Coffee anyone ?

[Finnie]

@Baymule don't know breed but, bought poults. They were white. Up near DC so big $$$ customers! Set up with all the gear -- pluckers, chilling, etc.

If they are all white with no markings, then they must be meat turkeys. Either Broad Breasted, or I think there is a Belleville White that is a little smaller. I believe there is also a Midget White.

I’m always amazed at turkey prices. Sometimes they are expensive and sometimes it’s like people are giving them away. When I was breeding them (heritage kinds), I kept a couple for our own Thanksgiving. But as the holiday approached I didn’t want to kill my own. (This was pre-rooster) So I sold him on CL for $50 and found someone else who was selling her frozen ones. Only $50 each! And when I got there and bought two, she only charged me half price! I don’t see how anyone can break even if they undervalue what they are producing.
So @Mini Horses, make sure you keep track of your expenses, and factor them in so your selling price allows you to have a decent profit margin. Your time and effort has value! This reminds me I need to start looking for this year’s turkey.

 

[Baymule]

I have a few male ducks that need to go. I’ve heard ducks are terrible to pluck, but I don’t want them skinless. They are on Craigslist, and I’m procrastinating in hopes I will be able to sell them before I need to process them.

I raised ducks once for the freezer. I missed the "window" of plucking on half of them and boy, did I ever regret that! Needle nose pliers were my friend!

 

[Finnie]

I raised ducks once for the freezer. I missed the "window" of plucking on half of them and boy, did I ever regret that! Needle nose pliers were my friend!

That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m pretty sure I missed the window by now!

 

[promiseacres]

I think I'll stick to the rabbits. We had rabbit tacos and rabbit noodles last week... everyone is loving the meat. Or pay to have any poultry/wf butchered.

 

[Bruce]

I think $6 a pound is outrageous but these people don’t bat an eye and are excited to order and wait months for it. Go figure.

Gee and I thought the $5/lb people charge here for pasture raised chicken was high! I need to find a T-day pasture raised turkey somewhere. The last 2 years I was in So. Cal (so the the rest of the family had to suffer with dinner at the retirement community 'restaurant'). Normally I get the bird at the Burlington Farmer's market but that place is a total indoor body on body zoo starting about now. I don't know how they are doing 'social distancing' but they'd have to cut the number of people, customers AND vendors, by at least 90% to do so.

I don't skin the CCX, we pluck them.

Probably because they only have about 10 feathers anyway

 

[Mini Horses]

Definately the CCX are easiest to pluck. Hey, too young for many adult feathers. I used to live closer to coast and they had duck hunts. I was told that they paid big $$ to have someone clean them -- a real PITA I've been told.. Did turkeys once...another tough one to pluck and a lot of plucking to do.

AS FOR chickens -- why does everyone think that these big hens will lay at 4 months??? Like there is a switch in there that flips. My big old gals don't lay until 6-7 months. Especially if starting in Fall. Now, some of those sex-links sometimes start about 5 months but, I am so tired of sellers saying -- any day -- and these gals are 3-3.5 months and they want $30+ per this underage hen. Yes, I raise them, I can laugh at their folly. Just annoys me. Plus they get their panties in a knot when you offer less. And yes -- that IS a rooster not a hen! It has gotten really bad this year with everyone who bought every chick this Summer (& all the canning lids!) and are tired of waiting for those eggs.......CL abounds with chickens, all at POL. Keep feeding them -- it will happen one day.

Ok -- that felt good.

 

[Baymule]

Gee and I thought the $5/lb people charge here for pasture raised chicken was high! I need to find a T-day pasture raised turkey somewhere. The last 2 years I was in So. Cal (so the the rest of the family had to suffer with dinner at the retirement community 'restaurant'). Normally I get the bird at the Burlington Farmer's market but that place is a total indoor body on body zoo starting about now. I don't know how they are doing 'social distancing' but they'd have to cut the number of people, customers AND vendors, by at least 90% to do so.


Probably because they only have about 10 feathers anyway

They may only have 10 feathers, but they got plenty of pin feathers. I grow mine to 8-10 weeks old, instead of the 6 weeks old of industrial chicken. I processed one today that weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. The rest were between 6-7 pounds.

 

[promiseacres]

Coffee is on.
Camper is winterized.
Today we'll do school, speech and clean the rabbit cages.
Last night kids did all the evening chores...they volunteered.... but it's odd. Need to unload the horse trailer too.

 

[Baymule]

Thanks for the coffee. We woke up at 4. I hate when that happens. I only got 4 chickens processed and in the freezer yesterday. Home health care came yesterday in the morning, didn't get started on chickens until 10:30, had to take Carson to the vet at 3:00, his anal glands need expressing. They hurt and he was crying. Vet tech said they were full, not impacted, but they were hurting him.

I have 12 chickens on ice, hope to get most of them done today.

 

[Mini Horses]

Fog again...getting to a daily thing. Sure prefer sunshine instead. Then we have Zeta bringing some rains Thu & Fri....gonna be a gloomy week. Window blinds up and lots of lights on --- I need light!!! Everything out there is just wet. I'm going to work today. Can't do much outside.

While doing chores & unloading from feed run yesterday, I hear a "pop" as I moved a bag. Looked and saw nothing. Later I found two broken eggs in my jacket pocket . Yep. Picked up while feeding....forgot to remove them and now yuck! The pop was found

We all have to deal with our day. Everyone try for a good one