This year I decided to hatch my own. Well actually, my hens decided to set so I let them which, of course, led to the inevitable purchase of an incubator. Needless to say, I went hatch-happy & had WAY too many cockerels.
Fortunately for me (I doubt the roos would agree) I have a friend who volunteered to help. My friend is a self-described Vietnamese red-neck who is an old hand at 'processing' a great array of critters. This worked out particularly well because I was approaching it from the viewpoint of 'it's the circle of life' &, while my eyes are opened to some rather cool cultural differences in the menu department, I find it almost comforting that next to nothing went to waste. Actually zero went to waste as my friend (& saviour) hunts bear so the 'waste' will be bear bait.
I've gotten off topic here...what I started out intending to share is that I was really quite nervous but now that the deed is done I'm finding that it somehow feels right to have raised my dinner from egg to table...with a little (OK, a lot) of help from my friends
Now I've just got to figure out how to win back the trust of my flock...I swear I see an accusing look in their wee eyes. :/
Fortunately for me (I doubt the roos would agree) I have a friend who volunteered to help. My friend is a self-described Vietnamese red-neck who is an old hand at 'processing' a great array of critters. This worked out particularly well because I was approaching it from the viewpoint of 'it's the circle of life' &, while my eyes are opened to some rather cool cultural differences in the menu department, I find it almost comforting that next to nothing went to waste. Actually zero went to waste as my friend (& saviour) hunts bear so the 'waste' will be bear bait.
I've gotten off topic here...what I started out intending to share is that I was really quite nervous but now that the deed is done I'm finding that it somehow feels right to have raised my dinner from egg to table...with a little (OK, a lot) of help from my friends
Now I've just got to figure out how to win back the trust of my flock...I swear I see an accusing look in their wee eyes. :/
