Backyard Chicken Keeping Class!

For anyone who might be interested, I am teaching several classes at the Troy Hayner Cultural Center, this summer.  One of the classes I will be teaching is a class on backyard chicken keeping, so if you are thinking about adding chickens to your life, this is the perfect class for you!  Come join us and learn all you need to know to get started in the world of chicken keeping.

This is a two part class where you will learn all you need to know about raising chickens for your backyard homestead.  When you finish this class you will have a complete understanding of chicken keeping from birth to breakfast.

In the first class we will go over housing, feeding, and care of chickens.  In the second class we will discuss the different breeds of chickens, health problems that affect the chicken, and I will answer any additional questions that you may have before sending you out the door with your new chicks!

That's right, upon completion of this class each participant is welcome to take home 4 chicks to start their own backyard flock.  (More chicks may be available for purchase as well...)

The first part of the class will be on June 8th from 10-12:30 pm and the second part of the class will be June 22nd from 10-12:30 pm.  Pay attention to their website to find out when their summer class schedule will be released so you can sign up!  http://www.troyhayner.org/index.html

Responsible Meat Eater

My passion in life from the time I was 5 years old has always been animals.  I have loved them since before I can remember, and I was always that kid that brought home every stray that need a warm place to sleep, and a meal to fill it's starving belly.  As I grew into adulthood that part of me never changed.  I still bring home every stray in need.  Anyone who knows me, knows my passion and I can't think of anyone who would question that.  Because I write about my farm life and rescue on my blog, sometimes I catch heat from equally passionate people behind the scenes.  These people don't always agree with the fact that I raise animals for my consumption.  Thankfully I have broad shoulders and I am able to take whatever comes my way via passionate people.

Usually when dealing with these passionate and somewhat radical people, I can internalize and remind myself "it is all for the animals", however I am really struggling with this issue this week.  I was contacted by an animal advocacy group over the weekend and was asked to help with the seizure and removal of several hundred animals, including many farm animals.  I told them I would help, but after the conversation I felt like I was being judged by the organization because I eat meat and raise my own animals to sustain my life.

In the end, although I was literally 1/4 mile down the road from the seizure, they declined my help.  I would be lying if I said that my feelings weren't hurt and I wasn't offended.  Here is an animal advocacy group that I have worked with several times on recent situations, questioning my ability to foster animals all because I eat meat.  I felt like I was being compared to the cast of Twilight.  "Don't let her foster your animals or she might eat them!"  I don't like having my love for animals questioned anymore than they like to eat meat!

As strange as it sounds, it is my love of animals that makes me want to farm.  For many years I was a vegetarian.  I wasn't a vegetarian because I didn't like meat.  I was a vegetarian because I hated factory farming.  I did not want to eat meat that had been stuffed into cages, never being allowed to touch grass.  I did not want to eat eggs from chickens with physiological issues due to living in small cages, with wire bottoms and no sunlight.  I did not want my dietary choices to contribute to the cruelty of animals.  It wasn't good for my soul.

It is because I love animals that I choose to raise my own meat.  I have to know my food personally.  In my opinion that is the only way to farm.  I want to know my dinner from birth to death and everywhere in between.  It is imperative that I know where my animals come from, ensure that they were treated kindly and that they were respected.  I have to know that they were free to run around, feel the grass under their feet, the sun on their back and that they, in the end were thanked for giving their life to sustain me.  I am not the type of person who doesn't know how they die either, and even that has to be humane.  I have watched this process several times, and am comfortable in the fact that I was with them until the end and they don't suffer.  I do not take any aspect of this farm for granted.  It isn't my style and it isn't why I do this.  I farm to nourish myself and my family with whole food that was raised in a humane environment.  So don't get mad at me and shun me because I eat meat.  I am being a responsible consumer.  Do you think less of the person who works along side of you as a volunteer and buys her chicken from her grocer's freezer?!  I think not....

I would be a poor excuse of a person if I didn't treat these animals with the same love and respect that I feel I deserve myself.  The fact that I eat meat bears no prediction on my desire or ability to rescue animals.  Just as these people are concerned for animal welfare, I am too!

