Chickens, and things related

jeffinsgf · Feb 15, 2008

More power to you then, Eddie. The wild turkey population in Missouri has recovered from the brink of disaster. The state has been conducting and supporting habitat improvement and repopulation since the '70's. Now the season has been expanded and the population has been deemed stable and healthy. Good luck in Tejas. They're magnificent birds, and I love having them call my place home.

Tororider · Feb 15, 2008

Most of the time things like that are driven by the sportsman. The state agencies that would be responsible for things like that no longer have the budget for it. Kudos to you Eddie.

4720 OWNER · Feb 15, 2008

Good old layers are generally the scrawniest hens. The ones that are not laying are the ones that look wonderful and have all their feathers. Stock pot with old used up layers, maybe the grinder for some chic burger, but sometimes they are so lean hardly worth the effort. Or even dog/cat treats. Letting them run after beheading is fun, but the wings will bruise a lot of breast meat, i have used a gallon container with the spout cut off so the head will fit thru and the bottom cut off, have to watch out for the toenails though, have scars from them.

10 below last nite and the girls are still laying! No supplemented heat except for the waterer to keep the water from getting 'hard'. Where ever i toss the old water is where the grass grows best in the summer.

Might be able to save on shipping if ordering from the hatchery depending on when you order, but if they go to the post office, they will want you to pick them up right away.

sseelhoff · Feb 15, 2008

davitk said:
let me know if the new terrorist eats what she kills

She carried it around for a bit, then presented it as an offering to SWMBO.

dooleysm · Feb 15, 2008

There are wild turkeys everywhere in southern Indiana. I think they are getting to be nearly as big a nuisance as the deer. In the spring and fall it's not unusual for me to see several flocks of up to 30 turkeys on the way to work.

As for the kids helping with butchering, I know my wife's young cousins (6-7) help with the chicken butchering. They help round up the chickens, carry the deheaded birds, pluck feathers, and generally help all around. They're all well adjusted kids. My 2 year old has watched me and my dad skin rabbits and squirrels, he hasn't been bothered by it. He knows we eat rabbits and chickens and so forth.

Check back with me in 20 years and I'll tell you how he turned out

davitk · Feb 15, 2008

I used to pluck chickens for Grandpa, look how well adjusted I am

4720 OWNER · Feb 16, 2008

Makes me the sickest of the bunch. The first year it was easier to skin them and use an oven bag. Still came out delicious. The last bird did fed 3 male eating machines and SO, just about turkey sized.

Tororider · Feb 16, 2008

It'll be interesting, I won't have the problem with it, my wife will. But I don't think we give kids enough credit, as long as you explain whats going on, they get it. I am looking forward to the chickens, going to order them from Tractor Supply next week when I get back.

davitk · Feb 17, 2008

Tororider said:
It'll be interesting, I won't have the problem with it, my wife will. But I don't think we give kids enough credit, as long as you explain whats going on, they get it. I am looking forward to the chickens, going to order them from Tractor Supply next week when I get back.

I completely agree, my kids cringed at the thought of chewing on their "pet" chickens, as long as my wife kept preaching..... as soon as I laid the law down and put a few in the freezer, they became enthusiastic about the "yummiest chicken they ever ate"

Next batch I think we'll do them ourselves and have a headless chicken race.....

WarrenF · Feb 17, 2008

davitk said:
I completely agree, my kids cringed at the thought of chewing on their "pet" chickens, as long as my wife kept preaching..... as soon as I laid the law down and put a few in the freezer, they became enthusiastic about the "yummiest chicken they ever ate" Next batch I think we'll do them ourselves and have a headless chicken race.....

Now that made me laugh....

I was not traumatized by the butchering of chickens....what really traumatized me was playing out in the yard bare footed and stepping in a bunch of chicken poop....squeezing up between my toes. I hope you all know that I am just trying to have a bit of fun. I love to laugh at myself....