The Poultry Keeper

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Hi all,

A friend of mine has put an idea into my head about rearing cockerels for the table.

I have no experience of this - I've just got my ladies running around the garden, laying lovely eggs Razz

!

Does anyone here have any experience in this field? Any advice or ideas? Is it a mad idea to start with!!!! Shocked

I'll be very interested to hear your views!

Knobby · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject:

NannyPs the one to ask.....shes eaten "her boys" !!! Crying or Very sad

CP · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject:

Good idea as long as you don't mind lots of crowing! Smile

Would you be able to 'do the deed' yourself, or have someone else to do it for you? Embarassed

debcat · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject:

It's not a mad idea at all:D
My spare ones go in the pot, I look on it that they have had a good life, freerange and well fed
the taste is nothing like shop bought, I never buy chicken now
Debs

mojo · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:55 pm Post subject:

first.can you cull and clean them....second will your neibours accept them.........thirdlyare you going to cage rear or free range.........fourthly .dont forget AF needs if you can fulfill all these go for it.........a home grown coq is aintirely differant bird to a shop one

NannyP · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:58 pm Post subject:

I ate mine, 3 in all, as of 4 eggs, 3 hatched as cockerels. I had decided that I would have to eat them, if I wanted to incubate.
I have a friend who did the culling and dressing for me, I couldn't have done that. I didn't rear them especially, so they weren't fed on growers, just layers like the ladies. Thye were corn fed for last 2 weeks and restriced in a large cage.
They tasted okay, and flesh was more dense, maybe if I'd gronw them on and on growers they may have been better, but they weren't brilliant.
I would do it again, but only if I had a ready made person to cull and dress for me.

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

Well thank you all!

I have to say that I would not be able to dispatch them myself, but know of someone who used to rear turkeys and who would be able to do it efficiently and painlessly.

With regard to the crowing, I was given 2 cockerels and they were sent back after 24 hours!!!!!!! If I go ahead with this they will be kept at a local farm - well away from habitation!! Very Happy

Mojo, what do you mean about AF needs? What does that mean?

Lisa · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:05 am Post subject:

Oh lucky you - having some where else to raise them. I'd love to do it, but the crowing wouldn't be fair on my neighbours here. But one day, when we can move (its about a 5 year plan!) I will...

Good luck - and go for it! Razz

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6880 Location: isle of lewis

mojo means avian flu ,
we're having a cockeral tomorrow ,he was a x breed and the ai
has made me think for the last couple of months what i want to keep and house ,he was horrible went for the kids as well as me ,as he lived freerange i hope he'll taste nice and i'm getting white dorking for that reason as they are quite rare and if i eat the worst it'll help the breed although the dorking club say 2 years for best eatting
suz

stephen · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 8:26 am Post subject:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6880 Location: isle of lewis

thanks for that ,was interesred to know
read as much as i can find but never seen one
suz