The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...help my inexperience.

If I process a 1.5 yo roo...will he taste bad because of his "manliness" ?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well that was far more excitement than I really wanted in a morning.

I heard a lot of squawking and looked outside to see a fox standing on top of my obviously very valiant rooster, Mr. Bennet. What I should have done is taken the extra five seconds to grab the gun. I would have had a clear shot. What I did was instinct, run out and chase him off my rooster. I was sure Mr. Bennet was dead, he was just lying there, but I think, thanks to his hackles he was just stunned. I looked him over and couldn't find a scratch. When I put him down he called his ladies over and started herding them towards the hen house. I went in and got the feed bucket and rounded everyone up. I'm pretty sure that while I got the feed bucket the fox slunk out of the woods and got one of my meat birds who were out, because I'm almost certain I saw all of them when I chased the fox off, but I'm definitely down one now. Everyone is shut up in coops and runs now. but that's only a temporary solution. This also explains the dissapearance of my very favorite pet hen Lizzy yesterday I hate predators. We've gotta get the rest of the perimiter fencing up. Hopefully that will keep reynard out.

Was this in daylight?

 

[BlueMouse]

it was around ten thirty I think. We were just getting ready to get a belated start on school. I've never had a problem with a night time predator, other than an owl getting some gineas who insisted on roosting on the swingset.... But my daytime fox problem is murder.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Okay...help my inexperience.

If I process a 1.5 yo roo...will he taste bad because of his "manliness" ?

Taste bad? He certainly should taste 100 times better than any of those things sold in the mega-markets, but he most likely will be very tough and require pressure cooking, stewing or braising for several hours and with all that...the meat that's there should be delicious and make some of the best dumplings to be had.

The advantage (I know you know this) of caponization is to have the bird calm down, not fight other males and not ride the hens..at all.

To me, the greatest advantage of caponization is it makes the meat so much more tender and and more flavorful.....and, there will be a lot more of it. Another way of looking at it....stress will be lessened in the chicken lot. You brood cock shouldn't consider them any threat so you, the flock owner won't have to worry about coming into the yard and finding birds ripped apart by their brethren.

 

[Leahs Mom]

it was around ten thirty I think. We were just getting ready to get a belated start on school. I've never had a problem with a night time predator, other than an owl getting some gineas who insisted on roosting on the swingset.... But my daytime fox problem is murder.

Bummer again. I thought they wouldn't come out during the day like that. :\

 

[Turk Raphael]

Well that was far more excitement than I really wanted in a morning.

I heard a lot of squawking and looked outside to see a fox standing on top of my obviously very valiant rooster, Mr. Bennet. What I should have done is taken the extra five seconds to grab the gun. I would have had a clear shot. What I did was instinct, run out and chase him off my rooster. I was sure Mr. Bennet was dead, he was just lying there, but I think, thanks to his hackles he was just stunned. I looked him over and couldn't find a scratch. When I put him down he called his ladies over and started herding them towards the hen house. I went in and got the feed bucket and rounded everyone up. I'm pretty sure that while I got the feed bucket the fox slunk out of the woods and got one of my meat birds who were out, because I'm almost certain I saw all of them when I chased the fox off, but I'm definitely down one now. Everyone is shut up in coops and runs now. but that's only a temporary solution. This also explains the dissapearance of my very favorite pet hen Lizzy yesterday I hate predators. We've gotta get the rest of the perimiter fencing up. Hopefully that will keep reynard out.

I will take quite a fence to keep Reynard at bay. He has spotted easy pickins' and will surely be back. If you can, and have an upstairs window with a wide view of the chicken lot...sit there with the window open and blast that rascal to pieces. I like #4 shot...3 inch Nitro Magnums. If one pellet hits him, he's through.

 

[BlueMouse]

I think caponization is fascinating and a great idea if you're raising meat birds who are going to be butchered past 12 weeks.... but don't know that I could do surgery on an awake bird by myself.... too squeamish and too soft hearted.

Yeah. Everyone has to stay in the run until I finish the fencing. Which sucks because fencing is expensive. So is feeding everyone when they're shut up in the run though. I do have a good upstairs window from which I could stake him out. However, I also have three small children. Stakeout and supervising toddlers (at least my toddlers) are mutally exclusive. I might put husband on stakeout this weekend though. Let out some of the chickens out and see if we can lure reynard out to try and get a snack.

I'm really thankful my roo is ok though. I thought he was a goner for sure and he's a really wonderful bird.

 

[TipihlowLadies]

I make soup or dumplings with older birds they tend to be tough.

 

[armorfirelady]

WIshing everyone success in getting rid of the predators.

I moved the herb corner planters back against the coop. Didnt the chicks roost outside again? Its going to be empties of dirt tonight & moved somewhere else. I guess they forgot about the predator that got their sibling. I have had the game cam out & recently switched to just go off at night in hopes of seeing what for the chick. Nothing yet.


And some good news. I had put a post on craigs list looking for wood shavings & a gentleman who owns a wood making business called and can supply me with several garbage bags worth a month. Hello free coop shavings

 

[Lacy Blues]

I think caponization is fascinating and a great idea if you're raising meat birds who are going to be butchered past 12 weeks.... but don't know that I could do surgery on an awake bird by myself.... too squeamish and too soft hearted.

Yeah. Everyone has to stay in the run until I finish the fencing. Which sucks because fencing is expensive. So is feeding everyone when they're shut up in the run though. I do have a good upstairs window from which I could stake him out. However, I also have three small children. Stakeout and supervising toddlers (at least my toddlers) are mutally exclusive. I might put husband on stakeout this weekend though. Let out some of the chickens out and see if we can lure reynard out to try and get a snack.

I'm really thankful my roo is ok though. I thought he was a goner for sure and he's a really wonderful bird.

You could brine him! I have a good recipe if you're interested.

Regarding that fox... a protective dog would make short work of him and be a lot cheaper than perimeter fencing. My goal is to get a dog that does not like other dogs at all. I may have to provide plenty of escape for my outdoor kitties but a dog like that would make my life easier in terms of stray dogs around here. It would be super nice if this same kind of dog didn't mind cats and didn't pay attention to the chickies at all!

WIshing everyone success in getting rid of the predators.

I moved the herb corner planters back against the coop. Didnt the chicks roost outside again? Its going to be empties of dirt tonight & moved somewhere else. I guess they forgot about the predator that got their sibling. I have had the game cam out & recently switched to just go off at night in hopes of seeing what for the chick. Nothing yet.


And some good news. I had put a post on craigs list looking for wood shavings & a gentleman who owns a wood making business called and can supply me with several garbage bags worth a month. Hello free coop shavings

Ohhhhhh, so jealous! Lucky and good for you!