GinaDC Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Having watched the Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall programmes this week on Channel 4, I feel I need to give thought to raising chickens for meat. I have my five hens from omlet for their egg laying. I would rather rear my own chickens for food, knowing how they have lived etc, than rely on someone else. Has anyone else out there given this any thought - please don't go off me for wanting to eat chicken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 there are some forum members who keep their own chickens for food, so dont worry people wont lynch you! maybe they will respond later, I have no experience of keeping "meat" chooks im afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hi, Yes, as Chelsea says there are several of us who keep chickens for the table, & several of us who are dithering about it - me included Someone with some experience will be along to help you soon,I am sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I too am dithering and have been for months now! I don't have a problem with the thought of it at all but I don't know that I could actually do "it" (as in the dispatching). Hopefully someone with experience will come along shortly...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'm so pleased I'm not the only one dithering. I simply don't know where to start. What extra equipment do I need if taking on day old chicks - how many chicks do I need (I have five children and a husband with a huge appetite) do I have to do the dispatching myself or can someone else do that... Questions questions questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Is that you in your avatar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'm inbetween having them and dithering. Its definitely in the pipeline just have to fully sort housing. I've hatched chicks before so am not worried about that side of things. DH really wants to do it too and will be doing the despatching. I will be plucking and preparing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 no, that's not me in the avatar - although I often feel like that! I want a really cool chicken related one but can't find one suitable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I've done it, and it was delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 So - how did you do it? I know its sounds like a daft question - but did you have day old chicks or older - what breed? How many? etc etc Did it work out financially too - my OH wants to know if its financially viable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Well I started with eggs from Lesley on the forum and put them in my Octagon 10. Simple as that, fed them on chick crumb until 4 weeks old, then Growers from 4-15 then Layers then onwards. They were kept indoors under a brooder until 4 weeks (summer) in the winter it needs to be longer (6 or 7). I had 8/10 eggs hatch, 6 were sold on to somebody who was just starting up, 2 cockerels and 4 hens and 2 were left, unfortunately the hen died so the cockerel was eaten as he was a real nuisance. I've started eating my own quail too. I don't think it is financially viable at all especially with modern supermarket prices being so low, even free-range. It is worth it though. Any specific questions just ask. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 You see I'd love to do that, OH has been talking about it since HFWs programmes, but it's aboutspace in our garden for more hens, we've got 11 big hens and 4 bantams already and it's only a standard back garden. Plus obviousy although you're going to eat them presumably you may well end up with several cockerels for weeks at a time. So sadly we're going to have to wait until our lottery numbers come up or my parents pop their clogs (how awful ) then we're off to the country!! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyirons Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 for good meat production, full size free ranging orpingtons, especially males are very good. Having said that I had two young fat hybrids for christmas dinner, fed 8 of us, and got a curry and a chicken soup out of it. As long as they aren't too old, all free ranging chickens taste wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 i definately think it is the thing to do you know where the food has come from and it has led a good life but i just couldnt do it myself, i wish i could i worry about my girlies being too hot, cold, wet i applaude anyone who can rear them and eat them sarah ( big silly softy ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 So - how long do you actually rear the chickens for before dispatching them? I know the HFW programme was talking less than three months old for the intensive farmed birds - but how long until you end up with a bird that's ready for the oven and weighing in at 2kg oven weight? What age do cockerals start to crow too! Also - what concerns me is how do I house day old chicks and how many do I go for seeing its just really for my family? More questions and despite lots of googling, I still can't find the answers I'm looking for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Hi there, welcome I don't keep meat birds, I personly couldn't do it I admire anyone who can though. Why not try www.practicalpoultry.co.uk they are very good at this sort of thing. One tip though, I wouldn't name anything that is going to be dinner, that will make it harder. