Know where your food comes from......Supporting Great Ideas

While browsing the Internet I thought I'd check on how my own blog looked.  One of the web parts I have is links to articles related to poultry that are pulled by Google.  This one was really pretty interesting. 

For those of you out there who have not heard of Kickstarter it's a way for people with great ideas to raise the funds to launch their product and/or service. 

One of the ideas that needs some funding is BuyingPoulty.com. 


It's a database of information about purchasing poultry, who's got pasture raised, cage free etc. and what all that actually means.  There is a lot of confusion about the terms.  Most are marketing gimmicks and don't really reflect the way the poultry is raised or processed.

Check out the info below, it's a pretty good idea.

I just backed http://BuyingPoultry.com - Good food. Good farmers. on @Kickstarter http://kck.st/12OWucG
 

Sunday - Butterflied Garlic Oregano Chicken

Sunday is the day I pull a chicken out of the freezer and test my culinary and farming skills. Assuming I've done a good job of raising this chicken it should be tender, plump and tasty.

This Sunday was butterflied oregano and garlic chicken.

 

 

 

 

Take a teaspoon of garlic, a sprinkle of salt, some pepper, add as much oregano as you like (I used 3 teaspoons of fresh because it's growing well in my garden), mix with some soften butter and a drizzle or two of olive oil.   Smash it all together into a paste.  Use all butter or all olive oil if you like.  I like the taste butter gives, but the olive oil makes it smoother and is a bit healthier for you.

I butterflied the chicken to make it cook faster and more even.  Smear some on the underside, under the skin and top of the chicken.  Rub it in good.  Back at 325 until golden brown and internal temp is 170 degrees.  Take out and rest for 15 minutes, cut and server. 

Apparently I did a good job........Yum Yum Yum

D-Day or should I say P-Pluck Day

Well the big day finally came.  Time to put all the research and preparation to the test.  Could I kill, scald, pluck, eviscerate, bag and tag the chickens that have been running around my yard for the last 8 weeks.  OK for the first 3 weeks they were in my house, but you get the idea.

Not for the faint of heart or the sentimental.  But when one of the hens starting having trouble keeping up with the others because one of her legs wasn't quite supporting her weight I new it couldn't wait another week.  These were after all Cornish Rock chickens and they are genetically designed not to live past 7 or 8 weeks.  Not like the relicants from the Blade Runner movie, but they physically can't support themselves as they get older and heavier.  And heavy they got.

So on Saturday morning after setting all the equipment up the night before and putting it off for a couple hours (looking for excuses) I finally did it.  I slit the throat of the first chicken.  Now that sounds cruel and a bit gruesome and while I wasn't being cruel, it was a bit gruesome.  I held it head and feet while it hung upside down in the killing cone and it's legs kicked those last anatomic kicks.  The believe is that the chicken is unconsous after a few seconds and the kicking is simply a muscle reflex of the already dead chicken.  At least that's what I hope.  I think it's important to not sugar coat the taking of an animals life.  It's not something to do lightly but necessary to put food on our tables.  But it did get easier, I hope it never gets too easy, that's why I feel it's important not to skip any of details.  But I do feel a bit proud of myself for taking responsibility for the food I eat and the life that had to die because of it.  My hope is to never again purchase a grocery store (factory raised) chicken again, I feel a bit better about this past weekend.

The lives and deaths of the chickens now in my freezer (and that will be on my dinner table) were much kinder, gentler, natural and humane than the lives and deaths of the chickens who wind up on the grocery store shelves.

Watch the video clip on my previous post to see them running across my yard like chickens are meant to do.  These chickens were not crammed in a windowless building and shoved into creates to be tossed onto shackles and have machines do the dirty deed.

But I did raise them to eat and have to admit the one I roasted for Sunday's dinner was tender, juicy and delicious.  I admit it.... I love chicken... both running around my yard and on my plate.

5.5 Pounds and Counting

It's week 7 and the Cornish Rocks have reached 5.5lbs.  I expect them to reach 7 within the next week.  Think I'm ready for what comes next.  I have new knives, cones, a scaulder, a plucker, an evisceration table (actually it's for cleaning fish), plenty of tubs and coolers and shrink wrap bags and labels.  I even have  a new pop up canopy and tarps to block the view of the messy stuff from the neighbors in case they come by.

Out of the 38 I started with I've only lost 4.  Two chicks died early.  I also left 5 with the batch of egg layer chicks I bought.  I moved most out in time but two got bullied, trampled or pecked to death.  The couple of egg layers I left with the main batch of Cornish Rocks are doing well, but the eggs layers are too active for the much slower more feeble Cornish Rocks.

The "freezer chickens" are having trouble moving their heavy breasted bodies around the yard.  It's almost comical, but having arthritis in my knees, feet and hands I kind of feel for them.  My arthritis aches and pains seem a bit worse lately.  Don't know if that's sympathy pains or just the cosmos telling me I should go vegan.