Final Results: Chicken Experiment

Perhaps one of the greatest perks about farming is the produce that is harvested after a lot of hard work, sweat and tears.  There are times I get frustrated and overwhelmed with all that I do and take on around here, but come butcher or harvest time all of that disappears.  There is no greater feeling than knowing you have a full freezer, with food that you have personally known and raised since it was a day old.  Several weeks ago we butchered 19 Cornish Rock chickens and 6 Freedom Ranger chickens.  It was quite the adventure this time, but once again we learned a lot and the outcome was the same: a freezer full of chicken!

The obstacles that we overcame/lessons we learned were as follows:

1)  A predator:  We started off with 10 Freedom Rangers, but due to a hawk that took off with 3 and 1 chicken that escaped the coop and met it's demise via Jack Russell Terrier, we ended up with 6.

2)  Miseducation:  This was the first time the Remys had raised meat chickens and I had explained we needed higher protein chick food, however they were miseducated by an employee at our local feed store.  When they went to get the feed for our meat chickens the store was out of that particular kind.  Brent questioned the employee and  she assured him this other type of food was exactly the same.  Wrong!  It lacked 6% of the protein that the 24% feed contained and our chickens looked pathetically small.  We realized the issue one night 2 weeks into the new bag of feed, however that threw us 2 weeks behind on our butcher date.  I once remembered speaking to a farmer who told me she fed 32% catfish pellets to her chickens and they beefed up quickly.  We harnessed this idea and away we rode!  Within those 2 weeks our chickens were back on track and bigger than ever!

3)  Butcher late:  Due to the previously mentioned issue we butchered 2 weeks late, and the feed cost for an additional 2 weeks of sustaining 25 meat birds is quite large!

4)  Rain storm from hell:  We had a drought for most of the summer and our meat chickens were in an open sided pen due to the excessive heat and ease of moving for better grazing.  Then there was the rain storm from hell and several chickens were injured and 1 died from being cold and wet.  Fail!  We fixed the pen up and will attempt this again, but with a few moderations the next time.  Namely, a shelter that resembles a car port that the Remy's purchased which doubles our chicken living space!

5)  We did remember to allow the chickens time to "rest" after they were butchered and left them in the refrigerator for 72 hours prior to freezing.  This worked like a charm, and was definitely why our chicken was tough the last time.  Truthfully, this was all I was worried about this time!  There was nothing more disappointing than feeding, housing, and caring for a bunch of chickens that were tough even in a crock pot!  I was so happy with the results on this go-around!

6)  Lastly, we have decided that we will only be raising Freedom Rangers for our freezer in the future.  The Cornish Rock breed is so dirty and expensive.  They eat and poop so much and are genetically modified to get big quick.  They don't even act like normal chickens past a certain point, where the Freedom Rangers act normal.  They eat half of what the Cornish Rocks eat and they graze and peck around much like normal chickens do.  They do mature slower than the Cornish Rock so be prepared to raise them for 3 weeks longer, however if given grass and the ability to forage you actually end up feeding them less.

Farming is a constant reminder to be humble, and I learn so much by growing my own food.  It is a constant trial and error, however the end result far outweighs any strife that presents itself along the way.  I am continually blessed by what this little piece of earth is able to provide me, and grateful that I get to do it all again tomorrow!

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Big Hairy Audacious God Driven Garden

Last night I went to church on my way home from work.  Normally we go to church on Sunday morning, however we were lazy over the weekend and did not wake up in time.  So, I went last night to a video taped service, convinced I would probably get nothing out of it because I was sure that the videotaped service would not be as personal.  Regardless, I went.  There were only 5 of us there, and that included the 2 pastors!  I was put off a bit at first because I didn't know anyone, and with only 5 of us there I felt like I was singing on stage at a karaoke bar sober when we were singing hymns.  I was nervous.

As soon as that video started though, I am fairly sure that the message that would follow could be nothing short of divine intervention.  This week was the 2nd part of a 6 part look at a series called "Dare To Dream".  It is a series that reminds you that nothing is impossible with God, and we are working on a life mission statement.  We are trying to figure out our BHAG.  (Big Hairy Audacious God Purpose)  Well, this was not hard for me at all!  This is something I have been pondering for the last 2 weeks at home already, and I tell you from the first 30 seconds of this sermon, I was hooked!

In the past my garden has been a place that I feel a primal connection with the earth and it's creation.  I have said many times it is where I feel a connection to God and 5 minutes in the garden can humble me like nothing else can.  (I don't even know how to put into words what I am trying to describe, but I think you understand....)  Well, last year was our first big garden season and we grew so much food that often times we had more than we could eat, more than our neighbors could eat, and more than our chickens could eat!  We were so blessed by the amount of food that we grew.

