Chicken/egg question

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robinjopo said:
So far no chicks. I think she laid infertile eggs. I caught another hen eating 2 of the eggs. No babies inside.
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I've never kept chickens . . . but out of morbid curiosity, are they cannibalistic?

Also, if you're butchering them, how long does it take a chicken to stop running around without it's head?

There are reasons why I'm mostly a vegetarian, but I may have to toughen up and change my sensitivities if things get a lot worse because of COVID-19 and the economic strains.
 
Kevin L said:
I've never kept chickens . . . but out of morbid curiosity, are they cannibalistic?

Also, if you're butchering them, how long does it take a chicken to stop running around without it's head?

There are reasons why I'm mostly a vegetarian, but I may have to toughen up and change my sensitivities if things get a lot worse because of COVID-19 and the economic strains.
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First, don’t let the chicken run around. Hang it upside down and use a very sharp knife to cut the neck...just enough to let it bleed. It will go to permanent sleep without pain or fuss.

Second, if you leave a dying bird in with others they certainly will peck at it. Don’t leave a sick one in with others.
 
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Kevin L said:
I've never kept chickens . . . but out of morbid curiosity, are they cannibalistic?

Also, if you're butchering them, how long does it take a chicken to stop running around without it's head?

There are reasons why I'm mostly a vegetarian, but I may have to toughen up and change my sensitivities if things get a lot worse because of COVID-19 and the economic strains.
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Most people butchering chickens put the chickens head in a "killing cone" and just make a small cut in the chickens neck. This way the chicken bleeds out without flopping around brusing the meat. Most people don't cut their heads off, but I imagine that some people still do though.
Chickens will sometimes eat their own eggs and will eat meat given the opportunity. They will also eat mice, lizards and anything else that they can catch.
 
Kevin L said:
I've never kept chickens . . . but out of morbid curiosity, are they cannibalistic?
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Yes chickens are cannibalistic especially if overcrowded. Not as bad as some game birds such as pheasant though. In commercial settings you will see hens that half the top beak is removed to discourage cannibalism, bullying and vent pecking as well as egg eating.
 
Arcticdude said:
Most people butchering chickens put the chickens head in a "killing cone" and just make a small cut in the chickens neck. This way the chicken bleeds out without flopping around brusing the meat. Most people don't cut their heads off, but I imagine that some people still do though.
Chickens will sometimes eat their own eggs and will eat meat given the opportunity. They will also eat mice, lizards and anything else that they can catch.
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Thank you for clarifying.

If they eat rodents (which I did not know, by the way), then that brings me to some other concerns.

All rodents--especially rats and mice--carry lots and lots of diseases.

If your chickens are eating rodents and carrion, does that mean that humans can catch diseases from eating the chicken, or maybe from being exposed to a chicken's body fluids during butchering?

A lot of people like chicken liver, and I imagine that lots of diseases and parasites concentrate in the liver.

Am I wrong to have these concerns?

And what is vent-pecking?

Thank you for your patience with a newbie/wannabe.
 
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Kevin L said:
Thank you for clarifying.

If they eat rodents (which I did not know, by the way), then that brings me to some other concerns.

All rodents--especially rats and mice--carry lots and lots of diseases.

If your chickens are eating rodents and carrion, does that mean that humans can catch diseases from eating the chicken, or maybe from being exposed to a chicken's body fluids during butchering?

A lot of people like chicken liver, and I imagine that lots of diseases and parasites concentrate in the liver.

Am I wrong to have these concerns?

And what is vent-pecking?

Thank you for your patience with a newbie/wannabe.
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Good questions Kevin but its really out of my expertise. At my location we don't have rats, just lots and lots of mice and voles. Also there has never been chickens on this property before, or at least since the old homesteading days anyway. So it's about as free of chicken diseases as one can get. Our chickens never get a chance to eat carrion, but when I'm butchering hogs or cattle they do like to hang around and eat some of the scraps.
At this moment the chickens and ducks are with me in the corral hoping that I'll uncover some bugs for them.
I'd be interested in hearing form someone that knows more than I do about chicken diseases.
 
