Well, I'm definitely addicted to chickens... and hobby farm life in general. Seriously, I wish that I could afford to quit my office job and spend each day tending to the animals and my garden! I've been living in the country for 3 years now, and this spring was finally my jumping point to start my hobby farm.
Chickens... I have 27 of them. I thought that would be plenty! But I find myself wanting to buy more!!! My original plan was to wait until next spring and let one or two of the hens each hatch their own, but I find myself seriously considering letting them try hatching this fall in all hopes that one or two will get a bit broody! And now I want to try different breeds too - I'd definitely like to get some buff laced wyandottes, and I think that some leghorns would look really cool roaming the property. I don't know how to cure this addiction!
Pigs... I didn't know that they would have so much personality! I thought to myself "hey, they're pigs. I'll get 2, I won't get attached, and I'll have lots of meat in the freezer this fall." What do I do? Name them! Porky & Petunia. They're a little over 100 pounds right now. When I go to feed them, they run up to the fence to be pet. And they're kinda cute! I currently have 2 buyers for a 1/2 pig each. I think that my DF and I can manage eating a whole pig ourselves over the next year if need be, but I also figured that if I can find another buyer for another 1/2, I'll break even on my pork investment and the 1/2 we keep will basically be free. I think I'll try 4 pigs next year.
Cows... I don't have cows yet, but my friend Mike got some day olds last winter. I went over early one morning to help him bottle feed them and decided that I definitely need some cows! I figured that at the very least, DF would keep me in line and finally put his foot down. Nope! He jumped on the band wagon last week. Cows are in the future!
Garden... I must pat myself on the back this year with my garden. I haven't killed anything yet and it's not overgrown with weeds! If I keep this up through the growing season, I may just double the size next year! And I definitely want to add a berry patch somewhere on the property.
So many things I still want to try... turkeys, goats, guinneas...
What do I do??? How do I contain myself???
Chickens... I have 27 of them. I thought that would be plenty! But I find myself wanting to buy more!!! My original plan was to wait until next spring and let one or two of the hens each hatch their own, but I find myself seriously considering letting them try hatching this fall in all hopes that one or two will get a bit broody! And now I want to try different breeds too - I'd definitely like to get some buff laced wyandottes, and I think that some leghorns would look really cool roaming the property. I don't know how to cure this addiction!
Pigs... I didn't know that they would have so much personality! I thought to myself "hey, they're pigs. I'll get 2, I won't get attached, and I'll have lots of meat in the freezer this fall." What do I do? Name them! Porky & Petunia. They're a little over 100 pounds right now. When I go to feed them, they run up to the fence to be pet. And they're kinda cute! I currently have 2 buyers for a 1/2 pig each. I think that my DF and I can manage eating a whole pig ourselves over the next year if need be, but I also figured that if I can find another buyer for another 1/2, I'll break even on my pork investment and the 1/2 we keep will basically be free. I think I'll try 4 pigs next year.
Cows... I don't have cows yet, but my friend Mike got some day olds last winter. I went over early one morning to help him bottle feed them and decided that I definitely need some cows! I figured that at the very least, DF would keep me in line and finally put his foot down. Nope! He jumped on the band wagon last week. Cows are in the future!
Garden... I must pat myself on the back this year with my garden. I haven't killed anything yet and it's not overgrown with weeds! If I keep this up through the growing season, I may just double the size next year! And I definitely want to add a berry patch somewhere on the property.
So many things I still want to try... turkeys, goats, guinneas...
What do I do??? How do I contain myself???
