Cube mk2 and WIR

[Rachel F]

I know this may be a sensitive subject, but I am keen to rear chickens for meat. Just enough for me and my family. I have done some research on suitable breeds etc and I am planning to go on a butchering course so that I can 'deal with' the chickens myself.

Do forum members think it too insensitive for me to keep meat birds in the eglu with my egg birds?? I will buy another extension for me eglu to give everyone a bit more space. I would only start out with a couple of extra chickens for meat. If it works out okay, I can see me buying another eglu or cube for meat birds only.

Feedback would be appreciated.

Rachel F.

[wombatally]

Hi Rachel

 

We're planning to hatch our own in the spring and we have decided that any males will be reared for the pot. I know it is a sensitive subject but I really do believe it is the only responsible thing for us to do if we hatch.

 

We'll probably seperate the boys to fatten as we'll raise them on a different diet but that's just logistics. Also if you keep a small flock it will stop the others being distressed if their mates dissapear in the night!!

 

I think it would make it easier as you will have a clear segregation between the pets and those you are raising for meat, it will also be logistically easier. Without wishing to discourage buying an eglu, you could buy a cheaper house to keep them in?

 

Good Luck!

[katieD]

hi

 

i personally believe that by rearing your own at least you know they have had a good life and been looked after properly- if you eat meat you should except where it comes from.

 

not sure about keeping them together as an newbie

 

good luck

 

Katie x

[bronze]

A lot of the time they will be too young to be put in with an established flock so you will need seperate housing for them anyway for th start. I would also advise not to do only a few as you're more likely to notice them as individuals and that makes it harder come the cull.

[BeckyBoo]

Hi there, we've got two "for the pot" at the minute, they're boys we have as a result of our own hatchings. We've got a Buff Sussex and a Brahma who are both twenty something weeks, then there's Bob the Rhode Island red cockerel but he's only 5 weeks, plus I think one of the Indian Game birds is also a boy. Ours are in with the other hens at the minute, and once Fred or Scruff the older two, start going cock-a-doodle-doo then I'm afraid it's curtains for them and dinner for us.

My children are up in arms although they are now getting used to the idea (except for absolute stubborn refusal over Scruff the Brahma ) but if you DO hatch your own and you can't rehome all the boys and you can't keep cockerels (which is our situation) then you either dispatch them and throw them away (which I think is criminal) or dispatch them and have truly free range happy chicken for tea

The only time you definitely will need to seperate them is when you "finish them off" - two weeks before you want to do the deed it's a good idea to seperate them to give them a really luxurious diet, porridge with full cream milk, extra greens etc etc to lay down a good layer of fat.

There's not a whole lot on here about birds for the table but Practical Poultry has more about it on their forum if you have a look.

Go for it, I'm going to try and persuade one of my local breeders to help me do the deed the first couple of times to make sure I can do it properly, I owe them the swiftest most stress free painless end I can give them and Fred already weighs 5-6lb and is not all that happy being held

 

Mrs B