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Larsen Poultry Ranch
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We had the 20 week ultrasound today, little dude is growing well and everything looks good so far.
Larsen Poultry Ranch - homesteading journey
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- homesteading journey
Baymule
Herd Master
20 weeks! I’m glad you and baby are doing well.
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Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
Had help from several church members on Saturday and we butchered 20 rabbits. Total live weight over 120 pounds. Hubby didn't weigh the processed rabbits so not sure how much it was but probably about half the weight. I think there's 5 more rabbits that I need to check gender and decide if we are going to cull.
Our helpers hadn't butchered rabbits before but got the hang of it fairly quickly. Now we have a bunch of meat to finish processing (hubby wants to make most of it sausage) and I have 20 hides to try to process.
Our helpers hadn't butchered rabbits before but got the hang of it fairly quickly. Now we have a bunch of meat to finish processing (hubby wants to make most of it sausage) and I have 20 hides to try to process.
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Larsen Poultry Ranch
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Checked on the remaining rabbits and there's a total of 15. 5 are on the confirmed cull list. 8 are on the confirmed keep list, and 2 need a gender check to determine which list they are on.
It's amazing how much less feed I am using now. They were pigs, and actually had quite a bit of fat built up around their kidneys. We saved livers and hearts, plus the meat. We are probably going to be eating rabbit a few nights this week, and then processing most of the meat into jerky or sausage.
It's amazing how much less feed I am using now. They were pigs, and actually had quite a bit of fat built up around their kidneys. We saved livers and hearts, plus the meat. We are probably going to be eating rabbit a few nights this week, and then processing most of the meat into jerky or sausage.
Baymule
Herd Master
It is so satisfying to raise and eat your own meat. Nothing like it. Yes, it’s work, but so worth it!
murphysranch
Herd Master
Half way there!!! Woo hoo!!!
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Larsen Poultry Ranch
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I have checked 4/6 of the remaining grow outs, all with Rex fur. The chinchilla from Willow is a doe, keeping her. The castor from Sage is a buck, and the chinchilla from Parsley is a buck. The three from Maple I have only checked the black, but not the castor or Lefty. The black is a buck. I listed the 3 bucks on my FB business page and have someone already interested in the castor buck. I'm hoping that goes through as it will reimburse one bag of feed they have gone through. I'm thinking of checking the last two and posting the available ones on Craigslist to see if there's any interest. If nothing by the end of the weekend I'll probably butcher.
I'm also thinking about downsizing my chickens, moving the extra hens to my parents house as they could use the eggs. It would be nice to have fewer animal responsibilities especially as I need to increase my time for the garden and it's getting harder to do stuff since my belly has popped out.
I feel like it's harder to breathe sometimes but I think that most of the time I feel that way I've been crouching or leaning over to work on something. I am definitely getting a lot more heartburn now especially in the evening.
I'm also thinking about downsizing my chickens, moving the extra hens to my parents house as they could use the eggs. It would be nice to have fewer animal responsibilities especially as I need to increase my time for the garden and it's getting harder to do stuff since my belly has popped out.
I feel like it's harder to breathe sometimes but I think that most of the time I feel that way I've been crouching or leaning over to work on something. I am definitely getting a lot more heartburn now especially in the evening.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Take chickens to mom....Come Sept you'll be too busy to collect eggs! 
Baymule
Herd Master
I didn’t have animals and a farm when my kids were babies and I was busy, busy, busy. I have heaps of admiration for you! One toddler, a baby due, plus rabbits 
and chickens. 
Throw in a garden for good measure. You are unbelievably awesome.
and chickens. Throw in a garden for good measure. You are unbelievably awesome. - Thread starter
- #1,670
Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
Thanks @Baymule , you are so sweet 
I wish we lived closer so we could meet up in person.
Here I am feeling bad I haven't watered the garden or checked on the seedlings for over a day and the dishes are piling up. We had barbecue skewered rabbit for dinner last night and it was so tasty. Munchkin liked it a lot. Hubby snagged all the leftovers for his lunch today.
Rabbits are doing good and I think I'm going to name Willow's doe kit Comfrey. The person who was going to buy a buck has stopped communicating, so grr. Going to decrease rabbits again this weekend, one way or another.
Decided that we are going to move chickens Saturday, so that will be a lot less work after that. I want to get some of the potted trees planted and that will make things easier too, less worry they will die and give them a chance to really grow. I need to convince hubby to weed eat, or figure out if the small electric weed eater my mom has is light enough for me to use, it's hard to get to the chickens because there isn't a proper pathway.
I wish we lived closer so we could meet up in person. Here I am feeling bad I haven't watered the garden or checked on the seedlings for over a day and the dishes are piling up. We had barbecue skewered rabbit for dinner last night and it was so tasty. Munchkin liked it a lot. Hubby snagged all the leftovers for his lunch today.
Rabbits are doing good and I think I'm going to name Willow's doe kit Comfrey. The person who was going to buy a buck has stopped communicating, so grr. Going to decrease rabbits again this weekend, one way or another.
Decided that we are going to move chickens Saturday, so that will be a lot less work after that. I want to get some of the potted trees planted and that will make things easier too, less worry they will die and give them a chance to really grow. I need to convince hubby to weed eat, or figure out if the small electric weed eater my mom has is light enough for me to use, it's hard to get to the chickens because there isn't a proper pathway.
