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First chickens killded
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:50 pm
by hedgewizard
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!
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:08 pm
by ina
Don't worry - you'll survive...
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:03 pm
by eccentric_emma
congratulations
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:26 pm
by red
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.
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:22 am
by Millymollymandy
My market hens only laid for 2 years, Red.
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:54 am
by red
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....
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:14 am
by Millymollymandy
I guess with the hybrids they just wear themselves out. They laid all through their first winter too. Now they are just pets.
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:10 pm
by Thurston Garden
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!
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:43 pm
by red
well done - they look good !
chickens
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:22 am
by mauzi
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.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:19 am
by Thurston Garden
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!
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:16 pm
by Nikki
Congrats.
What method did you use to kill them? I'm still a wimp about this....
Re: First chickens killded
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:12 pm
by MALCOLM CRAGG
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.
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:32 pm
by MALCOLM CRAGG
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
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:09 pm
by Thurston Garden
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!