Couple lessons I've learned are to start them on the grass earlier (week 2 or 3) and put a few eggs layers in with them to show them how to forage and get around.  The do forage some, but not as much as I had hoped they would.  They pretty much wattle after me looking for hand outs. 

Hoping starting them on grass younger might get them to forage more and reduce the feed bill.  They are like Parana around the feeder.  Then they fall asleep with their heads resting on the feeders so when they wake up they can start again.

But definitely don't leave any with a larger group of egg layers.  Egg layers are significantly more active and aggressive than the eat, sleep and poop Cornish Rocks.

Coming to terms with killing the animal you are going to eat.

Processing day for the chickens is only a couple more weeks away.  While I've done my initial trials to make sure I could actually do it (too many extra roos that nobody seemed to want), the thought of processing 25 birds is still a bit unnerving.

Here is a good article on coming to terms with this part of raising animals for food.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-emotional-side-of-chicken-processing

Remember whether you raise your own chickens or buy them from a grocery store they come from living, breathing, eating, drinking, clucking animal who's life had to end.  How they lived and how that life ended is the question those of us raising our own chickens and other livestock are answering.

If you asked yourself at every meal "how did this food get here, how did it live and how did it die to become our dinner?"  First of all...could you answer that question (many people have no idea how food gets from farm to supermarket) and secondly are you OK with the answer?

Something to think about next time you pick up that fork.

 

My chicken tractor

I have put the "freezer" chicks in the new chicken tractor I build a couple weeks ago.  My thought for this was in addition to being movable and provide outside access to grass, bugs etc and not have to clean up the poop.... but to have a tractor that I could easily dismantle and store.

These are shots from my Chicken Diary that I use to keep daily tasks, chores, events etc.  I researched a lot of different tractor ideas before coming up with this design.  The dimensions are 10ft by 4ft.  A bit smaller than I would normally have for the 20 chickens in there, but in about a week I'm going to start opening the tractor and let the chickens have use of the yard when I get home from work and on weekends.  It's moved daily.

It's a simple combination of 2 PVC panels covered in welded wire and 2 wood triangles.  All held together with zip ties and bungee straps for easy dissemble and storage.  Cost was less than $100 for all materials and that is if you buy everything new.  Easy Saturday afternoon project to assemble and seems to be working out OK. 

 

I would not suggest this design for a high predator environment.  My yard is fenced with horse rail and welded wire 2x4 fencing.  So far the biggest thing I've seen in it is a squirrel.  I expect to start processing the chickens in about 5 weeks.

 

What does the law say.

For anyone interested or thinking about raising chickens in Louisville KY where is a link to the animal ordinance for our area.

http://www.louisvilleky.gov/AnimalServices/animal_ordinances/animal_ordinance_faq.htm

The only reference to chickens is:

All crowing and non-crowing poultry must be kept on tracts or lots of at least half an acre or more. You can have one crowing and five non-crowing birds on less than half an acre.

Remember you do not need a rooster to get eggs and a good egg laying breed such as the Red Star can lay 300 per year.  Not to mention the reduction in bug population and the free fertilizer you will get for your lawn or garden.

Great article about urban chickens

I've done a lot of research and this one article seems to cover most of the things I tell people about raising chickens.  The eggs are fresher, healthier for you, backyard chickens are cleaner, have fewer chances of spreading disease, are typically no bother to neighbors and when added to a good composting and gardening plan can save you money.

http://www.baristanet.com/2013/03/group-hoping-that-keeping-chickens-will-fly-in-bloomfield/

Here's hoping Bloomfield gets with it and allows it residents to enjoy all the benefits that just a few chickens can provide. 

Be sure to check out the health benefits of eating fresh chicken eggs.

... eggs from home-raised hens contain about 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4 less saturated fat, 2/3 more Vitamin A, twice the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids, three times the amount of Vitamin E, and seven times the betacarotene of commercially raised eggs.

 

New Life from chocolate eggs

One of the best things about raising any animal is the creation of new life.  This is the result of a breeding program I have going on.  First hatching of my new French Black Copper Marans.  They lay the darkest eggs of any chicken.

The top row is from my Red Star hens.  Great layers, nice brown color, big and lay almost every day even in the winter.  The bottom row is from the new Black Copper Marans.  They are still a bit small but seem to be getting bigger as the hens mature.  Great color.... keep expecting chocalate cream to come out when I crack them open.

Here is a pic of a newly hatched Black Copper Marans.

 

Poor lighting.... the egg is actually much darker than it looks here.

 

 



I managed to get a video clip of the second chick just after it pushed it's way out of the shell.
 

