tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post1964636355766806145..comments2023-11-02T05:18:38.925-05:00Comments on Antiquity Oaks: Chicken for dinner?Deborah Niemannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-76533709543921092382010-06-07T20:22:04.237-05:002010-06-07T20:22:04.237-05:00My boyfriend Sam and I have raised these birds for...My boyfriend Sam and I have raised these birds for two summers now. I really agree with what you are saying and the state of the poultry industry in our grocery stores. I also agree with you that these cornish cross's are to be honest distgusting...However, my boyfriend and I do a completely different approach. Instead of an 8-12 week slaughter we tried to stretch to 16 and it worked! We completely pasture raised them.At first starting in chicken tractors and then creating a good size run for them. We only fed them at night. During the day they foraged all day eating slugs, worms, ticks you name it...we were completely amazed! Everyone looks at us like we are crazy because youare apparently suppose to shovel grain down their throats,but we too put these birds on a diet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-78875244761879291602010-05-03T13:36:14.549-05:002010-05-03T13:36:14.549-05:00Whoa. What an amazing post. My husband grew up o...Whoa. What an amazing post. My husband grew up on a farm and every spring his parents would buy 100 "fryers" (leghorns) and do the butcher and freeze in early summer. <br /><br />We have 12 hens purely for eggs and now that I've seen this, I might give into his desire to raise some poultry for eating. (or I just might make a trip to the local organic poultry farm and buy their chickens).Karmyn Rhttp://karmynsdreamings.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-61772578895681988792010-05-02T12:00:05.224-05:002010-05-02T12:00:05.224-05:00We raised those once and will never do it again.
...We raised those once and will never do it again.<br /><br />They didn't act like chickens. It all felt wrong.Twwlyhttp://twwly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-39172874939708470802010-04-29T21:34:23.272-05:002010-04-29T21:34:23.272-05:00Thank you so much for sharing what you've lear...Thank you so much for sharing what you've learned so far!! I own heritage chickens. Never plan to own the Cornishes.Mrs Pretzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15013942924710797563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-21485807577810741392010-04-28T15:06:47.928-05:002010-04-28T15:06:47.928-05:00How interesting. We just got some Buff Orpingtons ...How interesting. We just got some Buff Orpingtons and Delawares from a friend. It is our first try at chickens. Glad we went with heritage breeds.Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129372114193004027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-6849502442957904602010-04-28T10:01:17.309-05:002010-04-28T10:01:17.309-05:00I had no idea how horrible and prevalent this prob...I had no idea how horrible and prevalent this problem is. Somehow I always pictured the heavy, immobile factory chickens from "Food, Inc.," not the chicks they must have been first. It's an incredibly sad situation. <br />I agree: How can we begin to measure the health effects when almost everyone is eating these modified birds?Ellenhttp://www.bodyearth.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-91342169641978421202010-04-28T09:43:53.675-05:002010-04-28T09:43:53.675-05:00Poor things. We bought Freedom Rangers this year f...Poor things. We bought Freedom Rangers this year from J R Hatchery, for their slow growing bodies. They are raised the Label Rouge way that was a feature article in Acres USA last March. Yesterday they were moved outside. Other than that they all made it through a 32* night. Today they are 3 wks old and will hopefully fair better than the Cornish x. They will be on pasture for no less than 81 days and max 120.Diane@Peaceful Acreshttp://butterfliesandbumblebees.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-41660957133364693392010-04-28T09:43:03.825-05:002010-04-28T09:43:03.825-05:00Lu, it's only 20%, which was the lowest I coul...Lu, it's only 20%, which was the lowest I could find for starter. Some suggest 22 or 24%. It's the same feed that the barred rocks are getting. I wonder if you have a different strain in Canada, because I found a Canadian site that said to prevent ascite, you should make sure feed is available at all times -- exact opposite of what the U.S. advice is.Deborah Niemannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-12565440768358317362010-04-28T09:36:16.220-05:002010-04-28T09:36:16.220-05:00Wow! What is the protein content in the feed you w...Wow! What is the protein content in the feed you were feeding them? I'm curious, I grow the white rock here in Canada, free range/pasture grown and although they do grow faster, they don't look as red or plump as yours.. Just curious. I'm trying my first batch of heritage this summer.<br /><br />Lu<br />CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-69757327083719909082010-04-28T09:06:35.708-05:002010-04-28T09:06:35.708-05:00Tara, we have raised quite a variety of heritage c...Tara, we have raised quite a variety of heritage chickens -- buff Orpingtons, speckled Sussex, salmon faverolles, silver laced Wyandottes, Rhode Island reds, New Hampshire reds, and more. The only ones I would not recommend are the faverolles, as they have the tiniest breast I've ever seen on any chicken. There is a picture here of a stew hen (3-4 year old heritage hen) after processing, so you can see the difference:<br />http://antiquityoaks.com/store.html#fryer<br /><br />I also explain more on heritage chickens on this page:<br />http://antiquityoaks.com/chickens.html<br /><br />As for hatcheries, we've tried McMurray, Privett, Ideal, and Cackle, and my favorite is Privett. Unfortunately they no longer have online ordering. Unlike a lot of hatcheries though, they really do hatch! In fact, they have one of the largest heritage turkey farms in the country. Cackle is the cheapest, but there is no consistency from one year to the next when you order a certain breed from them, probably because the birds are coming from a variety of flocks. The last time we ordered from them we got buff Orpingtons that weighed 2.5 to 3.5 pounds at 4.5 months, which is way below the average weight for that breed and far less than any we've ever raised.Deborah Niemannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754242197245805551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-30628316367488188422010-04-28T08:45:27.988-05:002010-04-28T08:45:27.988-05:00This is a timely post for me as we're about to...This is a timely post for me as we're about to build our brooder and get some broilers. I was thinking CC, but gross, I don't know now.