Arcticdude said:
Good questions Kevin but its really out of my expertise. At my location we don't have rats, just lots and lots of mice and voles. Also there has never been chickens on this property before, or at least since the old homesteading days anyway. So it's about as free of chicken diseases as one can get. Our chickens never get a chance to eat carrion, but when I'm butchering hogs or cattle they do like to hang around and eat some of the scraps.
At this moment the chickens and ducks are with me in the corral hoping that I'll uncover some bugs for them.
I'd be interested in hearing form someone that knows more than I do about chicken diseases.
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Thank you.
 
Kevin L said:
If they eat rodents (which I did not know, by the way), then that brings me to some other concerns.

All rodents--especially rats and mice--carry lots and lots of diseases.

If your chickens are eating rodents and carrion, does that mean that humans can catch diseases from eating the chicken, or maybe from being exposed to a chicken's body fluids during butchering?

A lot of people like chicken liver, and I imagine that lots of diseases and parasites concentrate in the liver.

Am I wrong to have these concerns?

And what is vent-pecking?

Thank you for your patience with a newbie/wannabe.
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My own personal experience with chickens is that yes a chicken will eat a rodent but I discourage rodents at all costs around my chicken area. I have 2 cats and 2 little black Scottish Terrier dogs that kill any rodent on the place. including rats, mice, skunks, possums, moles. voles and the occasional squirrels. Classic little ankle biters but absolutely great farm dogs. I don't want rodents spreading disease and I don't want my chickens eating them if at all possible. I have also been known to set traps If I do see one. Rodents attract snakes and snakes are deadly in my corner of the world. Rattlers and copperheads will stay where there is food.

I also don't really feed my chickens meat. They do run around the yard eating grasshoppers and worms but I don't leave meat lying around for them. I don't want the maggots, smell or flies associated with that.

Vent.jpg


As to vent pecking it is somewhat self explanatory.

Chickens kept in small enclosures under less than ideal conditions are bored, underfed and will peck and eat at one another and pull feathers. I hang up heads of cabbage whole as toys/treats for my chickens. Freeze whole kernel corn in the summer to give them something to peck at. Even more important is that I use my chickens as composters. I have a fenced in area attached to my coop and run. I put my weeds that I pull, grass clippings and leaves and compost material in there for my chickens to scratch through and as it decomposes the chickens eat what they want, poop on it and all around help it to decompose. So basically I put my chickens to work. it gives them a larger area and something to do. Every so often I turn the compost and throw a couple hand fulls of cracked corn in the compost. Those chickens will scratch for days.

Chickens can be a great addition to a homestead under the right conditions. Just don't overcrowd them.
 
We don't have weeds anymore. We have chicken salad. I just let them sort through all of my pulled weeds so they take care of ticks etc.

In past years, it was common to find numerous ticks crawling on us at the bed of a work day, but last year we seldom founds ticks even on the dogs.

So far this year, I have found 6 ticks on me. One actually had been there for a while sucking blood which is scary. Yes, I shower or bathe after work, but this was in my hair.
 
Rellgar said:
What's everyone's favorite breed of egg layers? And best overall egg and meat breed? For southern U.S.
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My favorite for laying is either a Golden Comet or Isa Brown. The Comet gives you tons of eggs with reduced feed compared to other breeds. Barred Rocks are a solid egg layer and meat bird. They are great foragers too. I’ve tried other breeds, but just aren’t into them because they don’t lay as many eggs.
 
GeorgiaPeachie said:
My favorite for laying is either a Golden Comet or Isa Brown. The Comet gives you tons of eggs with reduced feed compared to other breeds. Barred Rocks are a solid egg layer and meat bird. They are great foragers too. I’ve tried other breeds, but just aren’t into them because they don’t lay as many eggs.
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I have Barred Rock too.
 
Rellgar said:
What's everyone's favorite breed of egg layers? And best overall egg and meat breed? For southern U.S.
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Buff Orphington for chickens both eggs and meat. Ducks is Khaki Campbell for eggs and slug control.
 
The same chicken that I thought was lost, but was in the garage on eggs is missing again.

