It all started with a conversation after church.
Our friends, the Kanes, recommended this book to Pete after learning he was interested in organic/grow-your-own-food types of things.
And now, it has culminated into this.
My Wordless Wednesday post gave you the first glimpse.
Yes, I did pick up a crate of baby 50 (1 day old) chicks at the post office last Wednesday. As soon as I walked in with the kids we heard the cheeping and chirping. The lady in front of us in line exclaimed, "I hear baby chickens!" I chuckled and said, "Um, those would be ours."
We are, in fact, raising chickens for the next 6 weeks. And yet, technically, we're not.
I've written before about our Amish friends who live a stone's throw away. We've made weekly visits to their farm over the last year to buy eggs (and our very own Wilbur). Well, Pete and Chris often talk about farming projects and we've enjoyed getting to know their young family.
They decided they wanted to enter into this experiment with us. We would share the cost of supplies, they would provide the pasture, we would help feed, water, and move the chicks every day, and in 6 weeks...VOILA! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
[Know where that saying originated? The story goes that in Las Vegas
for many years the chicken dinner special was $1.79. With the standard bet being
$2, a winning bet would be enough money to buy dinner. Hence the phrase,
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner".]
But I digress...
I don't really want to think about the butchering part. I'm already contemplating what illness I can feign when that day comes. Just give it to me dead, clean, and dressed and I'll cut it up. Easy shmeezy.
For now I'd rather look at these cute little things and not think about what's down the road.
Pretty soon we can take their pen out to pasture. More pictures will follow. (Only happy ones, I promise.)
13 comments:
this is really COOL!!! It's Miguel's dream to run a small working farm. Keep us updated and maybe some day we'll join you in this venture!
My mom has chickens and we get eggs from her. They're so good. She sells them too and makes enough money to pay for their supplies!
What kind of chickens are they??
Okay, I was thinking hens and eggs when they're grown up. I couldn't raise them to butcher nor subject my kids to that reality at such a young age. My gramdfather butchered rabbits (unbeknownst to me) for a dinner I had at their house in third grade .I thought it was chicken but commented that the leg looked more like rabbit's we had been feeding in their back yard for weeks. My mom told me after dinner. I was traumatized for a LONG time. I'm not laughing here. I mistrusted my grandparents for years afterwards. If you're going to eat them, I beg you to talk to Natalia first.
Zo, I appreciate your concerns.
I've wondered how Natalia will react when the time comes to butcher the chickens, though I think it'll be okay because of her reaction thus far to the pig we bought from our neighbors this past year. She fed it corn and called it Wilburt all along, and now routinely asks if we're eating Wilburt for dinner. And it doesn't seem to bother her in the slightest.
All children are different though. :0) And we'll need to be sensitive to the fact that her mindset could change on the matter as she gets older and more aware.
Will you keep any for eggs?
I think this is very cool that you are doing this with your neighbor. I helped pluck a turkey once. UGH, YUCK, ICK!
I'm sure this will be an incredible experience for all of you. I'm sure you'll prepare Natalia for it appropriately.
awesome.
I am jealous. truly. I think it's great that you're doing this. And, I think it's going to be such a great experience for your kids. They learn where food comes from and have an appropriate respect for the whole process b/c they see it from start to finish. I think your wise, Krista, to include your kiddos from start to finish recognizing that kids will respond differently to it and even may change their response as they age. I went through a long season of vegetarianism but have now come back to my "meat eating roots". :)
I'm sure the slaughter will be hard; I think it should be a little. But, it is such a good opp. to teach God's goodness to man in giving us dominion over the animal world.
If you ever do go into business, I'm sure I"ll be one of your buyers. I've been looking for chickens (free range, not supplimented w/ corn/soy or at least supplimented w/ organic grains) and I've had a hard time finding any. Any leads? advice? Maybe my expectations are unreasonable?
I'm proud of you guys. I think I raised and butchered too many chickens in my lifetime, but at the time it was the right thing for us to do, as it is for you now.
The last years that we raised chickens we would take them to someone near Brownstown who did chicken butchering for a business.
I assure you that by the time they are 6 weeks they are no longer cute and after helping them, in spite of themselves at times, to stay alive for six weeks butchering will not seem that bad. I consider that they have a destiny and I help them meet it. All meat had a face once you just don't think about it at the grocery store. When we raise meet I look at them and give them this compliment, "they look delicious". Sherry
I am so intrigued Krista. I have been thinking about getting chickens when we get back, but just for eggs. Keep us posted!!!
Good for you..you're much braver than me. I would enjoy having the free-range chickens to eat, but not the butchering part! I'm excited to follow you on your journey!
Right now we're using Cornish Cross chickens. It's pretty much what everyone uses. However, next time we may try K-22 Red Broilers since they are especially good for pastured poultry.
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