<br /><br />Thanks for submitting this to RFW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-35696529995997032752010-04-28T00:28:17.652-05:002010-04-28T00:28:17.652-05:00How coincidental, I just finished my own blog entr...How coincidental, I just finished my own blog entry about my experience: http://amysoddities.blogspot.com/2010/04/raising-cornish-cross-chickens.htmlVegetable Garden Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01641599988061148892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-7614243291472397682010-04-28T00:17:40.959-05:002010-04-28T00:17:40.959-05:00What types of heritage chickens do you raise and w...What types of heritage chickens do you raise and what hatcheries do you get them from?Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10558673978356199169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-80995176513444651512010-04-27T20:45:03.838-05:002010-04-27T20:45:03.838-05:00We decided to try out cornish crosses this year (a...We decided to try out cornish crosses this year (and to make up for the required 25 chicks from the hatchery). I really hate these birds. They are sad, gross, and I have reservations about eating them. Our Buff Orpington roosters dressed out really well last year and tasted great. Everyone tried to say CC were better due to not having to feed them as long, but all my Buff O roos survived, barely cost anything on feed as they free ranged and ate garden scraps, and they had a nice white skin. We're hoping our Welsummers, Buff Os, Barred Rocks, and Easter Eggers will have chicks of their own next year. We have two Standard Cochins in hopes they will become our broody hens.Mr. and Mrs. Hoosier Homesteaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940020256219007377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-37401025971065514012010-04-27T18:52:20.671-05:002010-04-27T18:52:20.671-05:00Yeah, it's just not natural (on so many levels...Yeah, it's just not natural (on so many levels)....<br /><br />Thanks for the post.<br /><br />SandySpring Lake Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06099882615130359566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-12090967952973721772010-04-27T17:20:07.724-05:002010-04-27T17:20:07.724-05:00Wow. Just wow. We are getting a batch of Colored...Wow. Just wow. We are getting a batch of Colored/Freedom Rangers in about a week and, after reading this, I'm sure glad we're starting with them. I wouldn't have thought to watch out for the chicks 'eating themselves to death.' I tend to think animals know what they're supposed to do better than we do, but I suppose that's not the case when we breed the sense out of them.Heidi Sloanhttp://www.yellowdoorbarn.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-49569596690846603872010-04-27T12:21:02.242-05:002010-04-27T12:21:02.242-05:00We've raised Red Broilers and Poulet Rouge typ...We've raised Red Broilers and Poulet Rouge type chickens for the last two years. Much better flavor and flock health! The CC are just wrong.Frannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251158925458606105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-76536341526488197742010-04-27T11:51:29.480-05:002010-04-27T11:51:29.480-05:00Oh wow! I knew about the turkeys but I didn't ...Oh wow! I knew about the turkeys but I didn't know they did that to chickens too. I may end up a vegetarian yet!Sparklesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806553694200529082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-35724916258929414482010-04-27T11:45:39.446-05:002010-04-27T11:45:39.446-05:00The more I read about all these things the more my...The more I read about all these things the more my regular store food turns my stomach and I don't want to eat it. We currently eat as healthy as we can but with a big household here and some people not convinced on every issue we still buy "bad" meat for the most part. Thanks for sharing this as I didn't think much about the issue of our health in eating the Cornish. So many things can be behind the poor health in our country. Hope you get Trouper's training going ok. Blessings.Abiga/Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-40801091527352187772010-04-27T11:16:27.461-05:002010-04-27T11:16:27.461-05:00That was very educational and eye-opening for me.....That was very educational and eye-opening for me...and I'm more then a little grossed out at the moment! That's horrible.MichelleHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620214611586302175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-23058860180545670502010-04-27T11:08:13.414-05:002010-04-27T11:08:13.414-05:00It's obscene. I eat very little chicken (or m...It's obscene. I eat very little chicken (or meat) these days, mostly because of things like this, and it also has no flavor. I'm not vegetarian (yet) but with things going the way they are, I will probably eventually be there. Anyway, raising animals so that they are crippled and dying or incapable of reproduction says some sad things about our society.<br />TammyTammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02131066591477169851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-82946655241236161202010-04-27T11:06:39.575-05:002010-04-27T11:06:39.575-05:00I agree, it's fast food at a genetic level. No...I agree, it's fast food at a genetic level. Nothing should get to harvest size that fast. When we raise our own meat birds we won't be choosing CC's. Heritage breeds all the way!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14588440725660023871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-76000551608358395632010-04-27T10:50:43.376-05:002010-04-27T10:50:43.376-05:00Thats just not right.Thats just not right.goatladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10983745237912430783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21054991.post-22436175001109350182010-04-27T10:46:09.804-05:002010-04-27T10:46:09.804-05:00I felt much the same way after raising these birds...I felt much the same way after raising these birds for 2 years in a row. Right now I have Chanticlers, and I'm hoping to hatch a bunch for myself and butcher the roosters. They are good layers, and the males are quite heavy-bodied. I'd put them up against CC any day in any category except the quick-growth factor. I've also been known to take in others' "spare roosters." I just tell them that if they don't really want to know what happens to them, don't ask. (I also make it clear that I'm available to show others how to butcher their own birds if they're interested.)Caroline in NHhttp://fiberarts.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.com