Beth! Up before the chickens today, I see! I laid in bed a while listening to the button quail calling. I ended up with two pair, and both hens are laying now.
My husband is an avid hunter, and we eat everything he kills. I can't say we've ventured into opossum or porcupine, but we've got most everything else in our freezer now - if not now, we have had it. This is why I would like to {eventually} be in a place where we can have meat birds - then you know where your meat is coming from. We RARELY eat beef, and when we do it comes from our family farm in Ohio. Chicken is the only meat we buy at the store. We're originally from Ohio, and now NC -- we eat what we kill
Hehe...funny frog leg story: my grandmother was cooking frog legs and instead of telling us what they were, she said they were mini chicken legs. All through supper, my grandfather kept asking us how the frog tasted and my grandmother would kick him from under the table. LOL...at that time, we were "city kids" - living on base after base and had rarely stepped foot in what could be called a country setting. I always giggle at that memory...as well as my sister's face, when she found out the truth!!
Beth! Up before the chickens today, I see! I laid in bed a while listening to the button quail calling. I ended up with two pair, and both hens are laying now.
Well...today is another day. I think I am STILL beat from yesterday!! LOL. My girls day out was only suppose to be at ONE store, but we ended up hitting several different stores (lugging 2 youngins and one incubating) that by the end of the day my feet were so swollen and sore...MAN, pregnancy in "summer" really stinks. LOL The kiddos were worn out more than mama though, so all in all, I'd say it was a success. LOL
We had a first here at the Meadows yesterday...found FOUR duck eggs IN the coop!! It's funny and curious because we only have 3 ducks that are capable of laying (unless Cadbury has something to tell us) and so I think they might have uncovered the one to lay their eggs with it, only to not get a chance to cover it back up?? That's my guess. Of course the eggs were NOT in the nesting boxes, but I guess the ducks don't like to follow "protocol"...hehe. I have a few new layers - getting a tiny "new egg" here and there which is SO exciting. I think I might have to meet with Beth and get some additional ones...you know, to help lessen her load!!
We have our first "regular" egg customer too!!
A guy my hubby works with just found out he's allergic to soy and has been looking for soy-free pastured eggs (we do feed grain, but only as a supplement...and in winter when no grass/bugs are to be had) and is asking for 1/2 dozen eggs every week!! LOL...I tried to see if he wanted duck eggs, but for some reason, that scared him. LOL.
Today is a lazy day for me...laundry and stuffing diapers that I have refused to touch since the last bit of rainfall we had...LOL I hope everyone has a great Friday and a WONDERFUL weekend!!
The ONLY reason I was up so early is because DD #1 had a field trip today and had to be at school at 5:15.
But all chores are done, coffee has been enjoyed and now I need to wake the little ones back up to get a move on it.... be have to be out the door by 9:30 again.....
We have our first "regular" egg customer too!! A guy my hubby works with just found out he's allergic to soy and has been looking for soy-free pastured eggs (we do feed grain, but only as a supplement...and in winter when no grass/bugs are to be had) and is asking for 1/2 dozen eggs every week!!
I know you were doing a lot of research looking for soy-free feed. If you're feeding grains only as a supplement, what is their main feed now? Did you find a good source for soy-free feed? I've considered separating a portion of my flock and doing soy-free to be able to sell to people with allergies, but haven't looked into the feed much. I figured I'd wait for you! And of course, any good feed is able to be supplemented by free-ranging. I'm surprised you replace the free-ranging with grains in the winter though, because without soy the protein content needs a boost. I was thinking about getting back into raising mealworms again for that group...if I ended up going that way. Might be more trouble than it's currently worth to me.
Too many irons in the fire...and a queue of others waiting their turn!
Hey, Hey, NH! We are from NW Ohio too! Small world. Stuffing diapers? What does this consist of (I probably missed the memo from before I joined BYC)? And you are homesteading - does that mean you are feeding organics, non processed foods in your household? I would love to learn more - books to read, etc. I want to get that crap out of our kitchen too!
I am also in the process of researching how to feed my flock and supplement their food so that I don't have to buy so much at the store. Right now we only have 8, and it seems like they eat a lot or just kick it around the brooder/run/coop. Since I am not up on the science of all of this, what do the levels need to be for protein (or whatever else is necssary) in summer vs. winter? Where can I look for more information? TONS OF QUESTIONS!
On another note, HAPPY FRIDAY! It is our last Friday with students. I love my job, but I am ready for summer!
I have someone interested in buying fertile eggs from me. I currently only have bantams eggs that are fertile. My question is: How much should I charge for "barnyard mix" bantam hatching eggs? They aren't purebred bantams, so I know I can't charge what some people would charge for those. I was thinking $4-$6/dozen. Does that sound too high? Too low? Not sure...
Oh! Something else to covet, that I will never, ever be able to keep: http://www.zebrafinch.com/VCP.html
Look at all the pictures. Yes, turkey hen-sized, crested pigeons. WANT!
A guy my hubby works with just found out he's allergic to soy and has been looking for soy-free pastured eggs (we do feed grain, but only as a supplement...and in winter when no grass/bugs are to be had) and is asking for 1/2 dozen eggs every week!!