Almost makes me want to go vegitarian... Almost

I admit it.  I like to eat meat.  There's something just not complete about a breakfast, lunch or diner that doesn't include beef, pork or chicken in some form or fashion.  I know eggs and cheese have protein but it's not the same.  And tofu.... well lets just not go there at all...

I originally started raising chickens as an offshoot of raising peacocks.  The chickens were a way to hatch more peacocks.  I soon grew to enjoy these funny characters and the taste of their fresh eggs.

The obvious next step from egg layers is to meat chickens.  I prefer to call them freezer chickens.  Though most people call them broilers.  Being the type person I am it always starts with research.  Lots of research.  And for anyone who uses the Internet for research you know how easy it is to get off track when browsing.

My browsing for researching laying hens eventually led me to the factory farming being done in America.  I have commented about this in previous posts.  So I thought I would point you to some of my research. 

Warning....some of the images are not for the faint of heart or the young and impressionable.  There are scene of horrible animal cruelty that I can't imagine anyone trying to explain to a child when they ask "why would someone do that....".  I have NO ANSWER.

I'm also not a PETA supporter but the link below to their page is one of the better representations of the issues at hand.  Follow the link below to some general information as well as some additional links.

http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/chicken.htm

The PETA link is  http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/

I guess KFC is now on my list of foods not to eat.  But I'm not giving up eating chicken, beef or poultry.  Wish someone would do a YouTube video on the cruilty of soybean processing.  Tofu I could give up.

 

Some basic info

Thought I should add some basic info about myself and my backyard.  I live on a 1.09 acre lot in Louisville Kentucky.  I'm on the very very edge of the city limit of a windy semi-country road.   When I originally went to look at my home I had to ask the realtor... where the heck are you taking me?  But it's not as remote as the drive makes it seem.  But remote enough.

Here in Louisville the laws on raising poultry is pretty accommodating even in the more urban areas.  If you live on 1/4 acre or less you are restricted to no more than 5 non-crowing birds.  Meaning you can have 5 hens, which if you simply want eggs is more than enough for the average family.   

I'm lucky to be on a larger lot.  My lot is actually the smallest in my neighborhood.  Most are 5-20 acres with lots of wooded areas, hay fields and there's even a sod farm.  I have neighbors with cows, horses, one like me with chickens and for a while the woman across the street had miniature horses.  She and her horses have moved.  Bit strange the day I can home from work and they were walking around my front yard.  Apparently they got loose every once in a while, but always wandered back home after a bit.  And of course all my neighbors have dogs, several that bark continually and a few that for some reason seem to be roaming free a lot more than I think they should.  But most are great neighbor dogs that sometimes bark at me, sometimes  wag their tails and want to be petted but stay in their yards and don't chase my chickens.

I also raise some rabbits (purely for fun and show...not to eat) and am planning a small aquaponics project this year and will try to raise some tilapia (to eat...again my very nice postal carrier delivered them.  Didn't tell her about my project).  I also garden (flowers, herbs and vegetables), compost have 2 small garden ponds (one for gold fish and to look pretty and the other is my project pond).

The project pond is a small 600 gal pond that is built above ground with seating on the edges (carryover from a previous house).  I've tried various projects such as raising tropical fish for the summer, growing plants for the bigger 2,000 gal pond etc.  This is the pond I plan on using for my aquaponics project this year.

This past year I have completely fenced in my back yard.  4 post horse rail and welded wired.  I had an ongoing problem with both the wild life in my area and those wandering neighborhood dogs.  The wild life I could deal with.  A lost chicken or rabbit is the price you pay for living where I do and trying to manipulate nature and messing with the natural food chain.  Chickens and rabbits are pretty low on that food chain.

But when a couple of the neighborhood dogs got half of my rabbits and  ALL of my chickens in one night I knew I had to do something.  Hence the somewhat costly but very attractive and effective fencing.  The piece of mind was worth the cost though.  My animals are much safer and my yard looks great.  The local wild life...well they will have to go back to the natural food chain.

Know what you put on your family's table

I work in the technology world, so researching online is a way of life for me.  I've spent more late night hours that I should researching both how to raise chickens and also how the poultry industry works.  

I would encourage you to do some of your own research.  A simple Google search will bring up a wealth of information.  There are lots of YouTube videos on the horrible way chickens are treated in the poultry industry.  And I'm sure a lot of it is true.  But I've also noticed that many of the available videos are several years old.  Some as old as 2002.  I would hope things have improved since then.

The kicker for me was the documentary called Food Inc.  You can watch the entire documentatry from this link.

http://documentaryaddict.com/Food+Inc-2174-documentary.html

It's a documentary about how the food industry in America is controlled by only a few mega corporations.  It shows not only how the poultry industry is controlled by big business but also the pork, beef and agricultural farming.  This film points out how the food industry is manipulated and resulting in healthy foods being more costly than high carb high sugar high fat foods.  Much of this explains the health and obesity issues lower income households are facing today.   Cheaper to feed your family bad food than good food.  Perhaps another reason to rasie some chickens or plant a garden.

