Friday, January 22, 2010

Progressions of Yard Birds

Spring 2009 - I get an incubator and 40 fertile eggs.
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They sit on my kitchen table and I turn them twice a day for 21 days.

One morning the eggs start to chirp, and soon the little balls of fuzz enter the cruel, cruel world.
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I end up with about 20 or so. They live the next few weeks in the brooder I set up in the kitchen.
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They really are cute little things. I try very hard not to get sentimental about them.

It's hard.

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Once the weather is warmer and they start feathering out, I set up a play pen in the yard for them, and they stay out in the afternoons.
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Along the way I lost a few, as will happen with fowl. I end up with 5 hens, and 9 roos. I let them be free range; and they get all over everything.
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Once they reached a good weight, the day arrives. This day looms darkly on most roo's horizon.

Kevin makes ready to do the deed.
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I won't show the grodiest details; let's just say ......

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and

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and

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A few days later, I roasted one with herbs and root veggies....

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And behold, it was very good.

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3 comments:

Catherine said...

We butchered our free range chickens once, but they were kinda gamey. Were y'all's pretty tender?

Mary said...

I was a little surprised at the end. I guess God gave us food to eat, so we eat it.
Just a city girl at heart.

Hosanna said...

Ours were still young, so they were excellent!!