Java. the end.

[miss_thenorth]

SD, depending on how old your cockerels were when you butchered them will have an effect on the texture of themeat., I do cockerels at 4-6 months. You need to let them sit a bit, -if you freeze them while they are in rigormortis, ain''t no amount of slowcooking gonna soften up those birds. Even so, yo uwill need to cook them differently thatn storebought chicken--slow and moist--I either do slowcooker or a low slow oven with water and veggies vut up in it,and season -I use my homemade seasoning salt. Or I throw them in a pot and slow cook them then remove the meat from the bones and make enchiladas and the like. They will hav a flavour,unlike storebought, but thats because they have foraged, and allowed to grow slowly, this also makes the meat darker and with texsture. Meaties or storebought are very young birds--6-8 weeks.--it affects flasvour and texture.

 

[hillfarm]

So the tyson chickens and such aren't grown with steriods? I had always heard they were. hmm.

Maybe not steroids .... but enough medication and antibiotics in their feed to cause me plenty of dread.

If that is not bad enough (or you choose to believe that they are fed only pure wholesome foods) the fact that they live on the same bedding their whole lifetimes, waller constantly in ammonia laden feces, never see the sunshine or breathe a fresh breath of air in their 40 day lives - tends to put me a bit OFF of commercially raised chicken meat. Not to mention the river of blood and guts that they are bathed in at the processing plants.

JOIN US Hillfarm!! Raise your own sunshine worshiping, grass eating genetic freaks. You will wonder why you waited so long!!

http://www.ubuilderplans.com/img/personal/broilers/Cornish broiler hen.a.JPG

I'm trying to convince hubby that we can do this. He looked at me a little cross eyed last night. His words were "one thing and a time baby, slow down. Lets finish the hen coop for the eggs, then the greenhouse, then the closet, then the front porch, then we can talk more chicken" LOL. well heck if your gonna put it that way.

 

[savingdogs]

We ate them at four months, and java you are right, they reminded me more of perhaps turkey. It wasn't BAD, it just wasn't chicken to us. It had a different shape than the neked chickens we get from the store too, very lean. They DID forage and run around. The legs were especially tough and soup was the only solution. Not that I mind making soup, but I really enjoy chicken.

 

[Javamama]

The meaties don't get tough because they don't move around much. They look like roly-poly toddlers who have just learned to walk

 

[savingdogs]

They don't walk much? Is that why you guys call them creepie meats? I've never really gotten that joke. I've seen the chicks at the feed store, they just look like chicks.

 

[hillfarm]

i dont want to eat toddler chickens.

LOL. So I definantly want creepies and eat them early. 6-8 weeks.

Do you feed them the medicated feed like regular chicks or do you feed them something else?

 

[miss_thenorth]

i dont want to eat toddler chickens.

LOL. So I definantly want creepies and eat them early. 6-8 weeks.

Do you feed them the medicated feed like regular chicks or do you feed them something else?

LOL, slow down hillfarm hee hee. when you get your meaties we will walk you through it.

 

[Javamama]

LOL, sorry for that description They just have a special 'waddle and plop' method of getting around. But that's not why they are creepy. The rate they grow is a little creepy, plus the fact that after the age of a week they cease to be cute. Their don't feather in well and have bald tummies and rear ends for awhile. They will sit in their poop and get gross too. And they stink. Alot.

I feed umedicated chick starter and then flock raiser because it's what we have available. They do eat some grass and weeds but they don't 'forage'.

 

[Farmfresh]

Also something a bit creepy about them weighing 6 pounds at 45 days old and still going, "Peep peep peep."

But they taste GREAT and grow fast!!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

we call 'em creepy meats cuz they are.. um... creepy. but toddler chickens is pretty good too!

they grow super fast, they dont really act like other chickens, they are totally stupid, and honestly i cant stand to touch them with my bare hands.

i DONT feed medicated - i like the Dumor brand at TSC. we feed them 20% for the duration and then the last couple weeks we feed out on corn (cuz we like them with lots of fat) and goat milk.

java - have you been outside yet!?!?? its like heaven! whooot!