Why meat birds?

[LilyD]

View attachment 1804068
Just don't get too close and you won't notice it so much

Looks kind of like the male turkeys. Everyone that comes over sees my broad breasted whites and says they are gross too cause their heads and necks are bare lol.

 

[Compost King]

Naked Necks sure look good to me after I plucked a meat bird. I was doing Mite inspections (all clean!) on some birds last week and after inspecting some of my half Naked Necks (with bow ties) I saw how thinned out their feathers were all over their bodies. I haven't processed one yet but when I do I might actually pluck rather than skin them.

 

[LilyD]

Naked Necks sure look good to me after I plucked a meat bird. I was doing Mite inspections (all clean!) on some birds last week and after inspecting some of my half Naked Necks (with bow ties) I saw how thinned out their feathers were all over their bodies. I haven't processed one yet but when I do I might actually pluck rather than skin them.

I saved and saved and got a tub plucker for processing days. I can't say how much I love that machine. It used to take me all day to just do 10 birds I can now get them done in just a few hours. So much better. I can't imagine hand plucking anymore.

 

[Compost King]

I saved and saved and got a tub plucker for processing days. I can't say how much I love that machine. It used to take me all day to just do 10 birds I can now get them done in just a few hours. So much better. I can't imagine hand plucking anymore.

I considered building one when my Washing Machine lost its seal but the motor still worked and figured it would just take up too much space. I cut my chicken up and make Chinese or Indian food and the skin just doesn't matter much to me. However I give chicken to neighbors and if I can pluck the naked necks easily I might drop off a full skin bird to the Neighbors who give me empty egg cartons.

 

[Parront]

I considered building one when my Washing Machine lost its seal but the motor still worked and figured it would just take up too much space. I cut my chicken up and make Chinese or Indian food and the skin just doesn't matter much to me. However I give chicken to neighbors and if I can pluck the naked necks easily I might drop off a full skin bird to the Neighbors who give me empty egg cartons.

I found the Cornish-X to be much easier to pluck than my Orpingtons, lots less feathers. I might try the Naked Necks sometime, but the Cornish-X are ready before they crow, a factor for me now.

 

[LilyD]

I found the Cornish-X to be much easier to pluck than my Orpingtons, lots less feathers. I might try the Naked Necks sometime, but the Cornish-X are ready before they crow, a factor for me now.

Orpingtons and other heritage birds also have what looks like hair on them too so after plucking you have to burn that off sometimes not sure why and I don't see it on all the birds only some. The plucker does a great job usually I only have to pluck around the legs by the knee and maybe a few tail feathers after. I keep my chickens whole and take out one at a time and cut it up for several meals that week.

 

[Mosey2003]

Orpingtons and other heritage birds also have what looks like hair on them too so after plucking you have to burn that off sometimes not sure why and I don't see it on all the birds only some. The plucker does a great job usually I only have to pluck around the legs by the knee and maybe a few tail feathers after. I keep my chickens whole and take out one at a time and cut it up for several meals that week.

I'm sure the Cornish X would get the fine hairs too if they lived long enough. It's an age thing vs a breed thing, I bet.

 

[Compost King]

... the Cornish-X are ready before they crow, a factor for me now.

I cross my Naked Neck Rooster (and other heritage breed roosters) with my Red Ranger Hens and the offspring are processed before they crow. Depending on which rooster I use they can get to 6 or 7 pounds before they start crowing. I try to process at 5 pounds because it costs too much to keep feeding them beyond that point.

 

[Parront]

Orpingtons and other heritage birds also have what looks like hair on them too so after plucking you have to burn that off sometimes not sure why and I don't see it on all the birds only some. The plucker does a great job usually I only have to pluck around the legs by the knee and maybe a few tail feathers after. I keep my chickens whole and take out one at a time and cut it up for several meals that week.

I like them whole, too. I like to roast them and then pick the meat off the bones for the next meal.

 

[Parront]

I cross my Naked Neck Rooster (and other heritage breed roosters) with my Red Ranger Hens and the offspring are processed before they crow. Depending on which rooster I use they can get to 6 or 7 pounds before they start crowing. I try to process at 5 pounds because it costs too much to keep feeding them beyond that point.

I am over 5000', so my first meat birds after I get situated will probably be one of the colored "Ranger" style that are out there. Not for a while yet.