This year the Reluctant Farmer and I wanted to do something different.  In October we were at a local festival and we met some people that were volunteers at a local food bank.  I was talking to the woman, asking her if I could donate my extra fresh eggs, chickens and vegetables, and she was so excited.  She explained that they often give away canned goods and non-perishable items because that is what most people donate.  I talked it over with the Reluctant Farmer and we decided  that we would double if not triple our growing space this year, and donate half of what we produce to the local food bank.  (Also note that the food bank is directly across the road from us.  Coincidence?!  I think not!)  I have been mulling this over for the last several weeks, and just have this great vision that I am supposed to do this.

I have a journal that I write in while at church, and this is what came pouring our of me last night:  "If you were given a talent, a wealth of sorts, from God, what would you do with it?  I'm reminded that my wealth is my garden and I am going to feed my community.  From my backyard...."

I am excited to embark on this adventure!  My goal is to obtain another city lot eventually and expand even more.  I would love to have the lot that is directly across the street from me, but currently I am not in a position to buy it.  Perhaps next year: With God nothing is impossible, right?!

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Autographs and a Fountain Coke

This morning was supposed to start off uneventful enough, however as soon as my alarm sounded I knew that was not going to be a reality.  I was running very late taking Katzya to school, so I quickly threw a sweatshirt over my pajamas, a headband in my hair, and drove her to school in all my glory.  If you can picture this, my hair resembled a Brillo pad that had been caught in the garbage disposal.  It was a hot mess! I had no time to brush my teeth, and I was wearing pajama pants that were adorned with some outlandish cartoon characters on them.  I was honestly a fair candidate for one of those People of Walmart photos.  

After dropping Katzya off at school I decided I would run past McDonald's for breakfast in order to speed up my morning routine.  As I pulled up to the speaker one of the women that I have known for years says, "I didn't know you were famous!"  I laughed and was a bit confused.  At the window, another woman said: "Hey, are you Emily?"  I confirmed that I was indeed Emily, and was slightly confused as to how she knew my name.  (I am still half asleep at this point and the fountain Coke has not kicked in yet...)  She excitedly tells me that she saw me on television Thursday night, and she was very excited about the blue eggs that I was talking about.  I immediately knew that the urban farm documentary they had taped here at my house must have been on the air!  I thanked the woman for her kind words and drove to the next window where another woman exclaimed, "It is you!  Can I have your autograph?!"  Of course, like the half asleep but still quick witted person that I am, I quickly replied: "Seriously?!"  I realized right away she was serious and signed the paper that she handed me.  Stellar!  This is how I look the moment people determine that I am worthy of signing their napkins?!  

For those of you that have asked, and those of you that just want a good laugh I have added a link to my video interview below.  (Click on the picture of the rock, Mom!)  Minus my hair, I think it turned out pretty well....

Video and show credits go to Whitney Davis at KIT-TV.

Puff Daddy was pardoned!

Today was the day for butchering around here on the Urban Farm/Remy Homestead, and I bet you can't guess who was pardoned?!  Yes, that is right....  Puff Daddy the rooster is still alive, well, and humping all of his girls!  I called the Reluctant Farmer today to ask her if they were taking Puffy with them to the butcher and was immediately told that Puffy could not be caught.  When I encouraged her to try harder she explained they didn't have room for Puff in the cages and she liked him so she was not going to help catch him and drive him to meet his demise.  He evidently was racing around the coop and yard not allowing anyone to touch him and humping all of the ladies as he was doing it.  Silly chicken!  

So, for all of you Puffy Daddy fans out there please know that Puffy was granted a "stay" by the warden and he will remain in jail being granted conjugal visits, until all of the evidence has been reviewed.  (He claims he has no idea what we humans are upset about, and he has not chased anyone and beat them up for several days.)  Puffy will also have access to the free food and water that the warden drops off twice daily.  I have a feeling that Puffy can not continue his streak of good behavior for too long, and my prediction is he will be in with our dumplings at Thanksgiving.  I also predict I am going to have to butcher him myself because we are not going to drive 30-40 minutes to butcher one chicken.  Good thing I took that meat bird workshop.  It looks like I am going to utilize my skills!  

Puff Daddy wants to tell you all good morning and he is happy he made the cut!

