Hi MolsonMiller... can I just call you beer man?
ANYWAY! Sorry bout that. If plucking is to time consuming, you could just skin the birds, unless of course you are like me, and you like nice crunchy grilled skin. Just skin em.
I have to give Katie some sympathy, but not a lot. When I used to drive around Hamilton delivering my papers, I'd always feel bad about those guy out there in the middle of the night trying to get the fields finished for planting/planting/havesting... what ever it was, because more than likely, as soon as they were finished with that, it was grab some quick grub and go to work at what ever job they had to pay the bills. Oh yes, manure is offensive to the nose. So are dairy farms. WHEW! Nothing like cow pee to clear the sinuses, but I OH SO LUVS ME SOME MILK! SO, I don't find it that offensive. I used to live on a pig farm when I was a kid. My bio mum and her husband rented the house. There was the pig pens and barns to the north of the house, soy crops to the back, and on the south there was something else, I do not remember. BUT I do not remember it being a bad smell even in the summer because we got used to it after a while. I also remember that my mom ran the air con all the time, so I guess that made a difference too. I also remember that she would bring card board boxes home from work, and tony would cut and duct tape them together to be the size of the window, and he'd paint them white and put them in the bedroom window that faced the fields so we'd not have the lights shining it. Then when the field work was done, they'd come back out.
I guess this is your first time in farm central? I drive thru three rivers whenever I head on down to visit family in Burr Oak or Sturgis. Yup, lot of farm land surrounds your town. I really hope that you can come up with ways to cope with the farmers that you find offensive in their behaviour. Cut them some slack, they are more tired, worried, and over worked than you think, even if all their corn goes to a feed mill. Animals need to eat too and more animal farms rely on those fields, and we rely on those animal farmers for the meat and milk.
Olive, must commend your control today. I can see why you are already planning next years garden. I am trying to find some one who is willing to come cut down a few trees in my back yard. All they have to do is cut them to fall straight to the south, and then chop em up from there. I just do not have the $1000 to take out the 3 trees, nor do I have the skills or tools to do it myself. BUT I need several out so I can actually PLANT and be able to be a bit more self sufficient with the land I have. Right now, self sufficiency is limited to large pots and vertical gardening on a very small plot that gets 6 hours of light... The only spot that gets that much light. I worry that one day I am going to go out and some random jerk is going to have come and taken my veggies from it... Yes, its that close to the road. About 15-20 feet from the road...
1mutts, RIRJen, I know you guys are already swamped with the wanted silkies, and Yes MOM, as long as those girls still lay a few eggs a week a peice, then I will take them, and if not, I can get silkie eggs somewhere and they can earn their keep that way by hatching out Faverolles and silkies. Roger just needs some new girls too. I have hopes to come home with at least 4. If I can get my grubby fingers on 4 aside from Moms to girls, with the hopes that 2 are pullets, then I will be a very happy. I have no problems with chicks. I have a garage where they'd housed until they are crowing... heehee.
Anyway, Gonna go and watch my kids play in the pool. I am too tired and achy to do it...
