Improvement Needed

After all the information that I have been reading regarding genetically modified organisms, I am realizing that I need to do even more.  We have done a pretty good job of eliminating GMO's from our own diet and that of our kitties.  Unfortunately, my chickens and geese are still subjected to GMO corn and soy in the bagged feed that we buy for them.  (well, I must admit that we are getting GMO's second hand through our chicken meat and eggs also.  So even though they are free range, that is not good enough).   We have been buying the feed that does not have the antibiotics as that is the best we can find locally.  It is not organic, though, so most assuredly is genetically modified and thus has the additional problem of having been heavily sprayed with pesticides.   One step at a time.   I have been thinking about buying organic seed and sprouting it for our birds.  There is a feed mill in Arthur where I can order it.  

New Momma Hen!

Yesterday one of our Cornish hens became a new momma!  She has been setting on eggs since March third and I knew that they would be due any day.  In the afternoon, I saw one cute, fuzzy little black head poking out from her tail feathers.  How exciting!  We were both giddy.  By the time I did my last round at dusk to lock up the chickens and geese, there was another two.  Another black one and this time there was a yellow one with a bit of black marks on his head.  He was still damp and there lay two perfectly halved egg shells under the momma hen.  Fast forward to this morning, and I found three more little babies.  I guess I will be setting up a little private caged in area for the new little family today.

Three Whitetails Feed the Kitties for Nine Weeks

DH and I finished processing his three whitetails today(almost). I think he said there are three more quarters from the last deer to go. After saving the back strap and tenderloins for himself, there are nine weeks worth of ground venison for our five kitties. I need to find all the other tubs that are mixed in with everything else in the other freezer. There is still time for more deer. We usually run out around April or so and the poor babies are forced to eat canned food from the pet store. This makes at least two of them very unhappy, even though I buy what is supposed to be of the highest quality available around here.  

8/7/12 update: I should clarify that we add other things to the raw venison such as kelp meal, organic raw coconut oil, vitamin D3, probiotics, oyster shell and taurine.  We also add other things depending on if the kitties are needing something extra.  I will order Dr. Becker's book, because I know that we still have room for improvement. 

Busy Day Ahead

It is just after midnight and I'm still up.  Thinking of the day I will have 'tomorrow'... I must get the remaining bushel of apples processed while they are still in good shape (some dried and some apple butter) ... there are tomatoes to be skinned, pureed and canned... green tomatoes to put up (several recipes in mind-- green tomatoes pickles, relish, etc.)... garlic to pickle.  No time to waste!  Will try to get some photos posted anyway. 

Three Eggs and a Fox

Today we are up to the third egg from the pullets.  I have no way of knowing if these are all three from one hen or not.  I did find in Gail Damerow's 'Raising Chickens' that when a pullet begins to lay early then she is more likely to prolapse or become egg bound.  I guess I will have to prepare myself in case that happens, but pray for the best.  I have never had to deal with either situation yet.  

I took down the rest of the shade cloth today.  Some of the birds thought it was cozy to sleep on the shade cloth instead of on the roost in their shelter.  Kind of like a giant hammock, I guess!  One of my 'Have to Do's' before winter is to get a Chicken Tractor made.  This will be taller than their current shelter, so they will be able to roost higher up as they prefer...and they are ready for nest boxes.  It will be portable, by definition, so they will be able to be moved around to fresh grass, yet be safe from predators.

We have had a fox on the property.  He still eludes our capture and I have not been comfortable letting the old birds out loose.  The use of the dog run has come in handy this summer for some peace of mind.   

Pullet's First Egg

One of the pullets laid her first egg today.  It was very surprizing as I think it is early for them to begin to lay.  They are only eighteen weeks old!  I don't know if the surprize was from one of the Cornish or a Sumatra... a very nice brown egg though.  The small egg belongs to the pullet and the larger eggs are from my old hens. 

Butchering Day

Today I set my alarm early.  I once read that it would be easier to capture the cockerels early in the morning while they are still half asleep and loopy.  I was out there right before sunrise, capturing them one by one and hauling them out to a holding pen.  We didn't get to butchering until later in the afternoon, due to other chores that took priority that morning.   This butchering ordeal is my least favorite part of being part carnivore.

I had already spent some time the last couple of days in the pen with the birds finding and marking the more docile roosters.  I knew there were at least a couple, but managed to find five that would let me handle them.  They seemed to have no fear nor contempt of me and would jump up on the fence waiting for an invitation to roost on my arm or to be held in my hands.  As soon as I picked one up, he would get comfortable in the palm of my hand and sit there until my arm grew tired and I had to let him down.  These five I marked by spraying 'Blu Kote' on their feet and legs.   At the very end, I will have to pick two only to keep.  I have to leave the area when DH does the dirty deed with the three who won't make it.