Lesley Posted October 6, 2005 Author Share Posted October 6, 2005 Lesley the new plastic ark looks good and those little cute chicks are so sweet.........How long before they get eaten.... That depends on how soon some of them start to crow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Well done, Lesley. Not boring, brown ones? (Not that there is such a thing). You musn't let us call them cute, and try not to look at them too much! That's a great set up you have though, all the best with this extra garden project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I can't see the pictures...just getting a box with a cross I was going to lower the tone and tell you how tasty they looked Lesley (sorry , that was a bit bad wasn't it , you can mod me if you wish) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 7, 2005 Author Share Posted October 7, 2005 That's the way we have to look at them Gina or else we'll never manage it. I don't know why the photos have gone. They have been picked up from the Omlet Gallery I'll ask Kate. K..A..T..E..! are you there? The photos are in an album named New Venture - in Chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I am sure I saw them yesterday ... cute fluffy chickidees, with no names. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I'll check out the Gallery Lesley and Sarahjo - it might be my wind-up computer at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 7, 2005 Author Share Posted October 7, 2005 No Gina - the photos aren't there today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 UPDATE: The first four were despatched today at the age of 10 weeks. They weren't very big but we don't really have room for 12 as they get bigger. Also, we wanted to be shown how to do it while the weather was still reasonable because we knew it would take longer the first time. The weather was actually more like a summer's day We separated the four biggest yesterday morning just after they had been let out and had a good feed. They were supposed to be 6 girls and 6 boys but they all looked the same Two had attempted a strangled sort of crowing one morning so we had already put leg rings on. Jake chose two more of the bigger ones on Thursday and helped me put leg rings on those. We put them into the polytunnel with a cardboard box inside a dog cage for them to sleep in. We sectioned the polytunnel to protect the salad onions which were still growing in there. The idea was to not feed tham anymore, just give them water, which makes the end process much easier. They, however, had other ideas They ate plastic from the grow bags, a packet of seeds and had a go at some string - all of which had to be removed! We didn't think they could reach. Then two of them managed to get the other side of the netting and eat all the onions and a marigold plant Bob Flowerdew, in his book, says he starves his for 24 hours and then gives them breadcrumbs soaked in rum just before despatching them. Carl had been making a full-mash beer and so we gave them the leftover grains soaked in brandy with some honey - they certainly went feeling very happy Our friend came round and showed us what to do with the first chicken and then Carl managed to do the other three.This bit is very, very quick. As soon as it happens, the eyes are closed and it doesn't feel like you are holding a pet - it is food The type of chicken we have is very strong and I knew I physically wouldn't be able to do the deed because of arthritis in my thumbs, so I took each one as it died and held it until it stopped trying to flap around. This took longer than I thought it would and it was comforting to have someone there to say "this is perfectly normal". We had managed to pick 4 girls - we don't know now if any are cockerals! We plucked them straight away as it is easier while they are warm. We sat in the polytunnel which is now filled with feathers. This job was also easier than we thought it would be. Our friends wife came to show us the next bit at 4pm. Because we hadn't fed them this was also not as bad as we thought it might be. We have kept the livers to make pate and the giblets for gravy. We jointed one and so have pieces to freeze and a carcase for soup. One to roast tomorrow and two for the freezer. We were dreading today but it hasn't been anywhere near as bad as our imaginations had led us to think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 ...... good for you Lesley. I know it must be hard .. but also, gratifying. I won't mention my sordid past of gutting, and plucking ..... have done it before myself, but admire you for the rearing and etc. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleata Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 you brave woman Lesley. you have to let us know how they taste. i never mnaged to see the chicks as the photo doesnt work. how did you dispatch them if you dont mind me asking its very interesting. i'm too much of a wooss when it comes to things like this, but i love the thorght of rearing my own food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 SarahJo - I didn't know you had a sordid past Fleata - it was just by hand, breaking the neck. I've read quite a bit on Practical Poultry about despatchers and the problems people have had with them so that's why we decided to be taught to do it this way. I also have detailed instructions from someone on another forum on how to do it with a broom handle. She also, has weak hands and cannot do it by hand. That was Plan B - if our friend didn't turn up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Well done Lesley. I still don't know if I could do it but I do admire you both for it. I saw them a couple of weeks ago and they had a very good life - very spoiled . Let us know what they taste like! Bet they'll be wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Well Done Lesley & Carl! - No matter how upsetting it may seem, this is definately a better way of rearing/killing/eating than buying a bit of anonymous ropey meat from a cheap supermarket - good for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Well done Lesley and Carl.............You are both very brave I am sure the end product will taste fantastic and all the better for a bit of added alcohol............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Lesley, I know I'm just repeating all the others, but I wanted to add my "well done" too. Sounds like they had a great life and an alcoholic end. Sounds good to me I bet they taste great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 Thank you all - I feel much better than I did this time last night. As we've only ever bought organic, free-range chicken I wasn't expecting these to taste any different - they do. Much better than anything we've tasted before. To anyone else who has a small area where they could do this I'd say 'go for it' - it's well worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clare* Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Wow Lesley, I'm glad they taste good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 If I was going to go let it be that way and given respect and care. Well done 'fluffy pink' lesley! Glad it tasted good! Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 I'm quite tempted to try this myself. I even asked hubby at dinner if he thought he could despatch a chicken. He thought I meant Phil So I think that's a "no" then. I'm not surprised they tasted good Lesley, must surely have been the best chicken you've ever eaten. Will you continue this now with more growers to replace the original 4? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 13, 2005 Author Share Posted November 13, 2005 We still have 8 left Kate. There is room for them to grow bigger. I wouldn't have been happy with 12 large chickens in a run area of 12 sq.m They have access to the lawn but not all the time. This lot should be gone by Christmas or just after and we will probably have some more in Spring. I know it sounds awful but we got 12 because if we couldn't go through with it again, at least we would have had 12 chickens and not just 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 SarahJo - I didn't know you had a sordid past .... . I am actually a woman of many hidden talents and knowledge ... just keep it all hidden. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 13, 2005 Author Share Posted November 13, 2005 We must be related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 Very pleased to hear it all went well and that you had a superior taste experience You'll find the next lot much easier to do - the flapping is very disconcerting even though you know the bird is dead and it is just reflexes. if you are feeling very lazy and usually take the skin off chicken joints for cooking, then any chicken you are planning to joint, you can just skin it rather than plucking. Unless of course you are looking at the big pile of feathers and thinking, cushions, duvets etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 Sory for my lateness in catching up with this thread Lesely. I have just read your experiences, and am amazed. I think you were right when you said that you felt better than you let your imagination say you would, the following day. I think this would go for me too. I'm probably imagining it was worse than it actually was. I am in total awe that you can do this. I would love to be able to be brave enough to do it too. The bit that would upset me is the preparatin afterwards - defeathering and dividing. How lovely to know where your chickens have come from, knowing what a great life they had. Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