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almoor Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I saw these sites giving advice on how to "dispatch" your chicken. http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/Chicken_a/killing-chicken-meat.php http://forum.rivercottage.net/viewtopic.php?t=5478&start=0 I think anyone wishing to rear chickens for meat should have the courage of their convictions and be able to do the deed themselves but in a humane manner otherwise you may as well buy the same farmed chickens HFW is campaigning for. I'm no chicken farmer, far from it and only just got my first 3 chickens from Omelet a few days ago and now I find myself writing my first post about slaughtering them. Strange....... I have travelled far and wide around the world and have witnessed and experienced many different methods from many different cultures but would recommend the best way and less stressful way for both chicken and owner is to use a "game dispatcher" as mentioned on the river cottage forum above. Cutting throats of chickens or even beheading will cause you stress believe me as they can still twitch and move around for moments after as they still have nervous energy within them. Not a pretty site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 So - how long do you actually rear the chickens for before dispatching them? I know the HFW programme was talking less than three months old for the intensive farmed birds - but how long until you end up with a bird that's ready for the oven and weighing in at 2kg oven weight? What age do cockerals start to crow too! Also - what concerns me is how do I house day old chicks and how many do I go for seeing its just really for my family? More questions and despite lots of googling, I still can't find the answers I'm looking for! Mine are in a brooder in my utility until they are 6-8 weeks depending on the weather. Thats the same age as th eintensive ones got eaten and I have pictures of some of mine at that age showing they are still just babies really. As for crowing it varies, we seem to have discovered on this forum that some breeds crow later than others. If its noise you're worried about so far I have found that mine are of a good size before they crow which is why I have the confidence to go ahead as I couldnt keep crowing birds either. If you have a freezer I would go for as many as you can. You can always start with culling the males and then doing the female later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 I've decided to go ahead. I've sourced a brooder which is fine but I just need to decide on breed! ixworth? Dorking? Sasso? Bronze which do you go for ? Do you keep them in the Eglu's ? How many do you go for at a time - I have two freezers....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I havent hacthed them for eating yet I've only ever done it for fun breeds so I'm actually in the same boat as you for looking at breeds. Lesley, Martin and a few other may be better at advising on that. I will only be doing half a dozen at a time as I don't have more room than that. I intend to get at least two batches through this year though then we can have a chicken a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almoor Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Good luck to you both. At least the chickens will have been raised and enjoyed a life and you will end up with a true free range product. I'd be interested (as I'm sure others would be) to hear from you in the future to see how cost effective it all works out over time. I admire your candid appraoch to this issue and for airing this in an open forum such as this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaDC Posted January 11, 2008 Author Share Posted January 11, 2008 I honestly didn't think I'd consider rearing free range chickens for the table - but it feels like the next step. I was very wary of posting this subject on the Omlet site as I didn't want to offend anyone but what with the HFW programmes earlier this week .... Anyway - yes, will gladly post again in the future when the freezer is stocked and let you know pros/cons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 I just did a search for this, as I figured that someone else would have posted about it. My OH would really like to rear birds for the table and I think that we will eventually. I think that we would probably go down the broody hen track rather than using an icubator though. I guess we would also have to have new housing too. Hmmm I wonder how many years we will dither for?! I've not eaten meat since I was 11 (22 years ago!) and think that this is the only way I would actually eat meat. I hate the idea of the hens being put on the conveyor belt upside down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 i definately think it is the thing to doyou know where the food has come from and it has led a good life but i just couldnt do it myself, i wish i could i worry about my girlies being too hot, cold, wet i applaude anyone who can rear them and eat them sarah ( big silly softy ) My feelings too Sarah, although I woudn't go so far as to say I applaude anyone who rears and eats them because it's really not something I can understand. I can't even eat chicken at all now since I got my girlies and it's not like any of those chickens in a shop or restaurent came from my garden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonie Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 i definately think it is the thing to doyou know where the food has come from and it has led a good life but i just couldnt do it myself, i wish i could i worry about my girlies being too hot, cold, wet i applaude anyone who can rear them and eat them sarah ( big silly softy ) My feelings too Sarah, although I woudn't go so far as to say I applaude anyone who rears and eats them because it's really not something I can understand. I can't even eat chicken at all now since I got my girlies and it's not like any of those chickens in a shop or restaurent came from my garden! Ditto, we've stopped eating chicken since our girlies arrived and without meaning to sound controversial in anyway, I certainly couldn't kill any bird I had looked after and inevitably become attached to over the 3 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
