The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm just looking for large fowl that will be pretty/interesting and large boys for the freezer. I was in the forums here looking but I think I turned some people off asking about the size of the roos for eating. Was also looking for a few more showgirls, but I can live without them.

Found someone on ebay selling large fowl pure breed assortments - lots of feedback that's good - pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I hate the auction process, though.

 

[wolftracks]

I'm just looking for large fowl that will be pretty/interesting and large boys for the freezer. I was in the forums here looking but I think I turned some people off asking about the size of the roos for eating. Was also looking for a few more showgirls, but I can live without them.

Found someone on ebay selling large fowl pure breed assortments - lots of feedback that's good - pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I hate the auction process, though.

I have gotten some nice birds from there. Plus there are BYCers on there selling too. When you find those big boys to process, let me know what you get. I just can't eat a Marans roo and the AM would be a waste of time. LOL I've never processed anything other than a few quail that I gave to my neighbors when they were having a bad time. I'm putting another fridge in the garage, so maybe this year I'll actually do it. Maybe not. LOL

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Look for Hurleygirls. She is a BYCr. I have been tempted by the same auction you are talking about.

 

[gryeyes]

Madge my MW Tom gobbled today! Err, yesterday. Wow. I need to go to bed.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I have gotten some nice birds from there. Plus there are BYCers on there selling too. When you find those big boys to process, let me know what you get. I just can't eat a Marans roo and the AM would be a waste of time. LOL I've never processed anything other than a few quail that I gave to my neighbors when they were having a bad time. I'm putting another fridge in the garage, so maybe this year I'll actually do it. Maybe not. LOL

I've actually had some really giant EE roos. Very worth processing. We've also processed some half-banty mixes that I got from a swap, and while they were hard to process (getting hand inside) they ended up being a cute whole bird for a two person meal.

 

[dsqard]

Brahmas get to be a good size for eating and my brahma mix pullet is the only one laying right now. You can check into those. Randy is a huge roo and the mix cockerels I gave away last year were on track for a good eating size. Probably not the best feed to meat conversion but they are pretty nice birds too.

 

[Arielle]

SCG-- have you considered Renee's meat birds? SHe is trying to develop a meatier line for the winter climate by using a number of breeds crossed together. SHe sells hatching eggs. BYC name is CHooksCHick. SHe has a thread. ( NOt sure if I linked it right.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/695265/konza-prairie-rangers


THe old heritage breeds are definitely better than the hatchery birds for meat. I've been reading over on the homesteading thread about different breeds that people use for food. Yellow HOuse Farm has been increasing the meatiness of his dorkings; the ALBC line of buckeyes was improved a few years ago by DOn Schrider to be meatier. Several BYC members have those lines. KathyIMO has very nice NH and Dels.

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. Working 12 hr shifts doesn't give me a lot of time on the computer but I am determined to keep up on this thread. That, along with feeding, watering, stall cleaning and MUD. You just have to adore Ohio weather in the late winter/spring The chickens and horses don't seem to mind it tho. Cant even tell what color my horses are supposed to be. They have and inch of mud piled on top of their eyebrows

. Guess their winter coats are starting to get itchy.
The roosters are crowing louder and louder everyday and the hens are thru molting and looking so pretty and fluffy now. Starting to get a few eggs from the older girls again. The younger girls have been laying steadily for a couple months. The silkies also love playing out in the mud. Guess I will have to get a load of sand for the run soon.
Those dark chocolate colored eggs some of you are picturing are so beautiful. Wish I had time to care for one more coop for LF. <sigh> Someday. For now 30 chickens is enough.
Well it's 10 am here and I'm headed out to put Wazine in chickens waterers then clean my horses stalls and fill their water tank.
Including a pic of the 2 practicing broodies and one of the horses munching hay in the barn. Have a great day everyone ! Love this thread

 

[ronott1]

I'm just looking for large fowl that will be pretty/interesting and large boys for the freezer. I was in the forums here looking but I think I turned some people off asking about the size of the roos for eating. Was also looking for a few more showgirls, but I can live without them.

Found someone on ebay selling large fowl pure breed assortments - lots of feedback that's good - pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I hate the auction process, though.

Renee's(Chookschicks) look interesting. Kathy(kathyinmo) has recreated the Delaware line--New Heritage Delawares and both of those should come close to the Freedom rangers. I had a SG Doking Roo that I crossed with my layers and a couple of the boys were Dorking X Rock crosses. That was a cross that they did years ago before the Cornish crosses. They were big boys at 12 weeks. The Pullets are very pretty to and quite large. I might try to get some big heritage versions and try that cross again.

 

[Wisher1000]

The only rooster that I have raised that I could call extra large was a SLW/BO cross named Dan. He was one of the ones that I gave away a couple of weeks ago. He was half again bigger than the others. I remember thinking that I would keep him, except that he would dress out better than all the rest of them!