New lot of meat birds on the way

[Bear]

Hi all

We take delivery of our new bunch of 20 day old meat chickens on the 21st April.

I have been chasing a source of organic food for both the new chicks and our layers, and today struck the jackpot.

For our Aussie friends, organic stock feeds are available from www.organicstockfeed.com

They seem to have a very comprehensive range of products and distributors all over Aus.

Great thing about the meat bird ration is that they can stay on the one food all the way from the cradle to the grave so to speak.

Maybe the new chicks will take Garys mind off building a guinea pig hutch.I simply cannot abide the thought of killing, let alone eating a guinea pig. He would just simply have to leave home if he ever gets serious about introducing them to his diet.

Jan

[kellenw]

Jan,

How does the price of the organic ration compare to other commercial diets?

I have to agree with you on the guinea pigs. I had a few as pets when I was a child. They were wonderful pets and companions. I can't really picture eating them. However, I've eaten plenty of squirrel and rabbit, so that's probably just about the same I guess.

[Bear]

Hi Kellen

I have only been given the layers mash price so far, and that is the same as non organic mix $27.20 per 20 kg bag

Meat bird mash should be around the same price.

It is definately not cheaper to grow your own chicken, we just get to choose what they eat, and make sure they have a good life for as long as they are with us

We free range them as well so they have access to lots of grass and bugs all day every day. Much better meat, and much happier chickens.

Sqirrels hey? How many of those poor little creatures do you need to make a sandwich?

Jan

[kellenw]

I was into wilderness survival when I was a kid, so that's where the squirrels came in. We have some BIG squirrels in the US. 1 usually made a fine meal for a person. 2 if they were smaller.

[Bear]

Hi Kellen

The only time I have ever seen a squirrel was in a park opposite the hotel I stayed in in London. I just sat and watched them play for ages, such cute little creatures.

Saw a River Cottage programme recently (UK Lifestle programme) and they were also out trapping the poor little blighters to turn into a casserole.

Still think I would have to very very hungry to eat one even a big one. To each his own I guess.

To say I suffer from the Bambi syndrome would probably be an understatement. Although I have absolutely no problem processing and eating quail. Quite a few visitors who come here don`t really understand how we could do that.

What else did you eat on your wilderness adventures? We have 1 son who used to run down a kangaroo to cook and share with his brother and his mates on their bush treks. To this day those lads shake their heads in disbelief that someone could actually do that. Russell is definately different! Takes after one of my brothers who used to wrestle crocodiles for the tourists up in the Northern Territory.

Jan

[kellenw]

WOW! I wouldn't want to tangle with a kangaroo regardless of how hungry I was. hehe. That takes a REAL man for that stuff....

I agree. Squirrels are very cute and entertaining to watch. Honestly, I don't like killing anything, but when I do, I try to do it as painlessly as possible. Some things bother me more than others, and there are some animals I just can't kill to this day. I grew up cleaning fish for my uncles, grandparents, etc. on our family fishing vacations for a couple of dollars. I have no problem at all with that, though I try to be swift with the killing process. Quail were always pretty easy for me too. Chickens a little more challenging (they seem to have personalities that quail seem to lack I guess). Mammals are a real struggle for me, and some of them I just could never do in.

Hmmm... what have I eaten on survival trips? Well, various bugs, worms, larvae, crayfish, fish, squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, pigeon/squab, quail, pheasant, turkey, all sorts of wild greens and wild fruits, various flowers, roots and tubers... the list goes on. I've never been into big game. I just don't have it in me. I'm sure I would if I HAD to for survival, but I've always had other options.

These days, my wilderness trips are quite a bit tamer, and a good portion of my food comes with me in my pack. I still plan for eating fish, wild fruits when in season and some various wild greens and plants... but that's really about it. I have found that as I've grown older, I really just enjoy being out "in the wild", and don't need to prove myself as a survivalist, and enjoy being out there a lot more when I'm not potentially eating some fairly gross stuff. hehe...

[Bear]

Hi Kellen

Our kids were raised around the food they were to eat. When they were young and money was very short they would be eating pheasant, quail, goose, turkey and anything else we were growing or breeding at the time.

The New Zealand white rabbits were the only animal we raised that the kids were not too keen on eating, the result of living the way we did is that, if they run across a heap of pigeons that someone wants to get rid of the boys would process and eat them rather than waste the food.

One time Gary had to go to Sydney on a conference, we had a problem with a couple of fish that were unwell to say the least, so I got the fish donger out and each time I hit the poor things on the head I apologised, took about 3 smacks and 3 apologies to do the job, hope I don`t have to do that again. Men were made to hunt and forage so I am very happy to leave it up to the man of the family.

Can`t wait until the first time one of your little guys presents you with half a worm, the other half will have already gone to God disguised as a snack, our youngest presented me with half a grub his big brother had dug out of somewhere and convinced him to eat. I went green and experienced something I can only describe as a vomit burp.

Aren`t boys just wonderful little people?

Jan

[kellenw]

I won't lie... I was secretly praying for boys. :-)

[Bear]

Wise old saying "careful what you wish for"

Little girls would have you wearing ribbons in your hair, playing with dolls, keeping the boys at bay with a shotgun and just generally adoring their Daddy. Little boys? well lets just wait and see what hoops you have to jump through for them. We have 3 of them, all grown up now, all with children of their own, the youngest one who is about to turn 37 has 2 little boys, 5 & 3. The three year old is a scary little redhead, when he is here to visit he is constantly on the go. Love them to death, but fully expect the chooks to be missing feathers etc.

Jan

[kellenw]

So true.... So true.