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12 lbs. of feathered fury strikes again!

Today while we were out at the Remy Homestead feeding and watering the chickens, the Reluctant Farmer and Katzya decided that they would attempt to catch Puff Daddy the rooster to give him a little love and attention.  If you remember back when we bought chicks in the Spring, Puff Daddy was an Americauna chick that I purchased.  He was supposed to be a pullet, but then the crowing started.  He was relocated to the Remy household since they live in the country and has been crowing it up!  The difficulty now is that Puff is starting to act very aggressive to anyone who comes into the chicken yard.  He has been known to attack and challenge everybody.  Most likely we are going to butcher Puff Daddy when we send our next batch of meat chickens to the butcher, unless someone wants a cranky rooster that acts like Walter off of the Jeff Dunham show.  The selling points on a grouchy rooster are not easy to convey to people:  "Honestly, he is a beautiful rooster if you don't mind getting the crap spurred out of you anytime you get within 5 feet of him!"  People just don't frequently want this quality in a chicken, but if you decide you are looking for a beautiful, rooster with a real bad attitude, please contact me!   

So, the ladies and Puffy were chasing each other around the chicken yard when I decide this will be a brilliant photo opportunity.  (Truthfully, I knew Puffy was going to school them and I wanted the photographic evidence of such things!  I don't think the Reluctant Farmer realized just how mean he could be.  Well, it was an all out cock fight and Puffy was winning for sure.  Every time either one of them would try to catch him he would stick out his chest and give them a good spurring.  I caught these moments on film, see below:

In the end the ladies did manage to catch Puff Daddy.  They were able to love on him and give him hugs and scratches on the head before he was released again.  Please note that no chicken was harmed in the love session that took place today.  Yes, the Reluctant Farmer's foot is out but she is NOT kicking him.  She is merely holding 12 lbs of feathered fury at bay.  I am going to miss this boy.....

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No Farmer Cries for the Chickens at Tyson....

The last time I raised meat chickens I raised them at home in my garage and let them out to free range in a portable dog cage.  It worked out pretty well, but there were a few things I wanted to do different this time around.  One of the things that I figured out after the last time I tried this, was that meat chickens smell terrible!  In order to remedy this situation, I teamed up with the Remy Homestead to raise chickens this time.   (They live in the country so smelly chickens are not as big of a deal….)  Once again, raising meat birds has been a learning experience and we have a few things to adjust for the next time.  We have been raising the birds in an open sided pen with a roof on it, which has been perfect for the summer because they get a breeze and sunshine but are protected from predators and most storms. 

Well, last night we had the storm of all storms!  It was raining so hard I could not see 5 feet in front of my face and the wind was so bad it took everything I had just to walk out to the meat chicken pen.  When I got out there the meat chickens were soaking wet, and one of the wooden sides we had put up for predator protection had fallen on top of 4 chickens.  Of course, I was home by myself and the tarp that we put on the sides was wet so it weighed a ton!  I was trying to wrestle the tarp onto the cage because my meat chickens were cold and wet, which is a terrible combination for chickens.  The entire time it is lightning, thundering, and raining in sheets.  I managed to get the tarp on the cage but the chickens were laying in wet mud, poop, and water and they were shivering.  I was so upset.   I decided I would just deep bed the chickens in hay so they would be dry and clean.  I ran out to the barn where I board  Mia and picked up a bale of hay, spread it 3 inches deep and hoped for the best.  This morning the chickens were doing well.  They were happy and dry.  Even though at some farms they would be considered “just meat birds” I still respect them and want them to be well cared for.  I appreciate they are the beasts that feed me and my family and their well being is not something I take lightly.

I shared my stress on my Facebook page last night and was privately messaged by someone who asked me how I could eat meat, and how I could raise it myself.  Really I don’t think I could do it any other way.  I was a vegetarian for many years, and I respect people’s need to be vegetarian or vegan.  It just is not for me.  My body likes meat, and since that is the case I make it a point to ensure my meat animals are raised in conditions that are humane, and I am constantly learning how to make improvements for the next time.  I love to know that my meat chickens are respected and treated well.  They are given a great life and a humane death.   They are able to feel sunlight on their back and grass under their feet, which is more than I can say for nearly all of the chicken sold in grocery stores.  Last night when I was shedding tears for my wet meat chickens, it dawned on me no farmer cries for the chickens at Tyson.

