Think Before You Hatch!

[steve'n'sal]

Our cocks we hatched have been earmarked for food. I never thought I'd be able to dispatch and prepare one but it was a lot easier (and tastier) than I expected. The stock from boiling the bones was first rate, the kidneys, livers etc. were fed to the cat. Next time I do it though I am going to do three as doing one was just too fiddly.

We try to give away any cocks to good homes (we've homed 2 this year). I definitely think utility breeds are the way forward, our faverolles may not lay themselves silly like hybrids but the cocks have a fair amount of meat on.

I dont suppose anyone wants a Fav or Mottled leghorn cock?

[ChrisB]

Hayley - do you remember the time you ate the first egg from your girls and possibly thought - So this is what eggs should taste like. It is the same with your own table birds, you won't believe the difference in taste. I'll admit the first time isn't easy. I still can't do mine and so far haven't taken them to be done, I pick them up though. The trick is to then bury them in the freezer, out of sight, for a few weeks and they lose there identity. You have to do more than one though, otherwise you still know which one it was.

When you're raising them, even if they're in with your existing flock you tend to take a different attitiude towards them. You don't sit and watch their antics, you look at them, check they're OK but there it stops.

It is well worth considering, if you can do it, but as RichmondHens points out, if you can't, best not to do it at all.

[petal]

Hayley - do you remember the time you ate the first egg from your girls and possibly thought - So this is what eggs should taste like. It is the same with your own table birds, you won't believe the difference in taste. I'll admit the first time isn't easy. I still can't do mine and so far haven't taken them to be done, I pick them up though. The trick is to then bury them in the freezer, out of sight, for a few weeks and they lose there identity.

good advice! they are fun whilst they are little and fluffy but I have no qualms about dispatching nice plump birds for my freezer! I can't believe people actually go to the trouble of buying an incubator, hatching chicks then say oooh what do I do with the boys? Durhh!
I have many recipes planned - especially for the 13 week cockerel that attacked me the other day - his days are sooo numbered..........

[RedThorn]

Thanks for this thread, It is an important point!

I grew up on a farm in Africa so, personally, have no problem with the concept. I am however now vegetarian so shall not personally be eating the cock(s) from this batch. I will however be preparing them for a friend who is more than happy to take any off my hands when I do the deed. So no problem from this point of view.

Just a note however, the person from whom I purchased the fertile eggs, was more than happy to take back(with no refund of cause) any cockerels that were born, so perhaps with careful buying, you could still buy eggs even if you did not want to slaughter your own....

[Bephlam]

I agree, dispatching cockerels is a sad, but realistic, part of hatching your own. I have 4 cockerels at present, and have managed to find homes for 3 of them. If I am unable to find a home for the final boy he will have to be culled...sad as it is.

I think as long as people keep this in mind when hatching. There is no harm, or shame, in attempting to prevent a cull...however if you are unable to do so, it's only right that you deal with YOUR issue the correct way.

Good thread!

[Eco-Chic]

I have many recipes planned - especially for the 13 week cockerel that attacked me the other day - his days are sooo numbered..........

Talk about holding a grudge

[Bramble-Poultry]

note to self - never nark off petal!

[HeyWayne]

And there was me thinking "Think Before You Hatch" was an instruction to the unborned chicklings.

I did think to meself - "wow, chickens are brighter than I gave them credit for..."

[di]

And there was me thinking "Think Before You Hatch" was an instruction to the unborned chicklings.

I did think to meself - "wow, chickens are brighter than I gave them credit for..."

Boo used to cheep to me from the egg whenever I sang the "Chirpy Cheep" song...up to a day or two before he hatched!.....he was probably thinking he wished I'd shut up!

[HeyWayne]

Boo used to cheep to me from the egg whenever I sang the "Chirpy Cheep" song...up to a day or two before he hatched!.....he was probably thinking he wished I'd shut up!

No, he just probably thought your chick-cent was rubbish.

[MaureenHall]

Boo used to cheep to me from the egg whenever I sang the "Chirpy Cheep" song...up to a day or two before he hatched!.....he was probably thinking he wished I'd shut up!

Maybe he's getting you back for that now

note to self - stop singing to the cheeping chick in the incubator

[Nicos]

Maybe he's getting you back for that now

....my very thoughts!!!!

[di]

Maybe he's getting you back for that now

note to self - stop singing to the cheeping chick in the incubator

....my very thoughts!!!!

You've not even heard my singing!!!

Am now a little annoyed with myself for mentioning sadi song though...since he's been at the lottie I've managed to gradually wean that tune out of my head...seems to be back!

[Nicos]

You've not even heard my singing!!!

don't need to...isn't that when it starts to rain???

[HayleyB]

Cheers Chris B I've always been a soft pudding... * Note to self yep Bramble with you there I'll be trying to keep in the good side of Petal too, better warn Donald and Daffy not to be norty..