Savingdogs-Saving the chickens

[savingdogs]

Yes, but those ones from the store taste better. Himalayan blackberry isn't as good.

 

[savingdogs]

I appreciate my forums and the people on here so much. I include BYC and BYH in this compliment, even though I spend the most time here and know the people on here best. But I learn so much every day.

We found the thread about less light coming to the poultry this year and feel very much comforted that this is why our egg count has been down so low.

I've also learned how to raise and care for all my livestock.

OFG's thread journal has taught me why we had trouble plucking our ducks, we didn't use a thermometer! And we didn't put any dish soap in the water either. I'm ALMOST anxious to try plucking again.

From the soap making threads I've learned to make soap and plan on making a batch again as soon as my fragrance oils come in the mail from Brambleberry. I'm getting Pachouli.....call me a hippie but that is my favorite fragrance.

Through BYH, I've made contact with my rabbit breeder friend who is selling me my meat bunnies over the weekend, really special bunnies.

And I may have a way of getting a Russian Orloff cockerel so I can breed my hens, too. BYC friend.

Is there no end to good things that happen to me on here? And all in a format I can digest.....since I can't hear well enough to follow much speech, videos, classes and one-on-one talks are hard for me, but I can read and type still just FINE.

It is late for thanksgiving, but I'm awful thankful for all of you.
Happy Thursday!

 

[Wifezilla]

 

[CrimsonRose]

man I know! These forums have really changed my life and way of thinking! I love it!

I have felt this way for years wanting to simplify things and make it myself... but I had no help or support... Till I found these wonderful people here and all the help I could ever want!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Yay!! I feel the same way. also about the ducks, I was told that if they are near, or not finished moulting, they are difficult to plck. I think that was my issue. Two of mine plucked well, and one was a royal pain in the behind. We used a thermometer and dish soap. but, they had moulted. The one might not have been done .

 

[savingdogs]

People we know think we are a little crazy, wanting to do things like eat duck and rabbit and milk goats. The chickens and eggs even seem a little extreme but that part goes over easier at parties. A veterinarian I worked with said to me, "You are going to DRINK raw goat milk?......Don't you know you shouldn't DO that?" She was having Taco Bell for lunch. I didn't argue, but I don't think I'll bring up my uses for goat milk beyond soap at work again.

My daughter is ready to disown me for wanting to eat bunny tamales. When her friend posted a picture of a pet rabbit on Facebook, she commented that HER mom was going to breed and EAT rabbit. I'm such a bloodthirsty carnivore! But I wanted to ask everyone on that FB page whether THEY were vegetarian? How humanely were those chickens and turkeys and cows raised and killed? They are just so much more disconnected from the food chain. Going to Farmers Market is about as close as they get.

When we were getting ready to process our ducks, a few friends asked us....don't you want to reconsider...they make great pets (we had 13!!!!!!!!!!!) And of course half were drakes that were already fighting and becoming little rapists on my poor unsuspecting females. I learned to NOT bring up anything like this anymore. Except here...........

It surprised me because many people around here hunt. We have recently moved to a more "hic" neighborhood according to our city friends and our neighborhood is not known for having any luxury estates. So I'm sure some of our friends think Hubby and savingdogs have gone a bit daft in the country, but really, there are nice homes here (just not ours! lol). I know my boss is worried that I'm an animal hoarder....I did not share with her we are getting rabbits. I've told her a couple of times that if times get hard, we just eat everyone! Dogs and cats excepted of course. Her eyes get big.

Personally I'd have to be starving before I'd eat goat, as well, even my little wether. He is my favorite of all the goats and makes it easier to care for the rest. But my boss is probably worried I will eat no one. Meanwhile, I can't wait for some more muscovy to cook!

People thought making soap was cool, but people were worried it was dangerous. I do get vertigo spells, but gosh, I'm not about to fall over with my face into hot soap! My husband actually participates in our soapmaking....he had the self sufficient bug first and is so happy that this forum has helped me get on board with what he always wanted to do. This has actually helped my marriage by making our goals more common and our plans more reachable because recycling/scrounging has always been my hubby's way of doing things and so many of you have ideas of doing things easy and cheap. We are not dumb, we are just from the city, and would rather not learn trial and error at this point, we are already middle aged! But we always felt misplaced in the city. Now we are more at home. But not yet really ......

