The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[countrygirl74]

Countrygirl74 = That's wonderful that you were able to kill/process your roosters. As of yet, I've been unable. For the third week end in a row, I'm saying "Someone needs to take care of Bruce! He's so mean to the girls!" I'm thinking that someone is going to be me.

I'm so proud of you!

Sue

Thanks! And also thanks to everyone else who congratulated me. I am not going to say that it was easy, it wasn't. But... we did the right thing. We had way too many roos and we needed to get rid of them. If you can find someone who is experienced to help you, it would be best. Messing up on the one roo that was the hardest to cull was a little traumatic. The rest weren't quite as tough because they were done right. When it's done right, it really does go quick and that helps, knowing that it's quick. I still feel the sadness but also relief that they're taken care of. I hope you get get it all worked out with Bruce!


Bulldogma - that's exactly what we did! Did not expect it to be as tough and cut the skin and then kept trying to get it right - that part was hard because I felt like we just kept cutting and causing him to suffer, but the rest went more smoothly.

 

[Melabella]

I'm so glad I found this thread! Thank you Bulldogma for starting it!
I still have some catching up to do and am loving everyones input.

to the thread SunnysideupstateNY! Great group here, nice to have you! Come back often!

MB

 

[aoxa]

When I empty and clean out my fridge if it is not moldy the chickens get it. Even if it is moldy they probably do anyway since they have access to the dump/compost pile.

Yep. Same here.

BDM, This chick here looks like silkie x cochin to me as well

Anyone ready for chick pics? (OK - sorry for posting so many, but everyone knows they're cheeper by the dozen!)



B2 - EE x Dorkingz

 

[aoxa]

Thanks! And also thanks to everyone else who congratulated me. I am not going to say that it was easy, it wasn't. But... we did the right thing. We had way too many roos and we needed to get rid of them. If you can find someone who is experienced to help you, it would be best. Messing up on the one roo that was the hardest to cull was a little traumatic. The rest weren't quite as tough because they were done right. When it's done right, it really does go quick and that helps, knowing that it's quick. I still feel the sadness but also relief that they're taken care of. I hope you get get it all worked out with Bruce!


Bulldogma - that's exactly what we did! Did not expect it to be as tough and cut the skin and then kept trying to get it right - that part was hard because I felt like we just kept cutting and causing him to suffer, but the rest went more smoothly.

I botched the first two as well. I cut too deep the first one, and the same way you did it the second. I figured it wasn't going fast enough the second time around and quickly righted myself, but to cut into the trachea.. that was terrible.. He pretty much drowned in his own blood So don't cut TOO deep either.

I am very proud of you!

 

[countrygirl74]

Thanks aoxa!! It actually really helps to know we're not the only ones that made culling mistakes before getting it right. Thanks for sharing your experience...


ALSO...posted this a while back and was wondering if anyone can answer this...
I have a question... trying to learn how to tell hens from roosters (before the obvious of course, like seeing them crow, etc). I've learned a lot so far but then the POW posted today seems confusing. If I were to guess, they all look like roosters to me, especially the Barred Plymouth Rock. Can someone please comment on those? I can see that one of the Australorps looks like a hen due to the absence of those fancy longer tail feathers - I have no idea what they're called. I'm sooo confused - I never would have guessed that those are all girls!

 

[pigeonguy]

Definitely sounds like teenage boys

I'll be looking forward to your photos. I keep coconut oil all the time. I really like using it for many things.

I was hoping to find some kind of a drawing salve if needed to bring any infection to a head. Didn't someone recommend one sometime? I just don't remember what it was.

I hope you're right on the kiddos. Would be nice to have 3 females!

Post number 3878

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Congrats Countrygirl. I have plans on doing the same. I will take your advice, and have someone with experience around to help me with the first one.
You described perfectly how I am feeling about the doing the deed. I have 12 chicks, being raised by a broody, they will be 7 wks tomorrow, and I think I have 4 roos in that group, and on Jan. 30, I picked up 20 chicks from Ideal Poultry, and have straight runs, so I am sure I will have more from them as well.
I am somewhat looking forward to taking the next step in chicken raising. I too think I will do okay, once I get beyond the killing part. I am also watching some videos. I still have a few months before the first ones will be ready. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm sure I will be sharing more once I too get to that point.

Kacey

 

[Bulldogma]

Yep. Same here.

BDM, This chick here looks like silkie x cochin to me as well

It has chipmunk markings which rules out the Silkie x Cochin eggs we put in. The (suspected) father of this chick is an EE cross with feathered feet and a beard. While we think the mother was a Dorking, it also could have been a BLRW.

 

[countrygirl74]

Congrats Countrygirl. I have plans on doing the same. I will take your advice, and have someone with experience around to help me with the first one.
You described perfectly how I am feeling about the doing the deed. I have 12 chicks, being raised by a broody, they will be 7 wks tomorrow, and I think I have 4 roos in that group, and on Jan. 30, I picked up 20 chicks from Ideal Poultry, and have straight runs, so I am sure I will have more from them as well.
I am somewhat looking forward to taking the next step in chicken raising. I too think I will do okay, once I get beyond the killing part. I am also watching some videos. I still have a few months before the first ones will be ready. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm sure I will be sharing more once I too get to that point.

Kacey

Here's my two favorite videos that someone on here shared with me; however, they make it look a little easier than our first experience was. You have to apply more pressure then I thought... a good deep cut. Having someone there to do it right in front of you is better. It's hard but when done right, they're gone within about 30 seconds. A couple of ours were a little tougher and hung on a little longer. We did notice that the whole process was easier with the 4-month-olds than it was with the 8-month-old.

 

[Kacey's Krazee's]

Thanks Countrygirl. I had seen the first one, with Russ, but hadn't seen the prepper 1. They do make it seem so easy..... I wasn't so sure I was going to try and pluck them. We have a friend that does processing, he does deer and wild hogs. Here is Texas, we have a gazillion hogs running around. When he processes a bird, he actually skins it. He by passes that step completely. I haven't ever cooked, or ate a fresh killed chicken in my adult life, and not sure if I am going to miss having the skin on the bird while cooking or not. I buy chicken breasts that are skinned and boneless, so I was thinking I could do it the same way..... just cut off the wings, and pull the skin off..... what do you think?

Delisha, Aoxa.... do you think it would work okay?