Each summer we order Cornish Rock X chickens. They are excellent meat birds. Easy to raise and ready for the freezer in about 12 weeks. We try to make our birds as happy as possible. However, I think we may have given the boys a little too much freedom. They had outdoor space and made use of it. They were walking in and out, chasing each other and doing push ups in the indoor gym. Well, maybe not quite doing push ups. They were still more active than birds from the past.
Time came to visit West Gardnier Beef. We loaded the birds up and took them for their last ride. We take our birds off to be dispatched. We have found it is worth it. So far we have not had any problems with predetors. (knock on wood?) Freezer full enough for this next year. Average weight is about 8lbs.
Wonderful fried chicken for supper. One bird will feed the two of us for about 3 nights with a wing or two for lunch. Have you ever heard of a pulley bone? Do you cut up your chickens or do you buy pieces?
We are very thankful for our birds. We treat them very well and provide a good life for them. In turn they provide for us.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm
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14 comments:
You talking about a wish bone?
We are strictly wing people. Specifically, the 2 boned piece.
That seems like a very good size for the birds. I can't find anyone relatively close by to process my birds and I really don't want to do it myself, but I do want the chicken! I found mine easy to raise too (first time for me this year.) They do look quite active! Glad your freezer is full now :)
Missed you!
Oy. Why did the chicken cross the road anyway? Bird brains.
We tried these birds out this year. I am guessing the heat stunted their growth as they should have been butchered last month, but hey are still small. Grats on all your meat.
You take care of the animals and, eventually, the animals take care of you. It's a good plan.
We raised cornish x also for 2 summmers. They are wonderful eating birds. We butchered our own but when we raise them again will have a local business process them for us. Last year we free ranged them during the day for a lot healthier and happier birds. And those 12 week old 8-10 lb. birds tasted better than the cooped up 8 week old 5-6 lb.er's from the previous year.
Last time I butchered, I put them up whole. Takes too darn much room and we usually only eat half a bird for a meal and leftovers, so this year I cut mine in half (yes, up the breast bone... pruning shears work great!) as well as cutting apart the thigh/drumstick and removing the wings. Backs get cut in half as well and two backs plus two necks = one stock-making lot, bagged together in a ziplock. Meal bags get half a breast, one wing, a thigh and a drumstick and they lay nicely in the freezer, but it is already full and I have 5 more birds to do... so the last ones are going to get pressure canned.
We are in Massachusetts and bring our birds to Arena and sons in Hopkinton. They do a great job. We have had half split and then the rest left to roast. I use the livers for dog treats too. We have about 18 in our freezer now that we are running a generator for since we are still without power since hurricane Irene. We have 26 Cornish that were scheduled for the butcher on Friday. That is now un in the air since we do not know when we will have power back. Our Cornish X Rocks averaged 7 to 8 lbs at 8 weeks.
Love your blog, I like reading chicken blogs but it is nice to find blogs about meat birds too.
Those cornish rocks are so good. When we first started with them, feed was $5 per bag. Now that it's $12+, we haven't bought any, I do miss the rich flavor.
I haven't raised butcher chickens in a few years. When I hatch out eggs, any roosters get put in either a jar or the deep freeze. We butcher our own--when they do get butchered. The husband always apologises to the birds. He tells them just before he kills them, that he doesn't want to do this. BUT, SHE is making me!
We need to raise meat chickens. The laying hens are keeping us in eggs but man your meat chickens look yummy. LOL
I think you are so wise!! I have quite a few chickens now and I have come to fixing them for meat.........but recently it has crossed my mind. That is what making a farm is about right? I have young ducks and young chicks. I am trying to see which ones are layers and which ones. Blessings,Kathleen
I may do this next year... looks yummy. And we have the room to do it, so...
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