Meat chickens (part 2)

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Bossman
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Bossman » Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:56 pm

Wow those chicks are growing like crazy... how long till we get to see that plucking video? Just to revise my question how long does it take to raise meat birds, (hatch to pluck)

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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Sun Apr 13, 2014 3:04 pm

Depends on how big you want them, really. For fryers or broilers about 6 weeks, for roasters 8 weeks. The roosters will be usually the first to go as they are much bigger.
I let a couple go to 10 weeks last year and they couldn't walk any longer and were about 10#.

This year I am raising red pullets (egg layers) in the same pen and it is making a huge difference. These little gals are keeping the meaties stirred up and moving, therefore they don't camp out at the food dish
I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to. ~Colonel Tom Kelly

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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:53 pm

Had to cull a chicken today. It was smaller than the rest and was having a leg issue. I guess due to its problem it was getting stomped at the feeder. I had been debating it then today its wing was pointing the wrong way. Nothing like having one with a muscle twitch still going and straight to the big green egg. Not bad for a 5 week old chicken. The others are much bigger
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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Wed Apr 23, 2014 4:05 pm

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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Bossman » Wed Apr 23, 2014 6:54 pm

What happen to the one that had a neurological issue? Haven't heard the report on that one...

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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Wed Apr 23, 2014 6:58 pm

See pic above
:bbq
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sam03
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by sam03 » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:20 am

Are they tinder? I put three of my "hens" that turned out roosters in the freezer abt a month ago and we pulled one out and cooked it the other night and could barely eat it cause it was so tough. I think the other two will be pressure cooked or croak potted and see if that helps. I have checked the tractor supply stores and feed stores around Gainesville and no one has any meat chickens cause i wanted to try out abt a dozen.
I like animals, they are tasty!

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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:45 am

You can order them from hatcheries and they will come straight to your door.
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/meat_birds.html
Yes they are very tender. Roosters of laying breeds can be tough. Gotta process they young
I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to. ~Colonel Tom Kelly

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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Kortsman » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:36 am

Quite the chef there Allen. Looks good!

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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Sun May 04, 2014 5:03 pm

7 weeks today since I brought them home. I have 8 living out of the 10 original. One I culled early and another turned up dead one day last week. I ordered some heat shrink poultry bags (like a chicken comes in when you buy it in the store)
Soon as they come in I am going to process some of the bigger ones. They are at the point now they just eat and lay down. They can no longer stand up for any period of time. Been feeding them quite a bit of cracked corn to finish them off. I am ready to get these nasty things done. I have to muck out the pen every couple days
I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to. ~Colonel Tom Kelly

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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Sun May 04, 2014 5:04 pm

Image

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9dawgs

Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by 9dawgs » Thu May 08, 2014 4:52 pm

Iluv2hunt wrote: I have to muck out the pen every couple days
Good looking chickens there Allen. At least you have a LOT of poop for the compost pile :clap

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Iluv2hunt
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Thu May 08, 2014 4:57 pm

Eat and crap. All day

I put 3 in the freezer today. 3 less mouths to feed :chef :clown
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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Bossman » Thu May 08, 2014 6:42 pm

Dang! 8 weeks and ya gots 5+ lbs. of meat each? That ain't bad for 8 coop cleanings and a couple bags of food... My computer must have a virus I didn't get the video of the chicken plucker... :taz

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Re: Meat chickens (part 2)

Post by Iluv2hunt » Thu May 08, 2014 6:50 pm

I will post it soon. It was 100x better than hand plucking, but not as good as I had hoped.
(not as efficient as in the manufacturers video)
I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to. ~Colonel Tom Kelly

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