Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[bigzio]

Depends on how big you want them wyo? I like them between 5 and 7 lbs after they are butchered...we cut the big ones into 8 pieces and freeze them in 4 pieces, because a half of chicken that large is plenty for 2 people. You could butcher one and see if it satisfies your needs and go from there.
Belinda, why not just keep the banty hen....it will do fine with the standards.....hard to believe someone can't keep chickens alive....that almost calls for dumb and dumber. It's food water and shelter...poor chickens....

bigz

 

[wyoDreamer]

So how much do they weigh before butchering to be about 5 lbs after?
I don't know the conversion...

 

[bigzio]

It depends on the breed of chicken somewhat too, but you have to figure the feet, head, and innards has to be at least a pound.
Those cedar chests are nice to have bl4...Suzie has two nice ones stuffed with stuff...I bought her one that is solid oak with black walnut trim and lined with cedar. Pretty as can be.
Baked haddock and oven Cajun fries tonight for FFF.

bigz

 

[belindaschicks]

@belindaschicks You are never off topic on this thread, lol!
We switch topics so fast, it makes my head whirl sometimes.

Here I go - switching topics:

Does anyone weigh their cornish cross before butchering? I am trying to figure out when is freezer camp for my meat birds.

I have had her in with the standards for a year now and she lives in the coop house. Stays out of the run. She gets beat up and the standards refuse to let her eat and drink. I have to let her have her own time in the coop by her self each day to eat and drink. Tried letting them work it figuring she would have no choice but to stand up for herself if I didn't give her alone time. She almost died of starvation and dehydration . Oops.

 

[jvls1942]

Wyo, I pick up a chicken and feel the drumsticks.. If they feel the right size, the bird is ready.. I figure you lose about 40% of live weight .. so the chicken should weigh 8 to 10 pounds live..
when we do meaties, we don't do all of them at the same time.. for the first batch, usually a dozen or so.. we pick out all of the smallest ones.. the next week we do the same. by the time we get to the last batch, those hens are up to 7 pounds finished weight..
we don't freeze any whole anymore.. takes up too much space.. we have separate recipes for drumsticks, breasts, and theighs.
the backs and necks are packaged for soup..
If you are going to cut yours up, PM me and I will tell you a system that will cut your gutting time in half..
Brent, do you remember how much you paid for the hope chest ? I have lots of oak to use up.. maybe it would be worth my time to build some chests..
can't say much about your banty..
maybe advertise on craig's list ??
yesterday I got quite a bit of yard pick up done. gotta get things out of the way where I will be pushing snow , soon..
.....jiminwisc.......

 

[bigzio]

OK Belinda, kudos for good management on your part and it sounds like she is the bottom of the pecking order and no other chicken wants to be there, so they are making sure she stays at the bottom....while a lot of bantys do well in a mixed flock, it sounds like she will have to go...
Yep Jim they are well worth the time to build....detail and good hinges bring good dollars...I'll try to get a picture posted of one...over 20 years ago I paid $320 for it. The gentleman that built them had a waiting list to buy one and I thought it was a good deal back then....now $500 for a nice one would be easy to sell...in my opinion.
GO BREW CREW!

bigz

 

[babylady4]

Unfortunately it is not a cedar chest, I am only lining it with cedar on the bottom and the lid.

If anyone would like to take a guess at what kind of wood it is made out of, I would appreciate it.

 

[babylady4]

Slow Sunday!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I spent Saturday gleaning the tomatoes out of the garden. I had covered them with plastic about a week ago, but the high winds were uncovering them. I got 2 - 3 gallon buckets full of tomatoes. They are not pretty, but i am going to slice them and dehydrate to add to the chickens feed this winter for treats. I am not willing to give up my lovely orange yolks yet!

 

[bigzio]

Hard to tell bl4 on the pictures....How heavy is it? ....oak and maple would weigh more than black walnut...could be any of the 3 without actually seeing it. Dark stains make it harder to read the grains....what does Ross think it is?
Good save on the maters...wonder if the birds will eat the dried fruit? Keep us posted if they do.....I hate to waste anything if it has a use.

bigz