Sunday, April 4, 2010

Plus one, minus three

Our census count needs another adjustment. Late this morning hubby and I were preparing to finally butcher some of our roosters. The butchering number was down to three -- I gave two of my Americauna roos to my new friends at Humble Roots Heritage Farm just last week. Their own roosters had been killed by a fox. So, we had brought out the table, knives, hose, buckets and pots and were setting everything up by the firering at the end of the yard. I was heading back to the house to get some rope when I heard the familiar bleating. I turned and headed for the barn.


Eve decided to have her babe outside, behind the barn. A healthy, beautiful black buckling. Like I thought, Eve was just carrying the one. I fixed her and her new babe up in the kidding pen and sat down with them for an hour or so. Eve is a new mother, and is naturally more skittish than Dawn. She didn't like me touching her udder at all. But I was persistent and she settled down after awhile.


The little one is very cute, of course. A little bigger than the twins born three days ago. Eve was bred to a black buck, and since she carries some color under her white she gave birth to a black kid. White is dominant, so a white goat can carry some recessive color. The color genetics for angora goats are complicated, and I don't pretend to understand it all.

Later in the afternoon hubby and I found time to butcher the roosters. These roosters are the first animals that we have raised and butchered ourselves, on our farm. We made some newbie mistakes: too small a pot for dunking, causing the hot water to overflow into the fire; knives that were sharp but not sharp enough; not putting a tarp underneath the plucking station. And my eviscerating skills were a little rusty. But we got it done, and now we have three fresh chickens in our freezer. And our hens are lot happier with three less roosters to cause them grief.

9 comments:

Erin said...

Congrats on culling those chickens, I know the learning curve must entail alot - I will have to go through it too in a few years! And congrats on another beautiful goat! The circle of life and love is evident in your blog and pictures, what a great life experience you are giving your family!

Mama Pea said...

Thanks for continuing to share pictures and stories of your latest additions. So adorable!

I stewed up two roosters a week or so ago and have used the meat in a soup, a casserole and in Creamed Chicken (with peas) over biscuits. My hubby said the meat is the tenderest and most flavorful he's had in a long time. And, boy, did those fellas have a lot of meat on them. Their legs were like turkey drumsticks!

Maple Lawn Farm said...

Oh, I just love the new baby! So sweet!

Sharon said...

Love your babies! What type of goats have such curly hair? They are beautiful!
I planted some of the seeds you shared (thank-you) and, 100% germination so far!
Thanks again!
Sharon

jenny said...

I need to cull a rooster too. Poor ladies are getting bald backs with two roos.

Congrats on your third baby goat!! He's a handsome one there!

Omelay said...

we need to preform a culling of hens very soon. i sharpen several knives to razor sharp condition for the deed. it seems that i always have to touch them up a few times during. it is messy work.

we just got a bunch of new replacement chicks to pick up the slack in a few months.

Jim Wilkins said...

Expand the pastures, order more fence posts, more wire...more of everything...or almost everything

Anonymous said...

JO! They're so cute!

Lorelei

Anonymous said...

JO! They're so cute!

Lorelei