The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[LeslieDJoyce]

I that's what your dirty mutts look like, I'd like to see your clean purebreds. =)

Awwww. Thanks!

We only have three purebreads ... a breeding trio of Delawares I brought home in mid October. But I can't take credit for them. The were bred by one person, raised by another, and came here "started." I'm going to be transitioning my flock from the mixed hatchery birds to Delawares ... but so far I've only gotten eggs from one of the Delaware pullets. Her eggs are fertile, so now I'm just waiting for the other to start laying and the eggs to get a little more size and I can start hatching something besides mutts here ...

Here are some photos of the Dels ... I think they are nice.







You can see the pullet on the left is bigger and has redder comb and cheeks than the one in the middle. These were taken a few weeks ago, and the middle girl is getting redder by the day, so I'm hoping to get eggs from her soon, too.

I'm very excited about these birds!

 

[armorfirelady]

I got the girls a new roasting....er dusting pan

Stella is still hopping the fence back & forth. Now it seems she does it when she sees me come out but when I go back in the house she flies into her run. Everyone has to have a brat chicken. Stella is mine
Freezing rain & snow starting up again. I would be happy for a couple inches to cover the grass for Christmas. I don't like seeing green grass this time of year. And the mud is not helping me keep the floors clean with the dogs.

 

[TeaChick]

Awwww. Thanks!

We only have three purebreads ... a breeding trio of Delawares I brought home in mid October. But I can't take credit for them. The were bred by one person, raised by another, and came here "started." I'm going to be transitioning my flock from the mixed hatchery birds to Delawares ... but so far I've only gotten eggs from one of the Delaware pullets. Her eggs are fertile, so now I'm just waiting for the other to start laying and the eggs to get a little more size and I can start hatching something besides mutts here ...

Here are some photos of the Dels ... I think they are nice.







You can see the pullet on the left is bigger and has redder comb and cheeks than the one in the middle. These were taken a few weeks ago, and the middle girl is getting redder by the day, so I'm hoping to get eggs from her soon, too.

I'm very excited about these birds!

Your Welcome!

I just meant that he's a beautiful rooster!!!

Your Dels are gorgeous!!! I especially like the top pic, where the hens are one in and one out of the box, and the bottom pic, where they're all lined up like that. =)

I hope things go well for you hatching your Del flock!!!

 

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha,

Last time I ate my roosters, they were really tough. Some people say thatʻs part of the rigor mortis. I always hear of people putting them in the freezer. Do they ever eat one right away? Does the meat come out tough? Do you have to refrigerate it for a day?

Mahalo for any replies.

Puhi.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Aloha,

Last time I ate my roosters, they were really tough. Some people say thatʻs part of the rigor mortis. I always hear of people putting them in the freezer. Do they ever eat one right away? Does the meat come out tough? Do you have to refrigerate it for a day?

Mahalo for any replies.

Puhi.

I've tried eating one right away and it was ... chewy. The birds I've rested have been a LOT more tender, but they were also very different birds. Regardless, I'm a big fan of "resting." Some people are insistent on killing the birds immediately prior to cooking ...

 

[Shan30]

TeaChick I noticed that we seem to have similar weather quite frequently, are you close to the island?

 

[TeaChick]

TeaChick I noticed that we seem to have similar weather quite frequently, are you close to the island?

I live in the Deep South. No. Fla, So. GA, lower Alabama.
Vancouver Island is in/near Canada, isn't it?

 

[Shan30]

I live in the Deep South.  No. Fla, So. GA, lower Alabama.
Vancouver Island is in/near Canada, isn't it?

Oh funny, yes the island is just north of Seattle in BC, Canada. We live ten minutes from the 49th parallel so part of the island is actually below the 49th.

Snow is a gone now, looks like another green Christmas for us

 

[Leahs Mom]

Aoxa...that's some crazy snow!

Do your birds go outside at all?

Leslie - those ARE beautiful birds.

Thankfully most of the snow melted here over a couple of days but it rained and rained. The birds looked like drowned rats but they went out. I was afraid they'd be wet and then the temps would drop quickly and they'd all get frostbite!

Unfortunately temps are back down again and the ground is solid frozen after all that rain! But the birds are going out at least, since the snow melted.

 

[TeaChick]

Oh funny, yes the island is just north of Seattle in BC, Canada. We live ten minutes from the 49th parallel so part of the island is actually below the 49th.

Snow is a gone now, looks like another green Christmas for us

That is funny!!!

49th is way too far north for me. lol >.< I'd miss my flip flops too much. lol

Our Christmases almost never fail to be mostly brown. I hate it; I'd rather green, like in Miami or white like up north.