TanksHill...Roll on!!

[TanksHill]

So FJ, did you feed those birds non stop? With feed available at all times?

I think I will be ok to push hem to 8 weeks then Especially since I am planning to butcher on my own.

g

 

[FarmerJamie]

So FJ, did you feed those birds non stop? With feed available at all times?

I think I will be ok to push hem to 8 weeks then Especially since I am planning to butcher on my own.

g

yep, I was a rookie with them. It's not too often chicken breast from just one side can fill up a family of 5. Only one had leg trouble (3 days prior to processing, so he got special care for those days, and tasted just fine).

This time, I think about limiting more at 4 weeks (2 weeks from now).

 

[Farmfresh]

At this stage they should gain about a pound a WEEK!! Also this is when they really start to get heat sensitive. Watch them close.

I START to butcher the largest birds at about 4 1/2 pounds. I do about 6 every other evening. If I want a roaster or two I pick my best looking most active, clean legged birds and mark them to be cleaned last. They will need good leg structure to support the weight.

Doing a few at a time like I do gives me space in the fridge to chill them before freezing and helps my arthritic hands as well. It also works out well on the weights as the smaller birds keep growing and even faster with less competition at the feed pan. Working this way the last of the fryers usually weigh in at about 6 pounds.

I hold the roasters a bit longer. This is best done in cold weather. My biggest to date were 10 and 10 1/2 pounds DRESSED weight without giblets!!

I don't think I have nearly the waste that Wannabee indicated. I figure the waste was around 15 percent (+/-) My (fryer) birds butchered as described above dressed out between 3.75 and 4.75 pounds plus giblets which we keep. I also kept the feet for a friend who makes an ethnic soup with them but I didn't count that in the weights either. The Cornish Rocks have fewer feathers and actually short legs for their size. If you counted the bone as waste then the 30% might be more accurate. Personally I get a lot of mileage even out of the bones. I like to roast them and make up a good stock from them.

 

[pinkfox]

your garden is beautiful!

how big is that polt pen, im plannign on getting some haritidge turkeys eventually and raising some of their young for my own meat, was wondering how big of a grow out pen id need for 5-10 poults to normal butcher weight.

 

[TanksHill]

Thanks for the feeding info. In the early stages of feeding I would dump/ spread feed onto the grass. I would make 3 little piles so all the birds could get to it. I would do that 2 to 3 times a day. I know they were still kinda hungry because when I came to feed they would rush the door. Scary piranha action.

After I pulled the turkeys I had bought a gravity feeder. Now they eat all day. Not sure if it's a good idea or not. They are definitely slowing down and kinda being lazy.

who knows!!

PinkFox, thank you. The garden is doing well. About 4 years ago I started moving the raised beds into the yard. Every year we have added a couple more boxes. It's a lot of space, but like every veggie garden there is always something more to plant.

The turkey hut is 6 x 6. I do not plan to grow them out in there though. I am going to give them a few more weeks and then let them free range with the other birds. I really don't even know what I'm going to do with them. Maybe freezer camp and sell a couple.

Last time I did this with my breeding trio. Eventually they all started going to bed with the chickens. When the chickens went in a dusk the turkeys did too. Not at first. For a while I walked around picking them up and carrying them to the hut. It was not fun.

But all is good.

g

 

[FarmerJamie]

Thanks for the feeding info. In the early stages of feeding I would dump/ spread feed onto the grass. I would make 3 little piles so all the birds could get to it. I would do that 2 to 3 times a day. I know they were still kinda hungry because when I came to feed they would rush the door. Scary piranha action.

Do they do the meatie wobble when they run? (think drunk velociraptor from Jurassic Park).

Scary indeed.

 

[TanksHill]

Not necessarily wobbling but getting close. I have a couple that are capable of flying up onto the top of the feeder. I don't have it hanging.


So I just had to share a story with you. Yesterday I answered and e mail on CL for canning jars. Not that I need more but the lady had 3, 8 oz jars for 20 dollars. yes 20 bucks. She has a picture and that's it. The jars look like nothing special and the lids look modern.

So I e mailed her, asked if it was a misprint because a case of jars only sells normally for about 9.

OMG I got the most vicious e mail back.

"Evidentally you dont have the brain power to recognize stupid that these jars are seventy years old. You F@#$#@% moron"

Then another that said "Bi#$#!"

I should not have replied but I had to. I tried really hard to be nice.

"No need to get snippy. I did not see the age of the jars posted in the add. I thought maybe you had 3 cases in which I intended to buy them. Thanks anyways."

The funniest part is the ladys FB picture and info is on her e mail. She really needs to be bit nicer. If I had it in me I would slay her on line. But knowing my luck she might come after me. I thought about flaging her add but that might just make it worse.

Lovely.

Off to the dentist today. Then stopping for groceris and home to sit idly and watch my veggeis grow.

Yawn!!! I have a very boring life. I guess that's ok.

g

 

[Javamama]

Wow, some people I'm still not sure why the jars being so old would make them valuable. Is there an antique canning jar market I don't know about?

My meaties are 4 weeks old and huge! I need to weigh one today. DH calls them 'the fat kids' I think they are kind of cute in a pathetic way.

 

[Farmfresh]

Wow. I would still flag that ad.

It amazes me how some people go from zero to evil in a matter of seconds.

 

[TanksHill]

I know it's scary. I don't want her coming after me any more. But you know I have her name FB info and we live in the same city. I would never talk to someone that way. For a minute I thought I should post the link and you guys could all respond with really dumb questions that would drive her nuts.

On a happy note my dentist appointment is tomorrow not today. I also found a guy selling a bunch of poultry feeders, water-er, brooder light and chicken wire for 25 bucks. Kills me because I bought that feeder the other day for 17.00 on top of what I aid last month for those lights. Well I'm going to go get the stuff. You never know when you will need another feeder, or brooder light etc..