Visit to Cold Antler Farm

 

On the weekend of Father's Day the Reluctant Farmer and I drove to upstate New York to attend the Meat Bird Workshop that took place at Cold Antler Farm.  For those of you who don't know, Cold Antler Farm is owned by writer/farmer Jenna Woginrich.  She has a fabulous blog (http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com) and you can follow all of her farm going-on's there.  For those of you who do know of Jenna and her work this trip was amazing!  

This workshop promised to teach us all about chicken care, from birth to butcher and where I knew about the care of chickens and had recently raised my own meat birds I was not sure if I could butcher my own chickens.  That was the reason I wanted to attend this workshop.  I know I have a butcher that does all of my butchering for me, but I feel like if you raise an animal for meat you should know how to dress one for the table also.  Knowing how to butcher a chicken and prepare it for the table completed the cycle of chicken raising for me.  

I was immediately intrigued when I got to Jenna's farm.  There were rabbits, chickens and geese free ranging about her yard and the entire atmosphere was one of  content happiness.  This is a place that you can just feel the animals are well cared for and the type of place that invites you to sit down, relax and get closer to your food.  I knew as soon as I arrived I would not feel guilty about witnessing the butchering of a chicken from this farm.  There was grass under their feet and warm sunshine on their backs.  This was how food should be raised!

Gibson keeping a close eye on his rabbit friend.

Baby chicks with their Mama.  Two of them were actually meat chickens that got out of the brooder and  joined her clutch.

These are Freedom Ranger meat birds enjoying the sunshine and grass.

Trying my hand at archery.  I wasn't very good, but  I was able to hit the broadside of the barn!

Learning how prepare a chicken for dinner.

Brett taught us how to make a chicken tractor so we could supply our meat birds with fresh grass every few days.

When we were finished building the tractor, Jasper pulled it up the mountain to it's new resting spot.

In the end this trip was worth every mile in the car and dollar I spent.  I learned how to butcher and prepare a chicken for my table, however I can safely say I will continue to pay my butcher to do this for me.  Who can beat $1.65 per bird?!  I do rest easy though knowing that in the event of emergency, I can put fresh meat on the table for me and my family from birds that I have grown in my own backyard.  Added bonus: I got to meet Bonita!

I love her!

Vegetarian Homesteaders?!

 Last night we were invited over to the Remy Homestead for dinner, swimming, and a bit o'chicken slaughter.  (A great way to spend a sultry Saturday night if you ask me!)  We were unsuccessful in finding homes for the two roosters that I wrote about a few days ago and due to the fact that the roosters are causing a fair amount of havoc and unhappiness Christie and I decided we would butcher them.  I took that meat bird workshop at Jenna Woginrich's farm and felt like I had a pretty hard grasp on the concept.  After spending a fair amount of money and time on these boys, putting them on the table was an excellent idea so it seemed.

  

I was hoping for a little bit of back up from the Reluctant Farmers, however neither one of them was really excited about this adventure.  This was evident by the smug smirks and "I told you so" faces that I was given in this picture.  You see the look they are giving the camera?!  That is the look that only those two can give and it is usually in response to a hair-brained idea that Christie and I have such as: "Let's butcher chickens at a family dinner party!"  

After dinner, which was amazing, we had a few beers (Stewart's that is!) and it was time to get down to business.  The ax was secured and checked for sharpness.  The water was boiled.  A log was brought over from the burn pile.  The butcher site was set up!  We were ready.  

Dianna and Grandma Nancy were at the helm and ready to go.  Katzya went in to the coop and caught the first rooster.  Grandma Nancy and Katzya secured his feet and he was hanging upside down ready to go.  It was then that I noticed the huge crocodile tears streamed down Katzya's face.  I asked her if she was going to be okay and she said she would but I could see in her eyes that this was not a decision that she was happy about.  

She made the remark that this was making her sad because these were birds that were raised in our home, where they were loved and played with as chicks.  These were birds that she had named, and she really did not feel comfortable killing them.  She explained that she is okay with eating chickens that we raise for meat and because that is their sole purpose for being at our homestead, she looks at them differently. 

She at the last minute asked us to pardon the chicken and we did.  We don't have an answer as of yet, for what we will be doing with these roosters but we do know that we will not be eating them on our homesteads!  

