CHIMBY - Chickens in My Back Yard

[Monsterlover]

So. . .

that's how you met LM?

[Grampa]

So. . .

that's how you met LM?

damn skippy 

[The Architect]

We got eggs!

Two.  One egg is about 3/4" long and the other is about 1 1/4".  They should get bigger?

[ducpainter]

We got eggs!

Two.  One egg is about 3/4" long and the other is about 1 1/4".  They should get bigger?

The first eggs most birds lay aren't typical of what they'll do when they get into full swing.

[Vindingo]

My rooster wakes up at 5:55am.   


Where is the "sharpening my knife" emoticon? 

I think I might have chicken for dinner next weekend. 

[Polpetta]

We are getting small, large, and jumbo eggs....from just two hens...it's cool but very silly 
Is there anything I should do to help the other ones start laying?

[cokey]

Bake one,  maybe it'll scare the rest into laying..

[Monsterlover]

omfg

good one!

[Polpetta]

LOL 

We know have 3 laying out of the 6 that are at the right age.

Our Orpington started with small eggs and now is laying small, large, and jumbo....she seems to be constantly laying double yokes? Is this usual? The one Delaware and Plymouth are laying small eggs.

It's pretty cool we are getting about 3 a day right now!

Has anyone else had a hen that kept laying double yokes?

[Vindingo]

Got my first egg today!



I think it was roughly a $300 egg. 

[ducpainter]

Got my first egg today!



I think it was roughly a $300 egg. 

Gotta love raising animals.

I had a thousand dollar piglet once.

He didn't even taste good.

[Ddan]

Back when I was gonna be a hunter, I shot a $1200 duck, and the dog wouldn't go get it.

[Vindingo]

Today was my first time killing a chicken.  I had two fried eggs from his sister to start the day.  

I was a bit nervous and excited.  I invited a buddy over, but he had no intrest in helping me, or watching me kill the chicken.  I tied the chicken upside down, and it didn't struggle at all.   Its eyes rolled back almost as if it went to sleep.  I grabbed behind its neck and cut across its throat.  I don't think I cut deep enough because it only bled a tiny bit and started flapping around and squawking.  I grabbed its neck again and cut a bit deeper.  I felt bad because had no intentions on letting the bird suffer more than necessary, but it is what it is.    

I had water boiling as I waited for the blood to drain.  I bring the pot outside and the bird is too big!  I run to the store, and buy a bigger pot.  As I am filling the bigger pot with water, rooster #2 lets out a huge crow.  I decide that I am going to have my hand at this again.  I sharpend my knife so it is razor sharp.  I grab the bird and this time the nerves have calmed and I take care of it the right way.  

I think plucking the feathers is what will keep me from doing this very often.  It smelled bad and it was a pain in the ass.  I read online about all types of contraptions beforehand, but decided I should do it the old fashion way at least once.  Two times was enough for me.  It smelled like a combination of wet dog and urine.

Gutting and butchering the chickens wasn't so bad.  Once the head and feet were off, it was meat, and I have cut up plenty of chicken.  One chicken was cooling off in the fridge while I cleaned the other.  I have to say that I prefer butchering a cold chicken to a warm ones.  Reaching up inside to pull out a warm heart was odd.  I looked at it in my hand for a while and expected it to beat.  Now all I have to do  is decide what I want to cook for dinner tonight.

[The Architect]

Got my first egg today!



I think it was roughly a $300 egg. 

It gets better.  I'm down to $18 per egg.

Nice job on the butchering.  Let us know how you prepare it. 

[Monsterlover]

Save those hearts

they're the best part!

Nom!!