First chickens killded

hedgewizard · Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:50 pm

Finally took the plunge and bumped off our first batch of layers, four years after they arrived. It wasn't as hard or as smelly as I had feared, and tonight we'll be eating the first batch of soup - wish me luck!

ina · Post: # 78884Post **ina** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:08 pm

Don't worry - you'll survive...

eccentric_emma · Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:03 pm

congratulations

red · Post: # 78890Post **red** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:26 pm

well done

tho have to say I am surprised that they were not laying enough after only 4 years.. were they ex batt ? what breed? I've known hens lay for years and years...

Do you already have replacements?
bet your chickens are tough but tasty.

Millymollymandy · Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:22 am

My market hens only laid for 2 years, Red.

red · Post: # 78979Post **red** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:54 am

Millymollymandy wrote:My market hens only laid for 2 years, Red.

wow that is bad.

we always had chickens when i was growing up - certainly the arbrakers (sp?) laid eggs for years.. but the warrens were only good for 4 years or so.. but then they usually died.. kinda stopped egg production that way....

Millymollymandy · Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:14 am

I guess with the hybrids they just wear themselves out. They laid all through their first winter too. Now they are just pets.

Thurston Garden · Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:10 pm

Hats off to the OH who killed, plucked and cleaned 7 Sassos today.

I plucked one but took aaaaaaages!

The skin on the hens was very thin and easily torn. The cocks were better though. The hens had eggs inside them - the OH hates that!

red · Post: # 79601Post **red** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:43 pm

well done - they look good !

mauzi · Post: # 79610Post **mauzi** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:22 am

Hedgewizard - Well done. Nothing like home grown chicken.

Thurston Gardens, they look great! Nice size too. Are Sassos a breed - we don't have them here.

Thurston Garden · Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:19 am

Yes - Sassos are a breed - info here

Well done too HW - nothing better than some delicious chicken that you reared yourself - know exactly what went into them, cared for them, and killed them humanely!

Nikki · Post: # 79701Post **Nikki** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:16 pm

Congrats.

What method did you use to kill them? I'm still a wimp about this....

MALCOLM CRAGG · Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:12 pm

hedgewizard wrote:Finally took the plunge and bumped off our first batch of layers, four years after they arrived. It wasn't as hard or as smelly as I had feared, and tonight we'll be eating the first batch of soup - wish me luck!

hi...killed my second one saturday..minced and slow cooked tonight..not nice but rational.

MALCOLM CRAGG · Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:32 pm

Nikki wrote:Congrats.

What method did you use to kill them? I'm still a wimp about this....

Hi,
I've got a small axe(not chopper),just lay her neck over a wood block and do you the act

Thurston Garden · Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:09 pm

We (i.e OH!) use the red handled dispatchers at the top of this page.

They are a cross between pliers and blunt scissors. Once the bird stops it's death throws, OH cuts the neck and bleeds them out. Messy!

Selfsufficientish.com

First chickens killded

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