Now I know many people will say it is important for kids to learn where their food comes from, and in our houses our kids do.  However, with that being said I thank every animal that is butchered for giving me the gifts of sustainability and nourishment.  I feel that animals are smart enough to sense emotion so you have to be in the correct frame of mind to butcher successfully.  I know that if we had just butchered the rooster with no regard to other's feelings we would have made a terrible mistake.  We would have killed the rooster in a negative mindset and Katzya would have been extremely upset. (Possibly to the point of vegetarianism!)  

We learned a few things tonight:

1)  The $1.65 fee to have a butcher prepare my chicken is money well spent.

2)  NEVER name and play with your dinner!

3) Whether it be people or animals, always live by the Golden Rule and treat others like you want to be treated.

2 chicks with 10 chicks take New York: Part 1

In my quest to be a well rounded urban farmer, I signed up to attend a workshop that Jenna Woginrich is hosting at her farm in upstate New York.  ( For those of you not familiar with Jenna, please check out her blog and books at  coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com )  I read her blog daily, love her books, and frankly I find her determination and moxie refreshing.  She is living the life I want to live, but am too chicken (no pun intended...) to just yet....  The workshop that I signed up for is a workshop on raising chickens from day 1 to the dinner table.  As part of the workshop, each person gets to take home 5 chicks to raise for their table.  I have been super excited about this for weeks!  Of course the Reluctant Farmer has come along with me on this grand adventure, but in her usual fashion: reluctantly.  

So before we leave Ohio, Reluctant Farmer asks me: "Have you made reservations for a campground or hotel yet?!"  (She has been reminding me to do this for weeks, and I have procrastinated of course....)  I reassured her that all would be well, and the reservations would be made as soon as possible.  Turns out Reluctant Farmer had good reason to be stressed.  It is hard to find a hotel that will accept pets.  It is even harder to find a hotel that will allow you to room with 10 chickens!  

I spent all of my lunch break and most of the evening Thursday calling around to various hotels and bed & breakfast establishments with no luck.  As soon as they ask you what kind of pet you are traveling with and you mumble chickens there is a long pause and quickly they realize the vacant rooms have all been filled.  (This is the nice response.  One hotel just hung up on me!)  After searching every hotel in a 100 mile radius and coming up empty handed, I decided that I would just tell the hotel that I had a dog.  I fully intend on sneaking these chickens through the backdoor tomorrow.  Wait until they get a load of this room!  It is one thing to sneak some chickens into a Super 8, and a whole other ballgame when you are sneaking them into a 5 star hotel.  

I have a feeling that the chickens will be very happy with all of the effort I have put into securing this posh hotel room for them.  Pictures of the babies to follow....

The unsuspecting hotel room.  Rumor has it, chickens love olive green with chocolate accents!

  

Chronicle of the meat chicken: Conclusion

Things I have learned from this experience:

1)  Raising your own meat is a lot of work!  I had to clean this chicken coop every 3 days after these chickens turned 2 weeks old because they constantly ate and pooped.  

2)  Meat chickens smell worse than laying chickens because they poop so much.  I will now only try raising these in the winter time so that the neighbors are not forced to smell my stinky chickens through their open windows!  (Note: Make sure your butcher butchers year round, before buying chickens in the winter...)

3)  Elevate their food and water so that they have to stretch to reach it.  This will insure that the breast of your chicken is nice and round, not pointed.  (Special thanks to the girl at TSC for this tip!)

4)  After having your chickens butchered, they must sit in your refrigerator for 48-72 hours BEFORE you freeze them.  I had mentioned that I felt the meat was chewy/though here is why: After an animal is butchered the muscles go into a state of rigor (Ever heard of rigor mortis?)  In order for the meat to soften up you have to allow time for the muscles to relax.  If you take your birds home right from the butcher and throw them in your freezer then you are preserving them in that rigor mortis stage.  Hence, chewy/tough meat....

5) Will I do this again?  Yes I think I will.

Chronicle of the meat chicken: Part 4

Yum!


Well, today we cooked one of the chickens that we raised.  They flavor was amazing, but I thought the meat was tough.  It was not terrible, just chewier then what I thought it would be and chewier then what I would buy at the grocery store.  I don't understand why they are tough.  I need to do some research.  I butchered them at 8 weeks and 3 days old just as the hatchery recommended.  I fed them a high protein food and I made sure they got exercise.  If anyone else knows why this is, please let me know!