The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[hellbender]

I wasn't

about killing them. I was

because I didn't realize they were out during the day in the spring.

It's about killing them for me.

I really hate to do it but my birds are far more important to me.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
I DO hate killing them too. I keep thinking that if they are going to die they at least ought to feed something else. Otherwise it seems like such a waste.

I always wonder about cooking one and throwing the meat at least to the dogs. I keep hearing so many horror stories about diseases and not eating them raw...which I guess would make sense if they're living out of the "subdivision" trash cans. But it seems that where there's not as much possibility of getting in the trash...like in the more rural areas...that the dogs could eat them raw if eaten shortly after they die.

 

[hellbender]

I DO hate killing them too. I keep thinking that if they are going to die they at least ought to feed something else. Otherwise it seems like such a waste.

I always wonder about cooking one and throwing the meat at least to the dogs. I keep hearing so many horror stories about diseases and not eating them raw...which I guess would make sense if they're living out of the "subdivision" trash cans. But it seems that where there's not as much possibility of getting in the trash...like in the more rural areas...that the dogs could eat them raw if eaten shortly after they die.

Something else does eat them...usually vultures but they are already killed quickly and with as much mercy as a .22 mag. can provide.

I used to eat young coon. It is very good but my fingers are just too arthritic to make cleaning them worthwhile to dress properly. Actually, young adults are pretty good if cleaned (including removing the scent glands and excess fat), soaked in baking soda, par boiled then pressure cooked....then rolled in flour/cornmeal and fried crispy. Too much work.

I didn't go to law school to have to eat coon and 'possums...but "A Country Boy Can Survive"...

 

[Scott H]

I wouldn't feed raw...too many diseases, worms, etc.

I hate killing them too...but they seem to have no problem killing.....

 

[SavageDestiny]

I DO hate killing them too. I keep thinking that if they are going to die they at least ought to feed something else. Otherwise it seems like such a waste.

I always wonder about cooking one and throwing the meat at least to the dogs. I keep hearing so many horror stories about diseases and not eating them raw...which I guess would make sense if they're living out of the "subdivision" trash cans. But it seems that where there's not as much possibility of getting in the trash...like in the more rural areas...that the dogs could eat them raw if eaten shortly after they die.

Any creature that eats meat should not be fed raw. They have a high likelihood of passing on parasites, most notably Trichinosis. I feed my dogs all sorts of raw meats, as they eat an entirely raw diet, but I will not feed bear, coyote, raccoon, etc. Supposedly the parasites can be killed by long deep freezing, but I'm too nervous for that.

Pork can carry Trichinosis as well, but in the US pork is so well inspected there is virtually no risk of the parasite being present in meat found in a grocery store. Wild pork, however, is still a risk.

 

[lazy gardener]

All of my livestock (cows, sheep, and poultry) are watered year round with rain water from gravity fed tanks which also contain gold fish. There is enough water change out that any contamination the fish may cause is far less than the algae that would grow if they didn't have gold fish.
For aquaponics, since it's in the basement in two 100 gal stock tanks, that water is just used to water the plants which filter it and it cycles back to the tilapia. There is a small pump which recirculates the aquaponics, but all other water for both human and animal requires no "consistent" power and is gravity fed. The house tank is filled only on sunny days we are making power.

Am I reading you right? You've got Tilapia tanks in your basement? Would you be willing to share some details? How many gallons, How big are your growing beds? What are you growing? Using for lighting? How does it affect your house regarding humidity and fish smell? How often do you cycle the water? What kind of pump set up are you using? How often can you harvest fish? How often do you need to do water tests? Any extra supplementation for plant nutrients? Are you propagating your replacement fish?

On an other note, we've had a lot of turkey activity in our yard lately. There are fresh tracks every day.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

 

[Leahs Mom]

I always say they're like the devil.

They look all cute and cuddly and you want to pick it up and hug it.

THEN IT RIPS YOUR FACE OFF.

 

[TeaChick]

I call myself a lazy gardener b/c my gardening approach is to use deep mulch to keep the soil moist and friable and weed free. I've pretty much retired my rototiller in favor of a stainless steel garden fork. I only open up enough soil to get the seeds or transplants in the ground. From that point on, I just tour the garden, harvest, and putz around... no tilling, no weeding. And now, I have my little chicken helpers. Actually... I might have a need to trellis zucchini. I like to keep anything that can be trellised up off the ground. An other lazy aspect for me... Why bother to bend over to harvest crops when you can stand and harvest comfortably? I absolutely refuse to plant bush beans... the plants lodge, the beans drag on the ground and they usually have to be washed. I can pick my pole beans, and toss them whole into the pot (without even needing to wash them usually)... why even bother to snap off the little pointy tails? If you break them off the vine, leaving the stem on the vine, they require absolutely NO prep. I told you I was lazy!!!

I'm stealing all these ideas. lol
I planted my tomatoes in the ground like that b/c they're actually perenials (they're just treated like annuals, being plowed under every year and replanted). I thought I could get more than one tomato from my Mr. Stripey plant that way too. lol
I plan on planting cucumbers and (now) pole beans on my chicken pen fence. =D
I agree whole-heartedly with not weeding, harvesting comfortably and no-prep veggie harvests. =)
That's not lazy, btw, it's genius!!! ;-)

 

[TeaChick]

Woke up this morning and turned on the back porch light.....Oprah jumped off the roost and started singing the egg song.

So happy for you (and her)!!!!!