthy, that they are eating properly, making sure the muscle tone is correct. If they have too much fat or not enough. I look for healthy kidneys, healthy sex organs, I make sure the heart is a good size. The inside of the gizzard tell me if I need to add grit or if they are getting enough. These things you can't see unless you look. I am always so relieved when I am done that the chickens are healthy. I raise Cornish X's several times a year. I purchase 50 chicks, raise them up to 6 weeks and butcher out one chicken. That purpose is to check organs. This particular breed has internal organ problems. The heart is pretty large at a young age. Fast growth puts tremendous pressure on organs. If that chicken is healthy I grow out another week and sell half at a fair. If it look like they might be stressing I sell that week or butcher that week. I will not sell weak or unhealthy chickens. Other people are going to open them up and look at them. I want them to know they made a good purchase. Butchering out my chickens allow me to have proof in my hands I am doing a good job. The inside of a chicken is the best indicator that you are doing what is right. When you open the intestines you check for worms too. Killing your chickens and opening them up to check the heath of your flock is part of the husbandry. It is just not the fun part. Killing your chickens when you have an ill or an old chicken is part of that responsibility also.

Delisha,

How much do you sell a meat chicken for at that age?

 

[mlowen]

Naming them or not naming them does not make it easier to kill them. After 30 years....

Beautifully expressed and very valuable information, Delisha!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So true we have only been butchering for over 3 yrs and you think it would get easier.... but it doesn't.

 

[aoxa]

So true we have only been butchering for over 3 yrs and you think it would get easier.... but it doesn't.

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.

 

[galefrances]

Cute names,

Naming them or not naming them does not make it easier to kill them. After 30 years it still bothers me to kill them. It is fine after they are dead and I butcher them out. I like to take them apart and examine them. It is imperative that I make sure the flock is healthy, that they are eating properly, making sure the muscle tone is correct. If they have too much fat or not enough. I look for healthy kidneys, healthy sex organs, I make sure the heart is a good size. The inside of the gizzard tell me if I need to add grit or if they are getting enough. These things you can't see unless you look. I am always so relieved when I am done that the chickens are healthy. I raise Cornish X's several times a year. I purchase 50 chicks, raise them up to 6 weeks and butcher out one chicken. That purpose is to check organs. This particular breed has internal organ problems. The heart is pretty large at a young age. Fast growth puts tremendous pressure on organs. If that chicken is healthy I grow out another week and sell half at a fair. If it look like they might be stressing I sell that week or butcher that week. I will not sell weak or unhealthy chickens. Other people are going to open them up and look at them. I want them to know they made a good purchase. Butchering out my chickens allow me to have proof in my hands I am doing a good job. The inside of a chicken is the best indicator that you are doing what is right. When you open the intestines you check for worms too. Killing your chickens and opening them up to check the heath of your flock is part of the husbandry. It is just not the fun part. Killing your chickens when you have an ill or an old chicken is part of that responsibility also.

That is so true. It took me a long time to understand that. I haven't had to yet, but I will when the time comes. Right now I'm watching the flock with an eye out for which one might have to be a cull. Thanks to everyone on here and the OT's for the knowledge of what to look for and why.

 

[galefrances]

Oh, by the way....Aoxa, your nephew is adorable. And what a valuable experience he's receiving. That's one of the reasons why I keep chickens. My grandkids need to know where their food comes from and to respect not only the animals, but those that provide.

 

[delisha]

That is one cute baby chick! How adorable! I love it when baby's come over and help with chores. I have several grandchildren who are afraid of the chickens I am fortunate enough that I have several who love them.

 

[aoxa]

Oh, by the way....Aoxa, your nephew is adorable. And what a valuable experience he's receiving. That's one of the reasons why I keep chickens. My grandkids need to know where their food comes from and to respect not only the animals, but those that provide.

He is a really smart kid. Loves animals. He's more like me than his father (who is my brother).

Kid is very charismatic. He grabs everyone's attention wherever he goes.

He also likes to hold barn parties in his dad's baby barn. He has a stuffed animal chicken that he has out there. He says Carrie (his dog) guards the chicken against raccoons. Teaching him right.

 

[delisha]

My 6-7 week old meaties weigh about 4-5 lbs. I sell them for $1.50 a lb. They pick out the chicken and put it in the scale. They think they are getting a bargain and I think I am making a profit. It is a win win.

 

[Mumsy]

Cute names,

Naming them or not naming them does not make it easier to kill them. After 30 years it still bothers me to kill them. It is fine after they are dead and I butcher them out. I like to take them apart and examine them. It is imperative that I make sure the flock is healthy, that they are eating properly, making sure the muscle tone is correct. If they have too much fat or not enough. I look for healthy kidneys, healthy sex organs, I make sure the heart is a good size. The inside of the gizzard tell me if I need to add grit or if they are getting enough. These things you can't see unless you look. I am always so relieved when I am done that the chickens are healthy. I raise Cornish X's several times a year. I purchase 50 chicks, raise them up to 6 weeks and butcher out one chicken. That purpose is to check organs. This particular breed has internal organ problems. The heart is pretty large at a young age. Fast growth puts tremendous pressure on organs. If that chicken is healthy I grow out another week and sell half at a fair. If it look like they might be stressing I sell that week or butcher that week. I will not sell weak or unhealthy chickens. Other people are going to open them up and look at them. I want them to know they made a good purchase. Butchering out my chickens allow me to have proof in my hands I am doing a good job. The inside of a chicken is the best indicator that you are doing what is right. When you open the intestines you check for worms too. Killing your chickens and opening them up to check the heath of your flock is part of the husbandry. It is just not the fun part. Killing your chickens when you have an ill or an old chicken is part of that responsibility also.

I agree with everything you do as a flock master. I also do not believe in selling or giving away old, sick, lame, unthrifty animals down the road and calling them "pet quality' or "re-homed" chickens. It is a cruelty of sorts. Prolonging the life of an animal that will ultimately not live a natural one for long any way.
Killing livestock is the necessary hard part of animal husbandry.
This Spring I plan on raising four turkeys for the freezer. A first for me. Two for me and two for my daughter and her family. We are setting up the space now. I've also never raised Cornish X successfully. This also is on my calendar thanks to learning how to do it with FF on BYC recently.
Chickens have been in my life for many decades. Eggs, meat, farmers market, and showing. It's all good. Most get named and I care for them the best of my ability. There is joy in that.