Keeping Poultry for meat.

[Brambling]

Anyone else do/done this?
I did for the first time last year. One of my girls went broody so I brought some fertile eggs for her to sit on. I got a quick growing meat bird variety. The birds had a pretty much free range life and were ready for the table at 14 weeks. I had 8 delicious birds weighing between 5lb and 6lb. The big problem was their appetite, they required a huge amount of supplementary feeding. So much so that it wasn't financially viable to grow that variety again.
This year when I had a broody I got some Light Sussex fertile eggs as I needed some females to replace some of my layers who are entering retirement. I have 2 Cockerels who will eventually go in the freezer. As these birds are a pure breed they grow much slower and I expect them to wiegh less. Again they have been pretty much free range, but the big difference has been the feed bill. I doubt I've used a third of the amount I used last year.
So Once I've done a taste test, I think I'll stick with a purebreed.

Next thing on the agenda are Quail. A friend keeps them and not only does she make a good income from the eggs, they breed like Rabbits and she has plenty for the table, for not a lot of money!

[Carrot Cruncher]

I like the idea of keeping poultry but me and MrsCC dissagree over the plans, i'm looking at eggs and meat but she would give them all names and look after them like they were babies

CC

[preppingsu]

We have ex-batt for eggs but never thought about some for meat. Do you slaughter etc yourself?
preppingsu

[Brambling]

Ah there's the rub CC. My layers are affectionately known as the girls and they all have names. The older ones live in happy retirement and will do so until it's time for the final visit to the vet. I'm a country girl born and bred and can make the distinction between pets(the girls) and the hatchlings(dinner). At the moment there are 6 hens and the 2 Cockerels. 2 of the hens are too old to lay eggs but are beligerent old birds and keep the flock in order and see off the Raptors! Now that's a sight, watching a slightly overweight, rheumaticky chicken chasing off a Sparrowhawk!

I'm looking forward to spring and trying the Quail.

[Brambling]

Yes I do slaughter them myself Sue. I believe it's far less stressful to just quietly take them into the shed and do the deed than either get someone in or take them elsewhere. I can't say it sits well with me, but I look at it this way, It's my responsibility to make sure the job has been done efficiently with no fuss and little stress.

[skinnyj]

We keep pigs, sheep, ducks, geese and chickens for meat (and other stuff, like eggs, not that you get many eggs from pigs, but you know what I mean! Manure is actually an important product).

We slaughter all poultry ourselves, and in the olden days, when I was young, we used to slaugter pigs and sheep on farm. We don't now ~ too many annoying regulations, but I would be happy to do it again if either TSHTF or regulations were relaxed* for home producers such as myself, as I think it is the least stressful method for the animals and theerfore the most humaine. We've still got the humane killer ( .22 captive bolt gun) in the gun cabinet. They are off ticket now, but used to require a full FAC, incidentally.

I hunt rabbits, squirrels, hare, pigeon, pheasant and (when feeling uber rich, i.e. hardly ever!) deer, and thus do all my own butchering of these, so I'm not squeamish. I'm a qualified deer stalker.

Animals are an essential part of the husbandry of our small holding. For instance, how would we fertilize the land otherwise ~ petrochemical reliant artificial fertilizer, is that going to be available when TSHTF or as oil prices rocket? So it all part of the circle of life that some of the animals get eaten, just like the cabbages.

What is important to me is that they are treated with respect both in life and in death, i.e. they live well, die as quickly and pain and stress free as you can manage, and you eat as much of the animal as you can, and don't waste any.


* it is actually still legal to home slaughter pigs, etc for your own consumption, but then you can't sell the meat

[Brambling]

I was just going to say you can get a slaughterman in to kill on your premisis, as long as you don't sell on the meat. I must admit that's what puts me off keeping bigger animals the lack of control there would be on the slaughtering process.

BTW The biggest Cockerel is for the deed tonight! Little barsteward has found his voice!

[diamond lil]

My old neighbour was a part time gamekeeper who had moved here from Braemar. He used to bring us lovely bloody parcels I havent had vension since he moved away.
I would love a course on how to do all this, I like to know the right way to do things. All I can do is wabbits and game birds.
We are getting hens next year, just for eggs and only 2-3.

[Northern Raider]

I think I have a PDF article on Chook keeping if anyone wants a copy pm me with an e mail addy

[Brambling]

Well, the deed has been done, there is now one roughly plucked and drawn Cockeral in the fridge awaiting final titivation before going in the freezer.
For anyone who's interested, the breed was Light Sussex, the bird was 18wks old and weighs a very lean 3lb2oz. I'll post regarding the flavour once it's eaten.
I'm looking forward to a lie tomorrow