Dallas raw feeders, any interest in home grown chicken?

[dpenning]

I have 5 hens on my country place for eggs. I'm considering raising some meat birds next spring. This is still all in the planning/consideration stage. These chicks will be chemical free free range birds. They are ready to process in 8-10 weeks from the time I get them.

My husband and I eat dark meat so when processing day comes, we would take the legs and thighs and likely get rid of most of the rest. My neighbor said she wanted some of the breasts but i'm not sure she could eat something we processed. I'm not sure I can eat something I process.

Anyway, would anyone be interested enough to help on processing day to get some free chicken parts? Hubs says he can kill but won't process, once it is dead it becomes food so I don't think I'll have any difficulty processing.

I don't want to get into any legal issues involved in selling food so it is a question of labor for farm fresh chicken feet and parts.

Anyone have any interest?

 

[angelbears]

Wish I was closer. I'm not sure I could do it though.

We had a couple old roosters that free ranged between 4 or 5 yards. I would throw food out. They roosted up in various trees. I was outside watching them when out of the blue, A hawk swoops down and tries to fly off with one. I guess it was too heavy, about 20 feet up in the air the damn hawk dropped him. He was in very bad shape. I picked him up and tried to wring his neck to take him out of his misery. I'll just say it didn't pop like everyone says it does. I never want to experience that again.

Good Luck!

 

[dpenning]

I hear ya AB. It will be an experiment. I'm not sure I can do it either but I want to try if I can figure out a cheap easy way to make a tractor. I also have to decide if I want to live out there for 4 weeks until they are big enough to go into some kind of mobil coop. Still lots of questions to answer, I just hate the thought of all that chicken going to waste if I do order some meaties.

 

[angelbears]

Is there anyway you could get to the point where you would let your pack have the feet? Mine get them not as part of their daily food but as a supplement. Really great for their hips/all joints. The rooster combs are supposed to be fantastic too. I have been trying to find heads for years.

 

[dpenning]

I'm not sure they would consider them a food source but I could try it. Do they dehydrate them for storage? I gave Daisy a new bone for Christmas and they all got Pig Ears. I don't think they had ever had them before and it took a minute or two for them to figure it out.

 

[angelbears]

I know of a few raw feeders that raise various livestock. Most don't have a problem. Unless they have a dog with a huge prey drive. We started feeding raw when the two roosters were roaming around. Cane has no prey drive, NONE. He is all defensive drive. Unless an animal were to run towards us he could careless. Ziva had some prey drive but easily controlled.

There is no correlation with feeding raw or kibble but everything to do with the prey drive of your dogs.

I can't wait to hear how your new adventure turns out

 

[cj-sharpy]

I've had same thoughts about rabbits. Would it be viable (and cheaper) to buy some rabbits and let them breed as a sustainable source of meat.
I decided against as I've only a small yard and don't fancy a million rabbits running about.
But I think raising for raw is a good idea and I wish you well


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[dpenning]

I've had same thoughts about rabbits. Would it be viable (and cheaper) to buy some rabbits and let them breed as a sustainable source of meat.
I decided against as I've only a small yard and don't fancy a million rabbits running about.
But I think raising for raw is a good idea and I wish you well


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LOL, I dint feed raw, I'm raising chickens to feed me! I'm just wondering if anyone local would like the leftovers so they don't go to waste.