Chickens, and things related

[EddieWalker]

When I was in the Boy Scouts, and at summer camp, one of the things I did was a wilderness night. We had to make a shelter with native materials and sleep there the night without a sleeping bag or anything else. We also had to kill a chicken and clean it with out pocket knife, then build a fire and start it with just the pocket knife. I might have received a merrit badge over that, but I forget exactly what the reason for it was.

We killed the ckickens by holding their heads and spinning their bodies around until the head came off. It's the only time I've killed a domestic chicken, but it wasn't a big deal. I don't remember any of the other kids having a problem either. We knew it was part of the experience and we all did it.

I think that was the first animal that I ever killed and ate. Since then, there's been too many to remember. Looking back on it, I think it might have been one of those life changing events. Don't know for sure, but when I get my turkeys going, we'll eat a few just to enjoy the fruits of our labor and expose the kids to harvesting our own livestock.

An update on the book I ordered. It arrived yesterday in excellent condition. If anybody is thinking about ordering from there, it was an excellent transaction and I highly recomend it.

Now I'll spend some time soaking in my hot tub while reading about raising game birds and in particular, wild turkeys!!!!

Eddie

 

[4720 OWNER]

You would be amazed at how many people i ask 'where does your meat come from' and the answer is 'the grocery store'. Guess that goes with the latest story out there of people not wanting to go to national parks because it is too dangerous and the kids would be bored. Good for all of us that know where our food comes from and are willing to deal with the messier sides of that.

 

[Tororider]

Not only where your food comes from, but more importantly what goes into it. You wonder why cancer rates and things like that are going up, all the chemicals can't help, thats for sure.

 

[4720 OWNER]

There is nothing like seeing a chicken dive feet first into a 5 gal bucket of fresh weeds thrown into the chicken run! Like kids into a pile of leaves.

 

[Tororider]

Well, I just talked to Tractor Supply and they are going to have their first batch of 250 chicks starting on March 17th. They will do special orders, but I am hoping they have the ones I want. I may try to go over there this week and see if face to face I can find out what breeds they are going to have and if they aren't going to have what I want, see if they can get my order to arrive when theirs do. Hope to have my brooder build by next weekend.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Good for you! With the cold weather, 'the girls' are down to about 6 eggs a day, which is fine was getting tired of cleaning all of them. As long as there is enough for the weekends breakfast!!

What breed did you decide on?

If layers, the americaunas (easter egg chickens) are the best for getting colored eggs and the most fun if just want to have fun with it.

 

[Tororider]

Unless I change my mind between now and then I have decided on an Americauna, a Buff Orpington, a Rhode Island Red, and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. I had thought about a leghorn of some type, but not sure I want one more than any of the others. Now I have to get the tupperware for the brooder and supplies for the chicks, then on to the coop and run.

 

[4720 OWNER]

TUPPERWARE!!! Whoa, i guess a cardboard box was good enough for me since i was lazy and did not want to clean it up after and can just toss it in the burn barrel or the compost pile. But that is just me to each their own (wish i could get these little smiley to work!!)

 

[Tororider]

I think I found some cheap, then I can reuse it later, or clean it up and use it for storage.

If I can't find one for less than $10 I will look for some cardboard boxes.

 

[4720 OWNER]

I just go with the easiest cheapest since probably will bury it somewhere and not be able to find it the next year! SO hates i 'organize things' unless she watches so she can tell me where i put stuff later. Have managed to not lose the tractor yet.