Elaine and I started reading about what actually goes into our meat today, no matter what store you buy it from or which farm you get it from (unless you are really lucky). We started reading about children becoming fully sexually developed at age 7 to 9 years, and thought "this cannot be good for you no matter how old you are."
The lord was gracious and obtained 10 acres for us in the country that enabled us to consider raising some fowl. I had the time on my hands as I was semi-retired. So the learning curve began. It was more work than I figured, but also very satisfying, and at times very humourous. There is something about chickens learning to crow, and turkeys learning to gobble that just gets the smile muscles working. It's something like our neighbour that raises miniature donkeys. When I asked him why? He responded " What do you do when you see them?" That is their purpose.. to make you smile.
Cost wise I am sure it's cheaper to go to the big box store and buy some hormone injected, antibiotic laced meat, but we prefer not to do so. Our feed is organic in nature, no carcasses, or body parts in it.
We raised the Cornish Giant chickens the first year, and both of us said "Never again". They grew so fast they couldn't walk 2 feet without laying down. They were also prone to heart attacks and a condition called cocciadosis. I am not sure I spelled that right, but their body cavity would fill with fluid and they would suffocate! These are the birds that are normally raised in a 12" X 12" cage. We may raise birds for meat, but we also believe in giving them a humane life with room to be a chicken or turkey.
The 10 original hens (the laying type, Rhode Island Reds), produced over 2000 eggs the first year. Obviously, we didn't eat that many eggs, but the sale of the surplus offset the cost of feed somewhat, but not entirely.
Side benefits include educating the grandkids about farming, and also a few other city folks. Fresh eggs taste much, much better than store bought. We also donated farm fresh eggs to some needy folks. It also kept me out of trouble, according to Elaine.
The future path that we are starting down is acquiring Heritage birds, that can reproduce naturally, and try to preserve a few lines. So far we have Wyandottes, both Gold and Silver laced, and hope to acquire a couple of other types in the spring. I am hoping to obtain some heritage type turkeys also, although the white ones have been great. I've got all winter to find a source.
The pictures show the progression over 27 weeks.
We have about 30 chickens that were about 16 months old, mostly hens that we decided to cut up and freeze with the thought of using them in the slow cooker. Well, we tried one, cooked for 10 hours and you could just barely cut it with a chainsaw! ;O) We decided to cut it up fine and use it in a stir fry. This worked better, but was still chewy. Anybody got any ideas on how to tenderize this meat?
Elaine and I started reading about what actually goes into our meat today, no matter what store you buy it from or which farm you get it from (unless you are really lucky). We started reading about children becoming fully sexually developed at age 7 to 9 years, and thought "this cannot be good for you no matter how old you are."
The lord was gracious and obtained 10 acres for us in the country that enabled us to consider raising some fowl. I had the time on my hands as I was semi-retired. So the learning curve began. It was more work than I figured, but also very satisfying, and at times very humourous. There is something about chickens learning to crow, and turkeys learning to gobble that just gets the smile muscles working. It's something like our neighbour that raises miniature donkeys. When I asked him why? He responded " What do you do when you see them?" That is their purpose.. to make you smile.
There is something about barnyard critters that seems to attract kids. Nothing would have it, but to get into the pen with the birds, even though the turkeys are very big. I caught one of the Gold Laced Wyandottes so that they could all feel what dinner was like on the hoof. Only one or two wanted to pet a turkey. Those guys are a little intimidating!
The turkeys and roosters are now on the finisher feed, the last supper so to speak, before entering the holiday freezer. I for one, will be happy to see them go as I am now up to 10 gallons of water and 6 pails of feed per day. They do eat a lot! The new hens are starting to lay and last years hens have finished the molt. The new eggs are about 1/4 the size of an old egg, but you know what they say "Practice makes perfect!" The eggs will soon start getting to normal size.
We started with 13 turkeys this year, lost 2 as babies ( probably shipping damage) and lost one adult, cause unknown.
