North Carolina

[Greenskeeper]

Hey Everybody!
Today was the day I learned to dispatch the extra boys! Thanks to my big brother Kevin. I thought him being a chef and a regular hunter he would have it down. He did, but he is as soft as i am, Im not sure who feels worse him or me. Sad for sure.... Wife comes home from work and was amazed at the freezer full of fresh poultry. All in all I learned something about what living off my land is really about! I think i might be in the right place finally! I love Chickens!

 

[the1honeycomb]

We need a place with just the initial identifications!! I am still new to all this and most of the time when people start using initials I have NO idea what they are talking about! fun to try to guess though usually way off base! is there a spot with a dictionary? Loving life in Yadkinville NC

 

[Matt A NC]

Quote:
Good for you. Alot of folks can't do it, but the meat that we raise is so much better.

It would have been better if you left them in the fridge to cure for a few days before freezing. That way the meat would be alot more tender. I guess you can just let them cure after the thaw.

Matt

 

[Greenskeeper]

Thanks Matt!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Good for you. Alot of folks can't do it, but the meat that we raise is so much better.

It would have been better if you left them in the fridge to cure for a few days before freezing. That way the meat would be alot more tender. I guess you can just let them cure after the thaw.

Matt

We've never let them sit in the frig, after we processed either just put them straight in the freezer, so we'll do that also with our extra roos from this springs hatch. Thanks Matt

 

[vfem]

Just stopping by to say HI! I'm not dead or anything, just been sick and weak and not doing very well... not even enough energy to be on the computer. With it probably being 110 tomorrow (heat index) I will be laid out in the living room with ice packs. So don't worry about me!

I'm getting up early to put the sprinkler on by the chickens and that's about it!

 

[HenThymes]

Shannon, sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, get better soon.

 

[Matt A NC]

Tomorrow, actually today I guess, we are supposed to be 99 degrees with a heat index of 110.

They say that you can't miss what you never had. Well I have NEVER lived in a house with AC and I REALLY miss living in a house with AC.

Matt

 

[laughingdog]

AC is man's greatest sin.. lol Think i might have to turn it on for my animals actually today.

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Thank you all for your kind wishes for my daughter's first birthday. I will admit to crying before leaving for church...she looked so stinking cute in her birthday tutu outfit and then it struck me...I can't call her a baby anymore...she is now a toddler!!

thank you all for your kind wishes!!

Thank you for the pointers Laughingdog!! We are still a LONG way from having livestock!! I am waiting for the major allergy test to be done on DD and they don't do that until 2 at the earliest!! I know what my allergy does which is why I wanted to "test" it out on me first.

Also why I was looking for Amish or organic & grass-fed cow/goat milk...then I know it's at least safer than what you'd find in mass crowding.

so much to learn...not enough brain capacity!! LOL

Shannon, I am so sorry you are not feeling well.

praying you get better soon!!

the1honeycomb - first off...

as to the abbreviations, I know i have seen somewhere on these forums a break down, but I cannot remember where!! I will try to find it and post it if I do!! A short breakdown is as follows: D followed by D, S or H is for Darling Daughter, Son, Husband. LOL = Laughing out loud, NPIP - some type of testing done to your chickens - tends to mean they are healthy and disease free - but don't quote me on that...I just recently heard about the testing. It's not mandatory so don't panic!!

hmm...I can't remember what else we use. Haha.

Epic fail on my part!!

On the chicken note: STILL NO EGGS

Boy am I getting impatient!!

I can say that ... well ... the <ahem> boys are definitely fully matured. We have been letting them out in the yard to free range for an hour before they go in for the night. DH and I sit outside and spend some time chatting and watching them!! I am sitting there talking to him and next to me...I mean practically IN my lap...one of the roos (Jeremy, the Alpha) decides NOW is the time to "acquaint" himself with one of the ladies!! Oh my did she protest and it just about scared the life right out of me.

After he was "done" she proceeded to protest for another 5 minutes!!

Not to be outdone, Cottontail decides he's going to do the same thing to Jemima - the alpha female.

Then we had a full on fight as no one (speaking strictly of other roos) is allowed near Jemima but Jeremy...he's VERY protective of her. I was giving them some treats and he even chased the other 2 boys away, pranced and called the ladies over to see his treats...

he's so sweet...even when he's being "frisky". DH told me I had to get a magnifying glass out to ensure we didn't eat any fertilized eggs. I then tried to explain to him that unlike humans when the egg is fertilized it doesn't develop right away unless the conditions are just right.

he claims it's too hot to let an egg sit outside for even a moment as it might develop with how hot/humid it is!!

He cracks me up!! We're in for a scorcher, so try to stay cool everyone!! It's 7 am and already 95 where I am!!