She didn't come to roost last night, but she was here this morning then poof, she's gone again. I'm guessing she's nesting again. I have searched and searched. My garage is a junk pile and I have been in there with a flashlight. No luck.
 
Went to feed chickens and heard a baby but couldn't find it anywhere. I lifted the mom and the chick was just pipping. It was being loud so hopefully healthy.

Today is day 21 so it was perfect to the day. She ended up with 13 eggs under her. We shall see.

Another went broody this week and has 3 eggs under her.

The mean rooster came at me again and the other rooster whipped his butt. That makes 3 times he has taken up for me.
 
Bad chicken day. My week old chick vanished into thin air. Then, mom hatched another and it died after about an hour. I moved eggs and mom into a cage in the coop and now the mom isnt sitting on the eggs. I guess I should give up today and go to bed.
 
Once again...... I came out of the lower garden and the damn rooster came at me ready to attack. Luckily I had my trusty PVC pipe to knock it off. I came in and got the 9mm and fired into the ground to scare him.

My son doesn't like the idea of hurting him, but I explained that I can't be scared everytime i turn my back. I have PVC sticks at every door so that I can always be prepared if he decides to attack. I'll probably have to kill him though.
 
robinjopo said:
Once again...... I came out of the lower garden and the damn rooster came at me ready to attack. Luckily I had my trusty PVC pipe to knock it off. I came in and got the 9mm and fired into the ground to scare him.

My son doesn't like the idea of hurting him, but I explained that I can't be scared everytime i turn my back. I have PVC sticks at every door so that I can always be prepared if he decides to attack. I'll probably have to kill him though.
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I never keep a rooster that turns mean . It may seem funny to watch a chicken attack someone but I know of more than 1 person dying from blood poisoning from being spurred in the leg by a Rooster . And Im not going to chance a Kid having to live with a eye missing because I kept s mean Rooster .
 
robinjopo said:
Once again...... I came out of the lower garden and the damn rooster came at me ready to attack. Luckily I had my trusty PVC pipe to knock it off. I came in and got the 9mm and fired into the ground to scare him.

My son doesn't like the idea of hurting him, but I explained that I can't be scared everytime i turn my back. I have PVC sticks at every door so that I can always be prepared if he decides to attack. I'll probably have to kill him though.
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Time for some chicken soup!
 
robinjopo said:
Once again...... I came out of the lower garden and the damn rooster came at me ready to attack. Luckily I had my trusty PVC pipe to knock it off. I came in and got the 9mm and fired into the ground to scare him.

My son doesn't like the idea of hurting him, but I explained that I can't be scared everytime i turn my back. I have PVC sticks at every door so that I can always be prepared if he decides to attack. I'll probably have to kill him though.
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I think you need to try this!

Spicy rooster Gumbo😋

16 1/2 cups rich chicken stock

4 tablespoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons Hungarian paprika

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 (4 to 7 pound) rooster

2 smoked ham hocks

3 cups high gluten flour

Salt

Pepper

3 cups rendered chicken fat

2 pounds andouille sausage, sliced in 1/2-inch thick rounds

Vegetable oil

8 yellow onions, diced, divided

5 green bell peppers, diced

4 tablespoons chopped garlic

5 bay leaves

5 red bell peppers, diced

2 cups rice, cooked

1 cup scallions
 
robinjopo said:
Once again...... I came out of the lower garden and the damn rooster came at me ready to attack. Luckily I had my trusty PVC pipe to knock it off. I came in and got the 9mm and fired into the ground to scare him.

My son doesn't like the idea of hurting him, but I explained that I can't be scared everytime i turn my back. I have PVC sticks at every door so that I can always be prepared if he decides to attack. I'll probably have to kill him though.
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Aren't you the egg "thief"? 😁
 
robinjopo said:
It odd how he only attacks me and is so sweet to others. I was always nice to him and am now unless he starts to attack.

I think it's to with the fact that he sees I'm the Alpha around herE and he needs to take me down to Beta.
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He may think that he can make you spill the whole feed bucket . I had a hen that would fly up and hit the feed bucket to try and spill it .
 
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