Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Zgoatlady]

Do either of you have recommendations for breeds that are well suited to PNW living? I prefer larger docile breeds over the smaller flighty types since we live in town with very close neighbors.
And thanks for your opinions!

I have English Orps and Black Copper Marans, I think they both are great for family's never had a mean one, I also have had lots of breeds that are good family birds PM me if you want.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Although they are sterile, a Muscovy cross makes a good eating bird, and they are very pretty:


You don't have nearly enough - this would be a goodly number! (and that was less than half of them)

Wow, I'm jealous. I live in tacoma (north tacoma a mile from the zoo) we're limited to 10 poultry. I tried to argue "10 chickens and 10 ducks" but Animal control, the police and the neighbors that called them all told me it doesn't work that way. then i said "i'm really bad at math, and counted "1, 1.5. 2, 2.5" Yeah didn't work that way either. Then they said something i really loved... "chicks and ducklings don't count" Hmmmm
While chicks and chickens can go to my moms, she doesn't want ducks. She doesn't think that they make good food. However I do want to ask if you know could you message me how to butcher a duck? I'm guessing similar to chickens (ring the neck and such).
I hatched to raise them for food honestly. But also want to give people a chance to have muscovies. And am willing to make deals. I know when i looked for them they were hard to find but now seems they are everywhere. Go figure.

There is a local petstore thinking of going to talk to them about if they'll accept ducklings and take the whites (that i don't want) there. Or see if i can put up a flyer for them in the window.

 

[Hinotori]

to the thread to all the new people!

 

[Totalcolour]

Wow, I'm jealous. . .

. . . However I do want to ask if you know could you message me how to butcher a duck? I'm guessing similar to chickens (ring the neck and such).
I hatched to raise them for food honestly. But also want to give people a chance to have muscovies. And am willing to make deals. I know when i looked for them they were hard to find but now seems they are everywhere. Go figure.

There is a local petstore thinking of going to talk to them about if they'll accept ducklings and take the whites (that i don't want) there. Or see if i can put up a flyer for them in the window.

We don't wring necks, we put them in kill cones and then a cut on each side of the neck with a VERY sharp knife - they bleed out very fast. You'd be amazed at how tough their necks are - don't try to wring necks, you'll and up with scratches and no dead ducks.

As far as the white ones - we did darks for a while, but they never pick as clan as the whites, so I'm doing whites, buff and greys now for a cleaner carcass.

I know what you mean about finding them. I think it depends on the time of the year. We get a LOT of calls for ducks in the fall - mostly the Asian community.

Hey, I know about chicken (and duck) math. That''s why we ended up with so many last year

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

We don't wring necks, we put them in kill cones and then a cut on each side of the neck with a VERY sharp knife - they bleed out very fast. You'd be amazed at how tough their necks are - don't try to wring necks, you'll and up with scratches and no dead ducks.

As far as the white ones - we did darks for a while, but they never pick as clan as the whites, so I'm doing whites, buff and greys now for a cleaner carcass.

I know what you mean about finding them. I think it depends on the time of the year. We get a LOT of calls for ducks in the fall - mostly the Asian community.

Hey, I know about chicken (and duck) math. That''s why we ended up with so many last year

I plan to skin then rather then pluck. I am using them for feeding my dogs (i feed raw). What about cutting the head off with a really sharp ax? I don't have a kill cone.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Welcome, and yes, enjoying sunshine.

To your question. I have had both breeder/heritage birds and hatchery/feedstore birds. I have noticed that "some" of the hatchery birds tend to be less healthy, but in general, I haven't seen a huge difference. Of course, it could be the breeds I have, rather than where they are from. Some breeds are hardier than others - particularly for region. Some do better in heat, or wet than others.

My overall feeling is that I will pay a bit extra for quality birds. Just because I hatch some, and will get a better return on chicks if they are from quality parents.

I have noticed one thing though, all my hatchery birds (except the broilers) tend to be on the smaller size for the breed. Could be hatchery bad breeding practices!?!?!?

It is because hatcheries focus on egg production and not SOP size. They will breed early layers long before breeding for size. This is why commercial birds are on average 1-3lbs smaller than SOP for a specific breed. And hatcheries don't breed for temperament. So that is why you can sometimes get real arnery birds. I myself breed to SOP and docile temperament. I have a gorgeous Blue Silkie I am not going to be using, simply because his attitude is too aggressive for Silkies. I do have hatchery birds and non-hatchery birds. In-fact, I had to re-home an English Orp cock because he was twice the weight as my hatchery girls and was rubbing the feathers off their little backs, and it is too bad because he gave great looking chicks.

Do either of you have recommendations for breeds that are well suited to PNW living? I prefer larger docile breeds over the smaller flighty types since we live in town with very close neighbors.
And thanks for your opinions!

Faverolles are another large docile breed that are dual purpose. PM Cloverleaf Farm for availability. She is pres of Faverolles Fanciers Club.

 

[AletaG]

Does anyone else on this thread raise male chickens for meat? PM me? I've got too many questions and not enough online digging time... If you are close enough, an iced coffee or lunch on me!

OR:
1. How old do you butcher LF males (currently 3 Icelandics, 2 Black Marans, 2 Rhodebars)
2. How do you keep them seperate from everyone? Collect dog kennels? use 6 pallets to build CockCubes (my husband has copyright on that, so there) Or what?

 

[Totalcolour]

I plan to skin then rather then pluck. I am using them for feeding my dogs (i feed raw). What about cutting the head off with a really sharp ax? I don't have a kill cone.

That would work. Such a shame to give it to the dogs. We give ours the bits we don't eat (Heads, feet, carcasses). Maybe your dogs would eat them without skinning. I know our dog eats rabbits complete with fur (babies that die for unexplained reasons).

 

[blairdom]

Hi! Thank you for your reply!

We're in Gig Harbor, but would be willing to drive them to their new home -- assuming it's not too far.

We have 1 Ameraucana (approx 1 year - light olive egg), 1 muran mix (approx 3 years - dark chocolate terra cotta egg), 1 sussex (approx 5 years - light brown egg), 1 ameraucana mix (approx 3 years - light brown egg with dark speckles).

 

[CarolynF]

Hi! Thank you for your reply!

We're in Gig Harbor, but would be willing to drive them to their new home -- assuming it's not too far.

We have 1 Ameraucana (approx 1 year - light olive egg), 1 muran mix (approx 3 years - dark chocolate terra cotta egg), 1 sussex (approx 5 years - light brown egg), 1 ameraucana mix (approx 3 years - light brown egg with dark speckles).

If you hit a wall without finding them a home, I think there is a woman in Kingston that often takes "unwanted" chickens. PM me if you need the info.