Consolidated Kansas

[HEChicken]

I will admit, I can do some of the dressing, and DH does the butchering; I try to help, but am more squeamish....I learned long ago not to judge one or another, we each have differences, that is what makes the world more interesting.

I had a little chuckle at this. When we started, although keeping the chooks was my idea, I decided DH had to be the one to do the butchering. We did the research together but I definitely left it up to him to do the deed. I would catch and hold and let him do the rest. What I wasn't prepared for was that he wouldn't just take charge and get the job done. He was as afraid of hurting them or causing them to suffer as I was, so he was hesitant and nervous. He did eventually get the job done but it was months before we had to do it again and by then he'd forgotten how he did it the first time and we had to go through it all again. The last few...I've ended up doing. First, he was out of town on a business trip and not due back for a week and I had a roo who had started crowing and didn't want my "bad" neighbors reporting me, so I had to take matters into my own hands. A few weeks later we had to do it again and I assumed DH would take over since he was there but when I saw how hesitant he was, I realized it was just as hard on him as me and it wasn't fair to make him do it, so I took the implement from him and did it myself. That seemed to work better for both of us. He is right in there helping me pluck and so on but over time we realized that as much as I dislike doing the deed, I'm actually better at it than he is.

Wow, that is a boatload of chicks you have! They will keep you busy for sure. What breeds did you get?

 

[HEChicken]

Oh - guess we cross posted and I see the list of breeds - what a great selection!

 

[ChooksChick]

Tweety:

I don't know how I do it either, since I haven't yet.

I do apologize for bringing up the subject because I know there are lots of pet owners here. It's just that I'm new to the whole thing and the thought flew in my head and out my fingertips. Believe me, I really get your perspective.

But I will try to explain. Don't worry, I won't explain more than once, I'm just not that dogmatic a person.

My mom, I swear, must have been the very first subscriber to Organic Gardening. I grew up being taught to respect nature and to be aware of the delicate balance that, when respected, makes the world a better place and when ignored causes imbalances, erosion, poor air quality, etc. Her father always had a place in the country with an orchard, gardens, and animals where all his grandkids spent a week every summer, but we also spent as many weekends at his place as we possibly could. We saw the changes in seasons over our childhood, looked at the stars that actually shone brightly in the country, slept outside and ate everything fresh. We rode horses, boated and swam in a pond he had built just for us in a beautiful wooded area. He even had a rope swing tied from a huge tree that we could swing out over the pond, let go and splashdown! When we stood in our boat and rowed it up the creek that twisted and turned in the woods up stream from the pond, we called it Tom Sawyering. We learned to appreciate even the good snakes and recognize the poison ones. We could snack on blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, pears, apples. We had fresh-from-the cow milk, our eggs came from the chickens and yes, our chicken soup came from chickens he raised himself. I understand now how much work this was but took it blissfully all for granted as a child. My grandfather's example taught us more than plain words ever could have. He taught us that we need to take responsibility for the animals who provide the food we eat. He absolutely hated commercial farming and the treatment of animals like commodities. He taught us that butchering a chicken is something that should be done with respect. He hated seeing acres of beautiful oak trees poisoned in his area to clear the land for pasture that would ultimately be over-pastured. He taught us that an animals life should be the best quality possible and he loved them all. When we were young adults he took us to a laying facility and showed us what the animals' lives were like. It wasn't pretty but it's nirvana compared to what a meat birds' life is like in a commercial operation.

Once I adjusted to the loss of my mom, I realized that all the things I had been taught were not just their beliefs. They were mine. I wanted to do something about it and honor my grandfather and mom in the process. Of all the cousins, I'm sure I would have been voted the least likely to be doing what I am now doing. So I guess it came as a surprise to everyone. Did I ever believe I would butcher a chicken myself? No way. But it truly is the only vote I have against commercial practices. The chicken that I now eat from the grocery store comes from birds who have been treated abominably, never loved or appreciated. That is, unless I buy from a small acreage producer, but then, I have 8 kids to raise and retirement looming for my husband and I can't afford it. This experiment with meat birds is a test for my family. We can either take responsibility for the animals that provide our food, or give it up. Perhaps we will become vegetarians. Even before the loss of mom, I had this idea that I could contribute to lowering our carbon footprint. I had 3 babies in diapers for 2 years and used cloth diapers, not because we couldn't afford disposables but because it was better for the environment. I want something better for the earth, for the animals and for my family and I feel very passionately about that.

We had just purchased this acreage when my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She and I were going to raise chickens together and build an organic garden and orchard. She was going to teach me all the stuff I just took for granted as a kid. After we lost her, my family moved back to the city to help my Dad adjust and only just came back last year now that he's back on his feet.

It's funny now that I think about it. I did my best to ignore my mother's perspective growing up, but I didn't even give birth to any of my children. They are all adopted. My mom and dad took in foster children and I realized when I was 8 years old that there were perfectly lovely children who needed homes, so why add to the population when I could adopt? I don't feel any animosity toward those who prefer giving birth, even when they have lots of kids. It's just not me.

