North Carolina

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

The inside nest boxes of President Grant's chicken coop. He made a tidy yearly profit
from the egg sales of his 100+ chickens



The outside of Grant's hen house. Please blame all neck cricks on RF. She is the one who turned the camera.

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Good morning folks......hope you have an aventurous day

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[LukesCityHens]

I know someone wants him!!!!

 

[vfem]

Thanks for the morning pics, Coop..... my neck is now quite comfortable! Hahahaha


Came by to say I put out a trap last night to try to get that danged coyote (or fox, the neighbor still isn't 'sure' which she saw). The cage was empty this morning. Which made me think, maybe I should call animal control. I'm sure they'd come out and set more then 1 trap. I'm just worried its going to be awhile before they'd come out.


And MORE bad news... I moved the silkie roo (thank you again Beth) into the silkie pen a few days ago. He was doing great so I decided it was time. Just in time too I guess since I need the pen right after when the attack happened. Problem is, the girls didn't take to him well and kept him cornered in the coop. He hadn't been able to get to the water and stuff and I was so wrapped up in Lily I hadn't noticed what was happening. So I found him exhausted, dehydrated and cornered in the coop yesterday! I moved him to another pen and got him some water with vitamins in it, a couple hours later he ate a couple of grapes and could stand up. Looked so much better last night! Then this morning I found he didn't make it!

I am so angry with myself right now, I have decided I can't handle all this animals by myself. My husband only helps when I ask and my daughter will through the chickens some scratch and I still try to get her to help with the bunny, which she doesn't. So I think with the care of the duck right now, I may sell some of my silkies for the time being and not get any more birds until spring. And only then if things have really calmed down and people have learned that caring for the house, gardens and animals is NOT a one person job.

 

[vfem]

Ok, neighbor confirmed it is a Coyote. Down the road about a mile one of the neighbor's there saw it under their car in their garage yesterday and it took off. Didn't come back last night because it killed a duck at another pond up the road.

Called animal control and just waiting for them to call back about what they can or can't do at this point.

 

[MaryRuthLangdon]

WAIT............. I am downsizing ! Right?!




OOOo wait.............. Turkeys don't count

Bahaha... yep... that's exactly right... Turkeys do not count.

Good morning everyone!! Got up early to do laundry, let the chickens out (boy were they happy to be out and about before 7am for a change!!) and do a little spot cleaning (I have a baby and a toddler...my house will NEVER be clean again...

That's my story and I am sticking to it). Baked a few batches of bread last night, picked some tomatoes out of the garden and....attempted to clean a rabbit to our utter disappointment. Read the story below - CAUTION it does have some squeamish parts!!
So I was feeding DD2 when I saw a bunch of rabbits in our orchard nibbling on our new trees. I informed DH as he already fired a shot off at some deer that were in the orchard. So he RUNS to get his gun (any excuse these days to fire off his gun and he's super happy) all the while joking with me that if he hits a rabbit, I'm going to have to clean it. Sure enough a few minutes later he shouts to me, better hurry up and finish feeding, I think I killed a rabbit. THINK??

So first off, he was attempting to shoot near the rabbit to scare it away, not kill it. He blames the scope for being off and thus he hit the rabbit instead. Anyway, he drops the rabbit off on the front porch telling me it's still alive because he can't see a bullet hole (he shot it with a .22). So I am racing around trying to find our Storey's Guide to Country Living - because it has a section on cleaning and processing rabbit, while still nursing so he can run out and get rope and a chopping block. We string up the rabbit and DH starts freaking out...he's telling me, SHE'S ALIVE!!

So apparently he was NOT paying attention at the chicken processing to know that muscles do a final "twitch" - so I look the rabbit over and show him the bullet hole (rather impressive shot for not intending to hit the rabbit, he hit her to the chest side of her left front leg). We bust out the book and realize two things.... 1) we do NOT own a hatchet/axe and 2) we do NOT own a knife sharp enough to separate the head from the body...so to ensure we didn't encourage any predators to our yard or backyard, we wrapped the poor girl up in a scented garbage bag and she will be either buried or burned

this weekend. DH decided at that moment...he's getting some processing tools! I don't know why, but the thought of processing a wild bunny was harder for me to handle than a chicken.

Sorry to have to relay this sad/tragic/ironically funny story to you all this morning. Please forgive me...I hope I didn't offend anyone either!! We are not hunters nor are we skilled at being country folks...we're learning as we go and this was just one of those unfortunate encounters.

Have a great day everyone...I am off to get the kiddos up and dressed/fed and plan for a visit from Beth and her lot!!

ANBSMOM - don't know what you have there...but she sure is CUTE!!

WELCOME to all the new people too!!

Hubby could show you how to clean a deer, a rabbit, a possum, a squirrel, or any other wildlife critter you might kill. (Avid hunter... that he is) Plus he did an awesome job on those chickens & the turkey.

 

[MaryRuthLangdon]

Joshua sure did enjoy his lunch, today!

 

[reereechickens]

Newhomesteader, I think processing rabbits is a little different than chickens also. I processed many roosters and chickens and finally have it down pretty good, I skin my chickens to avoid plucking, my DH won't help. Well I needed to process 3 rabbits that were about 8 months old and asked DH to use his .22 b/c he always needs an excuse also like your DH. Well last week it was cooler and he did 1 bun and gave me a quick lesson on skinning. Well this weekend I am getting 3 New Zealand White rabbits and still need the other 2 processed(mixed). So yesterday am he shoots the other 2 and leaves, so I'm scrambling to get everything ready and it sucked! It took FOREVER, was hot, and my usual way of hanging chickens did not work b/c the buns weigh more, and I cut myself pretty good! And cut myself again inside! I should have let the rabbit soak b/c it was tough, my other wasn't from last week! Well my dog will be eating great! Needless to say cutting of the head was hard and way gross and the front and back arms at the joints next to impossible b/c I could not find the cutters thing that DH used!

So my new plan of action, I ordered from Bass Equipment, hooks to hang the rabbit(the shipping is shocking!) and make sure I have something to cut the head! Process the buns young(8-10 weeks). Any advice would be helpful from some experienced!

**Sorry if this offends anyone!!***

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Hubby could show you how to clean a deer, a rabbit, a possum, a squirrel, or any other wildlife critter you might kill. (Avid hunter... that he is) Plus he did an awesome job on those chickens & the turkey.

OOhh...I may have to take you up on that. First, I think we need at least a sharp axe or something, as we couldn't do much to process it with our dull knives!! Can I just say how thankful I am that it was something small and not a deer...how do you hide a deer from a coyote?? LOL.


Had a great early afternoon with Beth (her kids) and Alex!! Beth's kids managed to catch a couple of chickens and put saddles on them. Beth confirmed that my chickens are starting to molt (oh joy). Alex not only helped to teach us how to can green beans and make pickles (still yuck to me)...but I made my FIRST batch of sheep's butter EVER!!

Now I will be able to make some recipes for the WHOLE family using sheep's butter. I am VERY excited to try some new recipes now!! Thanks again ladies for a VERY fun day!!

 

[Matt A NC]

Happy first day of summer.

I am heading out to check waterers and unload my truck. Did a feed run this morning.

Matt

 

[chedva]

OK, I'm 5 days behind in reading the posts, so you probably already have your answer about peeling boiled eggs...A couple months ago, somebody posted (sorry, don't remember who--but thanks!) to get perfectly boiled eggs, you need to STEAM them for (I think it was) 22 minutes. I do mine for 24-25 minutes. I have steamed dozens of eggs since then, with only ONE coming out not to peel well. I love it! Just steam them in your vegetable steamer and let them cool down a bit.