Home grown chickens to eat? (Merged Discussion)

dND

Just found this on labeling chicken and eggs

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article3161640.ece

sammiboo

kylieM wrote: »

I want some ducks. Can you get ducks? how do you stop them from leaving you?

I used to have an aylesbury duck.

If you go for the "farm type" ducks then they arent really bulit for flying so you could go for something like in aylesbury, Indian Runner or Kharki Campbell.

These arent like Mallards they dont fly and arent built for flying.

We had "Daffy" for about 8 years. We got him from a pub, my dad was offered one to "take home for the wife" and we built a house for him and made a pond. :beer:

elaine373

Carrying on with the good life theme, i looked on my local council website about allotments. I am probably the only one that doesnt know this but just in case.......some councils allow chickens to be kept at the allotment.

rog2

dND wrote: »

Just found this on labeling chicken and eggs

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article3161640.ece

So according to that article the 'organic' chicken is the 'top of the heap' and is allowed to wander at will, in small flocks, and is fed on organic food.
That's what I would have expected. Unfortunately the article does not actually quote any legislation.

sammiboo

elaine373 wrote: »

some councils allow chickens to be kept at the allotment.

Wrexham council allows chickens to be kept at allotments, not sure what it is across the board. Powys I think does aswell as there is a small allotment down the road with chickens.

dND

rog2 wrote: »

So according to that article the 'organic' chicken is the 'top of the heap' and is allowed to wander at will, in small flocks, and is fed on organic food.
That's what I would have expected. Unfortunately the article does not actually quote any legislation.

Here you go rog2

http://www.organic.aber.ac.uk/organics/

and that links to DEFRA

Still not found a site that explains it simply, I have a feel ing that is because it isn't that simple :wall:

rog2

dND wrote: »

Here you go rog2

http://www.organic.aber.ac.uk/organics/

and that links to DEFRA

Still not found a site that explains it simply, I have a feel ing that is because it isn't that simple :wall:

Thanks dND - As with all Government Agency Publications it is definitely not written in terms for the normal layman.
However, it does specify that 'Organic' chickens 'cannot be caged', must have access to open grazing (certain exceptions), maximum hours of 'light', and it also specifies maximum numbers per 'flock'.
So it really isn't quite as simple as 'just feeding chickens with organic food'.

tubbies74

I would love to but area wont allow it

moo2moo

I'm guilty as charged. I keep 2 types of chickens. Egg layers for their eggs and table birds for consumption plus any agressive cockerel also finds its way into the slow cooker.

The most obvious things to point out are:

1- The meat is so much tougher than anything you'll have eaten before, because your birds use their leg muscles they are almost inedible if you roast them, invest in a large slow cooker.

2 - even the fast growing table breeds will be 4 months from hatching to dispatching, 6 months for turkeys and traditional breeds

3 - the meat tastes much stronger in flavour, Welsummers are love it / hate it a bit like marmite and cockerel tastes very different to hen meat.

4 - no matter what you read killing a chicken is not as quick and easy as its made out to be. I lack the strength to kill by neck dislocation an adult bird and I'm not tall enough to kill a turkey using a broomstick. Finally no matter how much flapping you think there will be its like wrestling with a 4 year old mid-temper tantrum.

**Stands back and waits for accusations of cruelty!

~Chameleon~

moo2moo wrote: »

I'm guilty as charged. I keep 2 types of chickens. Egg layers for their eggs and table birds for consumption plus any agressive cockerel also finds its way into the slow cooker.

The most obvious things to point out are:

1- The meat is so much tougher than anything you'll have eaten before, because your birds use their leg muscles they are almost inedible if you roast them, invest in a large slow cooker.

That's interesting, but also makes a lot of sense. I do have a slow cooker as it happens so no problem there

moo2moo wrote: »

2 - even the fast growing table breeds will be 4 months from hatching to dispatching, 6 months for turkeys and traditional breeds

I was expecting something along those lines so no surprise there.

moo2moo wrote: »

3 - the meat tastes much stronger in flavour, Welsummers are love it / hate it a bit like marmite and cockerel tastes very different to hen meat.

Can't recall having eaten cockerel, at least not since childhood anyway, but I like strong gamey meats so shouldn't be a problem. Any reason they would taste much stronger than the free range birds I can buy from the butcher?

moo2moo wrote: »

4 - no matter what you read killing a chicken is not as quick and easy as its made out to be. I lack the strength to kill by neck dislocation an adult bird and I'm not tall enough to kill a turkey using a broomstick. Finally no matter how much flapping you think there will be its like wrestling with a 4 year old mid-temper tantrum.

Now, dispatching them is something I do need to think about. It's been many, many years since I've had to kill an adult bird (not since I was a teenager) so I know it's not as easy as it looks and it's not like I can get any practice anywhere to make sure I still know how to do it competently! Also, like you, I'm not sure I'd have the physical strength these days to do it and the last thing I'd want to do is cause any stress or suffering to the poor bird

I'm sure I've read somewhere that you can buy humane dispatchers these days but I've not yet investigated this any further to find out what method these use.

Thanks for the info though, very useful, and don't worry I'm still very much at the planning and research stage so not about to rush off and buy any chicks without knowing what I'm doing

moo2moo wrote: »

**Stands back and waits for accusations of cruelty!

Heh! You won't get any flack from me, being an ex farm-type gal