Anyway, I hope that makes it the tiniest bit easier to understand. I promise not to bring it up again, though, because I know it's just too painful to think about for many people.

I guess I'm just an old hippy (without the psychedelic drugs).

Well spoken. I have a similar stance and follow a similar path, even after having been vegetarian for nearly 20 years.

That's a great solution -- how very fortunate to have found them! Maybe I'll be able to find someone like that as well. Gives me hope, anyway!

I take mine to Garnett and a lovely family there has a great USDA certified inspection facility in which they are processed with incredible respect and dignity. I just can't do it myself. If I were in a position of desperation, sure...but I'm not. So I don't.

 

[Candace69]

What is funny, is I was the city girl. But always wanted to be in the country. I am TOTALLY blessed with my dh. He does whatever within reason, I want. When I got the bunnies, he built the cages and got them ready, I came in and built some of the cages, but he took it over again and did it. He just built me a greenhouse.

What I love about him, is he IS a country man through and through, he has been a butcher, cowboy (literally) anyone needs help, he does it, having been a butcher, in small custom shops, dressing his animals from the time he was a teenager, he is VERY conscious about how quick the kill is. No suffering is always what his aim is, and he taught and showed our sons that too. When deer season was here, allot of past seasons he ended up with a bunch of teenage boys that were dressing their deer and he showed them the most efficient way to save the meat and not mess up the carcass, the best cuts, I remember a group of like 6 boys standing around and going OH wow, that makes sense, kewl... They were trying to dress their own and not doing a very good job of it...

So I am truly thankful with my dh; he shows me, and if I cant handle it, won't say anything about it. I am trying, getting better, 'cause I figure if I am going to eat it, I need to be able to do the responsible thing. That's just the way I think.

What is cute, is HE loves the chickens, he will dress them, if he has to, but he loves his chickens, more than any other critter on the place. When I first came, he may not have had names for them all, but he KNEW each one, that one was the great great great grandson or granddaughter of this or that chicken. He still knows them all, he has a very soft spot for the chickens. He loves all his fowl.

 

[chicken danz]

Candace congrats on the new babies.
I hear you all on the chickens. My take is that I would rather raise some healthy birds and let them enjoy a life free ranging out here before becoming dinner than to see them packed wall to wall with no space to move and never seeing real grass and bugs. I have butchered and do butcher once in awhile, but think I am going to pay to have my next meaties butchered for me. Its not that I can't do it, but that it is becoming more physically impossible for me to do it myself. If I had a plucker and scalder I'd still do it but I can pay to have a lot of chickens butchered for me for what it would cost for the equipment. I think I really have a great solution here where I sell my so-so roosters to someone else to go on their table and I can grow meaties if I want to have some for my own. I am trying very hard to get back to producing lots of my own food. I have home grown beef and am looking for a pig to raise for meat. I have the chickens and the eggs. I am seriously trying to plan a big garden this year. Of course that is going to cause more fence building. I love my chickens but sheer numbers makes it much easier to enjoy eating them. There are some I would never consider butchering.
Chopper is a cross between a Cayuga and an ancona, He isn't pure bred. Those ducklings with him in the picture are cayuga chicks. I have one mixed duck named Shorty who just never grew. She was several months old and still looked like a baby duck. She is gray and white. She finally got some size to her even though she is much smaller than the other adult ducks. She has a bad leg so she moves a lot slower than the others. I think Chopper must be one of her offspring because I've never had an all gray ducks before even with some of the mixed ones. Chopper is a really pretty blue gray color in person and has black feet and bill like a Cayuga. So I am thinking Shorty was bred by a Cayuga and came up with this color combination.
Bamaproud and family came and got their pup. I am down to one to go to their forever home now. They took a couple Bantam polish while they were here. And are delivering a couple of roos to Ivy.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I'm all for eating my own chickens! If we end up staying here, I'd like to start a meat bird coop, I think that would be much nicer than buying the grocery store birds. I have dressed a lot of birds myself, and frankly, I just don't want to do it again if I don't have to. Thanks to my dad-- I'm off put by the process of it... it's just time consuming and I hate scalding my hands. Hopefully I can find someone locally to do birds for me. But I could certainly butcher my own birds if I had to. Sounds like the majority of us are on the same page.

Candace-- YAY on your Polish!!! I LOVE my Polish! They are super fun, but they are such light weight birds, even for LF. The WCB are my favorites, but the silver laced are probably my next favorite. Great pic of your babies! I didn't know you raised meat bunnies. I think that would be tough to do, but I know a lot of people do it. I grew up eating rabbit that my dad hunted. It's not the same. You're not attached to them.

Karen, I cloth diapered all 3 of my kids. I even have a diaper business. So if you know anyone needing the modern cloth-- the kind that uses an insert, snaps (no pins) and is easy to clean, send them my way!

