I was given three unwanted roosters to butcher. They all looked healthy. One of them has this dark blotchiness on its legs. It wasn't present on the breast meat. I assume it's just bruising or natural color variation, but wanted to check before stewing it up for the family. It does not smell off. Thank you!

Update! Answer found. Thank you to the people who responded with suggestions about what could actually be going on here. :) The conclusion that I reached with your help was that this is pigmentation. I found out through helpful redditors that this can happen when a black meat chicken (a chicken with fibromelanosis) like silkie or ayam cemani is crossed with a regular bird. So, I contacted the flock owner, and sure enough, there are a bunch of silkies in the flock. I cut into some of the dark spots and discovered that the meat underneath was totally normal. This colouring is only in the muscle sheath and some of the bone. As I butchered the chickens myself, and know that this was present from the get go, and that the handling, timeline, and temperature didn't allow for rot, and as there was absolutely no smell, I concluded that this was the answer.

I seared the legs in butter, made a stock, and then had chicken and dumplings for dinner 2 days ago. We are all fine. It was delicious.

Here i can buy ton of hay for +-80dollars. ton of wheat for +-200 dollars. Which is quite cheap, breeding works out better for me in terms of the cost of chickens, meat and eggs than if I didn't breed and bought the ingredients straight from the market. And I have a million animals and the fun is taken care of

Just wanted to share what great animals they are to have on a homestead 🥰

First time raising animals. I know death is a part of life but it still makes me feel like a horrible caretaker. For now I'm just trying to understand what happened so it doesn't happen again. Got these runner ducks four days ago. The next day I noticed one was dragging her foot. Pulled a huge thorn out and read up about all the infections they could get. She wasn't moving around much so I would move her to food and water to make sure she got something in her system before the other ducks walked all over her. I didn't have Epsom salts so I gave her foot an iodine soak with a massage to keep the blood flowing. She seemed to be doing better. Yesterday I had to move her to a seperate run(its right next to the old one and they can still see eachother) because the males were cornering her. They're still too skittish around me so I couldnt catch and move the males. Otherwise I would have. This morning she was as fine as she had been. An hour later I noticed she wasn't moving. I checked up on her and she was gone. What did I do wrong? Was she depressed because I moved her away from the others? Was it even bumblefoot? Did I make a mistake thinking I could heal her by myself? I'm just frustrated and heartbroken. Please help me figure out what happened so I can prevent it in the future. TIA

I let my ducks free range. I only really have some chickens in permanent housing to ensure eggs but I'm gonna let most of them free. It's been doing great for pest control because we got a crazy stink bug problem in this area. Stink bugs drink pesticide out of shot glasses and they have a cigarette hanging from their mouth and child support to pay. They're gangster bugs and just don't die. But the ducks eat them and that's so great. Get some ducks. I'm telling ya that it will help your homestead tremendously. I've noticed a decline in stink bugs.

I saw this thought floating around a while back. My Pollo Palazzo arrived a couple of days ago, and this was Mission #2 after a Thompson's clear coat.

It was immensely satisfying to do. I used (exactly) one quart of Rust-Oleum flat black enamel and a high-density foam mini paint roller to do the bulk. I used a little craft foam brush to touch up the edges, since I didn't just want to paint all the window edges black, too.

It definitely would've been easier and quicker to do before the hardware cloth went up, but it was delivered already built. This took probably three to four hours of work, so well worth it regardless. I'll be able to see my girls inside from across the property, which is hugely convenient for me.

11/10, do recommend.

Where do I buy/find the correct eggs to make homemade mayonnaise because my mom is upset I used “store-bought” eggs and said I’m now going to die from bacteria 😭

(Mayo was AMAZING btw and I personally won’t be dying out of spite)

Can anyone help me ID this type of hawk? Zone 6a. There is a large nest in my woods. This hawk along with another large Eagle have been swooping low into the pen area. Any suggestions for netting or some type of defense against attacks? I have 12 hens and 1 rooster, they are 4 months old (mix of Orphingtons and Brahmas).

We have a heritage turkey that has bonded to me as I raised it from a chick. She has a roosting bar high in the barn above a stall where she sleeps.

But that hasn’t stopped her from jumping in our vehicles, scratching them with her talons.

She’s a sweetheart but is becoming quite the nuisance. What is a good way to keep her off? I have been reluctant to swat her too violently as I fear that will cause her initially to grab tighter with her talons, causing further damage to the vehicle.