Too old to harvest?

[BantyChooks]

Wow, that's ridiculous! People always want something for nothing.

I'm a softee and people are usually driving 90+ minutes each way, so I come down pretty often (without being asked). But can sell hens all day long it seems like, though sometimes it will take a couple weeks to get good buyers. I only know this because life has ups and downs and I decided to "liquidate" a couple times... only to decide this is part of my life and I'm not willing to completely give it up. One family drove 5 hours each way and stayed the night in a motel... because their daughter wanted pink eggs, that they saw in my ad on craigslist for eating eggs. They bought 12 birds for $150. It was a real blessing to share with them though. At first I was all sad to be giving up my flock but it turned into the joy of sharing something with a little girl.

Interesting to see the difference in markets though.

I usually drive partway to meet people too, so it's not like I'm demanding much. Funny, people that only have to drive an hour tell me it's too far and my birds are too expensive; others that are 2--3 hours away sometimes want them and don't say a word about the price. What gives??

We're looking into getting some Jersey Giants this spring, with one of them being a rooster. I've hesitated on roosters because of the 'miniature looking human' that runs around the yard at warp speed. The last thing I want is a bird going after him. The girls we have currently, love him and always choose him for treats over us.

I have about 10--15 roosters and cockerels most times of the year and more than one warp speed mini human. I've written a bunch on the BYC forums proper rooster treatment but it pretty much boils down to find whatever works for you. Keep that axe sharp whilst he's a youngster---the rooster, I mean.

#127

 

[bobbi-j]

OP, what are your flock goals? Do you plan on hatching out more chickens? If not, I'd reconsider getting a rooster (or cockerel if you're getting them young) at this stage. Not until your little human is a bit older. Sometimes even well-mannered roosters can get twitchy around little people because of their size, speed, sound, etc. Everyone has different experiences, of course. You're the only one who can decide if it's worth the risk.

If you DO plan on hatching out chicks, do you have a plan for the extra males? I'm guessing you'd harvest them since you're asking about harvesting birds. That's what I do. I actually hope for males so I can put them in the freezer. I think harvesting two of your hens for a trial run is a good idea. I'll admit - I have a hard time harvesting my hens. I try not to make pets of them, but it's still harder for me than butchering a cockerel. Not criticizing here. It's your flock and if you don't want all those eggs and you do want to give harvesting chickens a trial run, go for it!

 

[bnther]

OP, what are your flock goals?

That's a good question and to be honest, our goals have evolved since we started. Originally, it was all about tick control and our free-range bantams did pretty good at that. Then we decided to add eggs. The girls do pretty good at eggs, but the predators have been much more of a problem, especially with the Plymouth Rock. Consequently, they've moved inside the fence. This has helped with the fox, but not with the hawks. The hawks can pin the hens down, but they're slower on the kill. So far, the wife and I have been able to intervene, but that won't last forever. I'm thinking a rooster would provide a least a little deterrence.

Ultimately, I would like to be self-sufficient with both meat and eggs. I really loathe the industrial egg/meat business. Between the animal treatment and what 'stuff' goes into the bird, I want to avoid feeding it to my family as much as I can.

I will ponder things a bit, but I might hold off on the rooster; at least until the little one gets some size and awareness. If memory serves, Meyers always has a sort of end of season leftover sale. I could buy a dozen or so birds and then harvest them all at once in the fall. At least I know now that my hens aren't too old to eat. I may still harvest a few of them to make room for some chicks. I dunno.

Thanks

 

[bobbi-j]

That's a good question and to be honest, our goals have evolved since we started
Thanks

As they do for every flock keeper. Shoot, my goals change from week to week sometimes, and I've been keeping chickens for a while now. (I currently don't have any due to the heaviest predation of my flock that I have ever experienced.)

You may need to put bird netting over your run to keep the hawks out. A rooster may or may not be of much help. Some roosters will take one on, some will be calling the alarm and leading the retreat. How big is your run? Can you give your birds some cover - pallets on cement blocks, pallets leaning on the fence, something like that - in there? Hawks can be a formidable foe when it comes to our chickens.

If you want to raise some meat birds that aren't the Cornish X, Red Rangers or something on that order (there are many to choose from) are pretty good. They take longer, but dress out nicely and have flavor and texture.

Making room for chicks by harvesting hens is much better than trying to cram too many birds into too small of a space.

 

[bnther]

You may need to put bird netting over your run to keep the hawks out. A rooster may or may not be of much help. Some roosters will take one on, some will be calling the alarm and leading the retreat. How big is your run? Can you give your birds some cover - pallets on cement blocks, pallets leaning on the fence, something like that - in there? Hawks can be a formidable foe when it comes to our chickens.

It'd be just my luck to get a rooster that wants to kick my butt every time I come around but then runs like a 'chicken' when a hawk comes around.

What really cracks me up are the sparrow hawks. I've got one that has been a major nuisance. Even the smallest of my birds is 3 times the size of it. It's really a thing to see a hen running around screaming with this tiny little bird on it's back. It looks kind of like a sumo wrestler with a 5th grader trying to stay on. I'd love to shoot the hawk, but I'm told it's against the law.

My pen is roughly 100' by 100' so netting would be difficult or at least costly. I've got a pair of small leafy trees, a large leafy bush and a 12' pine sort of bush in the enclosure (not really sure what it is). There is plenty of cover, but the hawks are smart -- especially the big ones. I've seen them fly under branches that were maybe a foot off the ground and pin a bird that was scratching. It's impressive really.

It has been a bad year for predators! Everyone I know has lost birds. I'm fairly fortunate. I started with 10 and finished with 6. I only lost one Australorp, the other 3 were the Plymouth Rock -- not sure why that is.

 

[aart]

I routinely eat 2-3yo hens as soup and stock, also not up on pressure canning, they make awesome bone broth. I use a pressure cooker to get it done faster, up to an hour then remove all meat, everything else back in for another 2 hours.

However you decide to cook those birds...
...make sure you rest the cleaned carcass in the fridge for 48-72 hours (so rigor mortis can pass) before cooking or freezing. Otherwise-shoe leather.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Making room for chicks by harvesting hens is much better than trying to cram too many birds into too small of a space.

Agreed... and sometimes my goals change weekly or daily.

#127

Pretty good advice!

I followed that whole chase the rooster thing... which definitely intensified the situation. And NO matter how many times I share that they aren't called rooster or hen until after 1 year... I also agree that they are NOT fully mature then. I think your point about keeping it short is key. Many good points.

 

[BantyChooks]

Agreed... and sometimes my goals change weekly or daily.


Pretty good advice!

I followed that whole chase the rooster thing... which definitely intensified the situation. And NO matter how many times I share that they aren't called rooster or hen until after 1 year... I also agree that they are NOT fully mature then. I think your point about keeping it short is key. Many good points.

I tried 'chase the rooster' and I tried 'hug the rooster'. Both failed with equal spectacularness. So, I came up with my own thing based off how I watched corrections happen in the flock. I'd say it's worked wicked well so far. Thank you.

 

[BantyChooks]

Agreed... and sometimes my goals change weekly or daily.

I think I have some pretty solid goals now but for a while I kept changing as I tried goals and they kept not working. There's a reason I owned 200 birds in 4 years---I kept being unimpressed with breeds/varieties, selling them off, and getting others.

 

[bnther]

...make sure you rest the cleaned carcass in the fridge for 48-72 hours (so rigor mortis can pass) before cooking or freezing. Otherwise-shoe leather.

Did not know that.
THANK YOU. I will be adding that to the ol mental rolladex.