Took my pom to the groomers today. Went to Atwoods while I was in town and picked up horse feed and more chicken feed. Horse feed was on sale, so I bought like twice as much as I usually do. My barrels weren't empty either-- so I have bags left over. They were a $1 off!! I'm tempted to go back and get another 500 lbs-- I paid $7.89 for 12%!!! I can hardly believe it!!! I just don't know where all I'd put it. Maybe leave it in the bed of the truck for now, since it's always sitting in the barn... I don't know. The wind is insane, and the humidity is up. I grabbed Yoda when I got home and unloaded the grain and forced her to walk around in the front yard for a few minutes so she could wake up and poop. Put her back and she ate and drank before climbing back on her nest. If I don't do that-- she won't eat!! She won't even poop! I skipped a day and she never ate, drank or pooped that entire day. Didn't catch it until later the next day and realized her food was untouched. She's a great broody, but she has a death wish.

 

[chicken danz]

Hawkeye some broodies are like that but they do survive. They run out quickly and gorge themselves on food and water and jump back in. I have a brahma hen I swear hasn't moved for a week! Lots of times they get pale combs and loose weight.
None of my kids ever wore pampers. They were all allergic to the plastic and the adhesive tabs. I still have a thing about putting paper on babies. I know it is accepted but it just seems wrong. I wouldn't want to wear that crap. I guess I may have to when I get old and senile though so I should watch what I say!

So Hawkeye so you make the diapers and sell them? Do they have different patterns of cloth on them or how do they work? I might want to buy some of those if my middle son and his wife ever decide to have a baby. I have an entire stash of things to make a complete nursery set for them. I am just waiting to hear the word. She just started pre-med though so I wonder if that will be another postponement. I watched her get her batchelors, then her masters, and now she has decided to become a doctor. I want her to become a MOM. My son is the big holdout though.He worries too much. Kids!
It has gotten very very cloudy and looks like it could start storming any moment. I hate it!

 

[Candace69]

Ya know, what kelsey does, after beheading....gut, then he pulls the skin. We don't worry about plucking, I can ask him where and how if you want, but it's like one swift motion i think, he doesn't worry about plucking.

 

[honeycreek]

TNT: Prayers going out for your son and his well being and praying he can be at least somewhat of a normal kid - playing and having fun!

Had to post a picture of my crazy hens. Every time my husband or I are out digging in the dirt, here they come running, because they know there's something good to come. It started several weeks ago when my husband was digging in his vineyard and found a bunch of grub worms and was feeding them to the hens. And we have a lot of crawdads on our property, and they have discovered those! You should them go nuts!! So here's a photo of my husband till some ground with the hens following!

And here's a picture my son wanted me to take of him holding the silkie we call Roberta.

 

[Trish44]

I agree with you all about the raising your own food if possible & giving those animals a good life while they're here. In the past I raised a lot of my own meat for the freezer. One year we raised 3 hogs & took them to market, that was the best pork I ever ate in my life, nothing like you get at the store. My late husband & I raised our own beef at one time, meat chickens, sheep, ducks, & geese. I have processed chickens, but I do not like the killing part & I never did that. I guess I'm too soft-hearted to do that part. I did the plucking & all of that after they were dead, but I just couldn't do the actual deed. If I ever get meat chickens again I think I will try to find someone else to process them because it really is a big mess & unless you have the proper equipment it takes a long time. I have these chickens I have now for eggs, but I do know in the back of my mind that when they don't lay any more they have to go, it's not feasible to keep & feed chickens that don't produce, it's just a fact of life with feed being so expensive. That's the way it's been forever really for people on farms, it's nothing new. I also am getting into the meat rabbits to sell, but also to have some for the freezer. DH says he doesn't think it will happen, but I have to think it will. I agree with you Candace, those babies are so cute, but with the meat rabbits I will have to remember what they're here for.

KarenS, I grew up a city girl myself, but I always had animals around me, I think it drove my parents nuts, but my mom at least understood. They came from farming backgrounds growing up, so she liked animals too. But they left that life to live in the city after they got married, I don't think my dad wanted that way of life. After I got married & as soon as we could afford it we bought a little acreage, just a small place outside Derby where we could have some animals. Over the years we had a lot of different things until I got too busy with a child & working & didn't want to care for all of the animals any more. It has only been recently that I decided I wanted them again & I'm glad I did because it gives me a lot of joy watching these chickens picking around in my yard & having them run up to me for treats. My DH never had chickens or any farm animals even though he grew up in the country, although they did hunt & fish all the time, so having them is all new to him. He is learning to appreciate them now too though. He recently told me he never would have thought he would like chickens, but he does.

Boy I sure hate to see the cooler weather coming back & rain for days, it's going to be a mess. I'm wanting to get outside & do some things, but now it's not going to happen until next week it looks like.