The Last of the First Birds

On Wednesday Russell and I crated up the last of the birds for processing. He has sold some to people that wanted small flocks. So 27 of the last remaining birds took a little trip to Restoration Farm. Dawn Jordan is good enough to let us use her place for the processing process!

I wasn't sure about watching the process. However I did have a request for a cleaver so I drove in just to drop it off. I ended up staying just about all afternoon.

Along with our birds, Dawn had some Red Rangers and the Polk County School farm had some Cornish Cross (X) to process. There were a number of students to help along with the two Ag teachers. Everyone pitched in and got the job done. (I took pictures and tried to stay out of the way!) The weather was not too bad for an outside event in the middle of January, thank goodness.

I was proud of Russell as I watched him coach and teach the students how to eviscerate a chicken. He even instructed his old high school Ag teacher. I mean 'old' as in former!

I had purchased a vacuum sealer so after Russell helped to clean up, he brought the chicken to the store. We weighed each one and the vacuum packed it. Instead of freezing them right away, I had decided to age them in the refrigerator for 48 hours. I have read that is a good idea as it will bring out even more of the flavor of the meat.

The birds are now for sale at the store and also at the Mill Spring Farm Store!

Crazy Warm in January!

It is a lovely warm day but it is the middle of January! What will the next few weeks be like?

All is good with the livestock. The goats are all settled in. They are still in the side yard at the store. Russ is working at getting electric at the farm. He will need better fence chargers to keep those goats in! And to keep the horses where they belong. Right now they are all back at the house and we are feeding a lot of hay!

Staying dry on a rainy day.

The chickens at the house are laying about 2 dozen eggs a day. We enjoy watching them interact with each other.

We did have a sad evening when we found one of the Silkie roosters dead. We have no idea as to what happened to him. We were around pretty much all day. A true mystery that we can't solve.

Russell and I took a Heritage Poultry class the other day. It was very good! We learned quite a few things that were good to know. He has decided to get some other duel purpose birds. He is thinking on the breed, there are a lot to choose from!

This morning I took a picture of the pasture when Russell moved the remaining birds. You can really tell the difference of where the chicken coops have been. Green and healthy looking grass!

Look at the green tracks!

The rabbits are doing so/so. I have one great doe that kindled 10 kits a week ago Friday. A couple of them were very small but she is taking great care of them and the little ones have almost caught up with the others. I have bred the other two does and hopefully they will have some nice litters in about 3 weeks.

10 newborn New Zealand rabbits!