See now why I'm Washingtonian from Lost Angeles, moving to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches...(that is an alternative rock song, in case anyone did not "get" it....). We don't listen to country music or wear cowboy boots, but still wanna fit in and not be lame.

 

[CrimsonRose]

wow you are so lucky to have a supporting hubby... mine tolerates about half of my adventures... He gripes and complains to me about it all (but will secretly brag about my homemade bread and such to his buddies)

He grew up with the biggest hick redneck country boy father you could ever meet! and I think deep down he was ashamed at times... So he tries to shy away from anything that makes us look like a "farm" Chickens he hated at first but a few of his buddies said it was cool and asked for eggs so now he likes them (even though he won't tell me that... he refuses to encourage me because he knows I will take it to the next level at any chance I could get! hahaha) The rabbits he is ok with as well (even though we have 15!) he still tells people they are just our pets...

If I could get him to do anything SS for me it would be to help with the killing aspect... That's one thing no matter how hard I try I just can't get over... (I've botched a few times and I'm always nervous I will mess it up again) I don't mind cleaning plucking skinning it all by myself... but if I have to kill it I have a horrible time finishing the job because I'm so upset over the whole thing... He says he hates killing things that's why he won't do it... but it also just doesn't bother him like it does me... 1 min after he is done he comes in washes his hands like nothing happened and asks what's for diner! I come in and cry like a crazy woman shaking like a leaf...

I grew up on a farm so all this is normal for me nothing to be ashamed of... unfortunately my grandparents sold the farm when I was about 9 and I moved in with my city parents and never "Learned" many of the skills I remember it all and helped but being young I was always on the sidelines... So this site has been so amazing in helping me to really learn how to do things myself!

 

[dragonlaurel]

Glad to have you on the site too.
I heard on BYC that you can put chili powder in their feed to get them laying more eggs in the winter, too. It's cheap, nutritious, and they don't taste the heat, so - worth a try.
I'm one of those vegetarians, but I figure that animals you raised probably had a much better life than factory type farming. It's more fair to them. You might mention that to some of the people that are freaking out.

 

[savingdogs]

Dragonlaurel, I did put it to my daughter that way when she was getting upset about the rabbits. We were eating chicken tacos at a cheap mexican restaurant. I asked what kind of life did those chickens have, did she have any idea? Only a vegetarian has the right to discuss how cruel I am to eat rabbit or duck or chicken as far as I'm concerned. Everyone else can bite me.

CrimsonRose, I've put up with my husband's gun collection, hoarding of things, half packrat, half survivalist mentality for 29 years. I wanted to live in the country to plant things and have animals...he wanted to live here build a bunker and store food, have goats instead of mowing the lawn, Ha! ; Build a fortress where our kids could come when TSHTF. But being from the city I had not the foggiest idea how to do this stuff. It is nice we have come to a meeting of the minds finally and have some guidance to turn to when we really are stumped.

Part of it however, is that we feel we need to change with the times. We are taking a big bite out of our budget to invest in these rabbits and their housing, etc., but we feel a big relief to have a meat source long term. We might end up with nothing, but at least we will have something to eat, as long as I can raise rabbits and goats and chickens and grow corn, I could make bunny tamales with scrambled eggs and top it all with goat cheese. For dinner, marinated duck breast with home grown potatos.......my mouth is watering already and I didn't even describe any roast chicken dishes yet! And I'm hoping having breeding pairs of my different animals will be an asset down the road as I can always sell baby animals to help support the ones I own. I tried to tell my daughter that not ALL the bunnies will get eaten. I don't think it made her feel any better! But her unemployment checks will end soon and I wonder if she will be wishing she could have roast chicken or duck breast or even farm fresh eggs when she runs out of cash to run down and buy chicken tacos.

 

[Denim Deb]

I've never really fit in w/others, either. Even when I attended a church that was mostly farm folks. The hubbies were ok, but I always felt like the wives were misplaced city girls.

For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in being SS. But, I also had no one to turn to for help and/or advice. I'm glad I found this forum and all of you also.