Re: chickens

srawlings@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In article <ant111835965BxcK@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
derek@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Derek Moody) wrote:

The optimum age is the day the average size of the flock meets the
supermarket specification - you usually try to hit it one day
before the trucks arrive. Feed for two days too long and the profit
is all gone.

However, if you were looking for flavour you'd want a much slower
growing bird, give it plenty of room to exercise and grow it for at
least twice as long. That costs a lot more.

My neighbour gets hold of broilers at point of slaughter and brings a
bunch of 20-30 birds home and grows them on slowly using a wheat based
diet. Even though he gets the cleanings from the broiler house feed
conveyors, it is too potent and the birds grow too fast and go off
their legs very quickly. The best results were with birds half the
age and then a blend of poultry feed and wheat when he can achieve a
carcase of 16-20lbs. They taste good too!


Their genetics is the most powerful life force they have.
To circumvent that takes effective starvation. aka feed wheat or maize, any
proportion at that age is too much.
The half or more is used to try and make the "old" type. I understand the
why, and in the short age its really immaterial, but while not being a
fluffybunny I am not so comfortable with the technique. However as we have
lost all the good strains that were around 50 years ago those trying to
re-create the taste and type have little choice.
My discomforture is along the lines of it not actually being a "better" life
that some would force the less experienced to believe.


--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: That was awesome!
    ... Canterbury planes is where organic wheat is grown in NZ. ... up a crop of predatory insects and birds that provided some degree of ... all the birds flowers and insects. ... It's horribly ironic that so many farmers work so hard for a minimal ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
  • Re: On bird feeding....
    ... It has been hurting me for quite a few months, at my age it is hard to get doctor's to take you seriously. ... I am a lot more concerned about their water ... Wateris a big issue with birds. ...
    (rec.birds)
  • Re: Wheat vs Mixed corn
    ... Maize is only any use as central heating in extremely cold conditions for laying birds. ... It is FAR FAR FAR too high in carbs/fats type which birds do not need, ... Wheat is better, just a little bit. ... I get REALLY cross that SO much mixed corn is fed to birds in this country where very few places are extreme enough to warrent it except for the odd week a year. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Wheat vs Mixed corn
    ... they only offer mixed corn (wheat and maize). ... It is FAR FAR FAR too high in carbs/fats type which birds do not need, ... Wheat is better, just a little bit. ... I get REALLY cross that SO much mixed corn is fed to birds in this country ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: bald heinies
    ... These are healthy birds who are eating well and have ... Age of birds? ... Sex ration of birds? ... Pure bred utility chickens and ducks ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)