Think about what you put on your family's table.  Know where your food comes from, how it is raised or grown as well as how it gets from farm to table.  It seems most Americans don't really care so long as the supermarkets are stocked with inexpensive food. When did we stop taking responsibility for ourselves and what we eat?

As an IT guy I know information is most precious thing to have, with it we can accomplish wonderful things.  Without it....... we are at the mercy of those with the information.

Be one of the people with the information.... it can change your life and the world.

Freezer Chickens

Two days ago I got a call from my postal carrier.  A very nice woman who said she had a box of chicks for me and was at my house but no one was home.  The post office apparently didn't notice my phone number on the side of the box and didn't hold them for me to pick up like they have in the past.

My carrier was very nice and agreed to meet me at my house in a few hours (I was already at work).  I ran home on my lunch break and meet her in my driveway.  She stated that she had gotten attached to them and started giving them names.  I didn't have the heart to tell her that was a bad idea because the plan was that they would be in the freezer in about 9 weeks.  I smiled and thanked her for taking care of this precious cargo for me.

I opened the box and put the precious cargo in the brooder I had setup for them.  After only two days I understand the comments I've been reading that "meat" or freezer chickens as I'm calling them are horrible to raise and nothing like raising other chickens.

They are just as cute and sweet that first day as any other newly hatched chicks. 

 

But after feeding them for two days they are eating pooping slugs with absolutely no personality.

I have some three week old layer chicks that are a joy to sit and watch.  They run around, are starting to exercise their wings and try to launch themselves.  They also interacting with each other (working out that pecking order thing) as myself as I sit here watching them.  The freezer chicks... sleeping or eating.  So for that's it.  Maybe this will make processing day much easier and less emotional. 

I decided to raise some freezer chickens after doing a lot of research.  I had read a lot and saw too many Youtube videos about how factory chickens are raised and processed to feel good about buying them from the local megamart.  And while I was a bit horrified, it wasn't enough to make me go vegitarian.  I don't intend to do any reasearch on the pork or beef industry.  Like my burgers and chops and DO NOT intend to raise pigs or cows.

But I thought if I'm going to eat chicken (and chicken is my main protien source) I should take responsibility for it's life and it's death.

While thinking about this I happen to have an abundance of roosters.  The result of a hatching that didn't give me 50/50 odd.  (8 eggs, 1 hen and 7roosters.  Go Figure).  And try as I did I could only give away one on Craigslist.  No one wanted them, so I killed, scalded, plucked and eviscerated the remaining 6.  They were banties so the end result was hardly worth the work.  But the process was good to go through and I found I could actually do it.

So after a bit more research and many drawings and plans for a chicken tractor (saw no reason to mix the freezer and egg chickens together) I ordred 20 Cornish Rocks and 5 Freedom Rangers from Welp Hatcheries.  They seem to have the best price and 25 seemed to be more than enough.  Should provide me with at least 6 months of freezer chickens.   So this is where my Freezer Chicken adventure begins.

My list of things I know longer buy at the megamart is growing.  Grocery store tomatoes have no taste for me after years of growing my own so I skip them most of the year and go wild on them when they start to ripen in my garden.  Eggs, well anyone who's eaten fresh free range chicken eggs knows not to bother with store bought eggs anymore.  And now I'm hoping that chicken will be in the same catagory.

How it all began

Actually raising chickens started when I needed a better way to hatch Peacock eggs.  My previous experiment/adventure was in raising some peacocks.  See my other blog  http://peafowliseasy.blogspot.com/ on that story.  Eventually I gave up the peacocks in favor of the much smaller, less spacial requirements of chickens.

I have gone through several small flocks of egg layers.  Mostly successful but some with diasterous results.  The last diaster prompted me to spend a lot of money fencing in my entire 1.09 acre yard with horse rail and welded wire fencing to keep out roaming dogs.

I have been having great luck with my brown egg layers.  Red Star hybrids seem to be the best of my layers group.  Largest eggs of my breeds I've tried and the most consistant layers.

My latest group is a mix with some Black Copper and Wheaten Marans.  The roos are very colorful but the hens are a bit on the plain side.  The the egg color is wonderful.  I expect milk or dark chocolate to come out when I crack them.

My current project is 25 meat chickens.  I just received them today.  I ordered 20 Rock Cornish X and 5 Freedom Rangers.  We will see how that goes.

Stay tune for more info on my laying and meat flocks.  And of course the new chicken house that went up yesterday.  Again a bit expensive, but should add even more protection and comfort to the hens.  And be a bit more comfortable for me as well.