We and our friends got the chickens butchered Sat. Not fun when you have a cold, but necessary. We still have lots of layers that should be laying in April. We butchered Jumbo Cornish. We learned last time not to overfeed them because of heartattacks. They're hybrids and have been bred for meat production not quality of life.

We took their food away from them at night. They didn't get as big but then they didn't die either. We also noticed that their hearts were a lot bigger. We kept them on the broiler booster a lot longer, too.

They sure do taste good and cook up very tender. I remembered to grind some breast meat up, this time. Made six chickieburgers. Hope we like them that way. I had quite a bit of stir fry packaged up from last time left, so I put some in for George(foreman grill). Left a few whole, packaged the wings for bbq in the oven, the legs and thighs for frying, and the back/tails for broth. We use the organs mostly for soup beans and then use the livers for pate. The necks and breastbones and 'other' stuff will be used to make broth to can.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001

Answers

Sounds like you are well organized. How many do you use in a years time?

-- Melissa (me@home.net), December 31, 2001.

Sounds as if you have been doing this for a while and have all the particulars worked out. I hope to one day get to the point of being able to butcher my own chickens. Maybe this will be the year.

-- LaDena Johnson,Tx 9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), December 31, 2001.

I am still waiting on my portions of the chickies LOL. MMm good eatin

-- melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.

We eat mostly chicken, I don't eat hardly any pork or beef. We would like to raise a side of beef or two, but we're not quite ready for that, Store meat makes me sick cause of the hormones, etc.

I'm not sure how many we actually use, we give some away, some as gifts and barter with it. The friends we did these with only took the their portion of legs, thighs, breast and wings. I tried to explain about the tail making the best broth and the gizzards and all that wonderful stuff, but they wouldn't listen.

They'll 'pay' for their portion by giving us homemade deer sausage, eggs, rabbits and whatever else. I love to barter!

Melinda, do you remember I bartered baby sitting for a bicycle for you guys when you were little bitty?

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.

I just noticed someone asking about this breed on the CS forum. They were having troubles if you want to offer her some advice. We do dual purpose breeds, and I have not had these problems but tried to help her.

-- notnow (notnow@blabla.com), December 31, 2001.

I have decided to butcher. I know I am a little late, but better late than never. I am guessing I have about 15-20 that need to be butchered. They are some of the prettiest, but I know they are not laying. So, I hope they taste as pretty as they look!How do you tell when your chickens are not laying? I always turn them over and if you can't fit 3 fingers between the bones, I say they aren't laying. This is how my Great Grandmother did. I have had a few people say I am not doing it right, so I am wondering how you tell?

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), December 31, 2001.

If the chicken has a bright upright comb its a good bet its laying; a dull color or floppy comb indicates otherwise.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), December 31, 2001.