Separating/preparing birds for slaughter...

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:59 am

To those of you who eat your birds....

Does anyone separate your birds for a few weeks first and give them a separate diet?
I've heard that giving them a diet free of grain makes a much softer meat. What would you suggest giving them? Does it do anything?

I know that if you lock them up with water but no food the night before, their crops are empty and makes for a much cleaner job.

Cheers

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

yep water only the nite b4 the chop , as for the diet , i dont change mine as for tender meat , its same as for any other home kill , NO STRESS , BLEED WELL , LONGER THEY HANG TENDERER the meat , i do my own pigs , sheep , cattle n deer

yuuuummmmmmmmmmmyyyy cheers n beers gary

Richard Skinner · **Joined:** Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:40 pm **Posts:** 1

This is good avice that I follow
Birds that are to be slaughtered should be taken off feed long enough before killing (about 12 hrs.) to allow the crop and intestinal tract time to empty. A full digestive system increases the chance of contamination of the carcass during removal of the viscera. Birds should be caught and placed in crates or coops during the night to avoid excitement and possible injury of the birds prior to slaughter.

squabs · **Joined:** Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:22 am **Posts:** 5

I would have thought you would feed them up for a few week before the axe day so they have plenty of meat?

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

yes but over feeding would make a plumper bird as we all know being plump not really mean lots of meat on the bones , :mrgreen:

my beer gut good example

cheers n beers gary

squabs · **Joined:** Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:22 am **Posts:** 5

My mates calls his beer gut - Fosters abs

I guess if you over feed then yes but no feed I thought would mean less feed?

Aseel · **Joined:** Mon Oct 04, 2010 2:38 pm **Posts:** 2

Squabs, feeding them up a few weeks before slaughter will do nothing at all you are just wasting food you need to feed a high protein diet right from the start of life to build up the meat on their bones

squabs · **Joined:** Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:22 am **Posts:** 5

Ok Aseel thanks I guess I was thinking of quick weight gain but maybe not for chooks

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

also helps if they are purpose bred meat chickens :mrgreen:

but not a must 4 eating cheers n beers gary

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 3:31 pm

Aseel wrote:

Squabs, feeding them up a few weeks before slaughter will do nothing at all you are just wasting food you need to feed a high protein diet right from the start of life to build up the meat on their bones

That seems to be the truth with me - especially with ducks. I've had a few batches which we fed for the first few weeks on starter, then straight in with the older ones, and they never put on the weight.

However we experimented with a new batch, and at 5-6 months (the males are just hitting 'puberty') they are as big as our fully grown ducks, and just as, if not heavier!

Leaves room for thought... what natural foods can we grow to give them that is high in protein?

Cheers.

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