Hens to the processor

Due to the number of half grown chicks we need space for, and the number of setting hens, I took 9 older layers to the processor today (this was the appt I made when I thought I would be taking the 3 roosters, too - because I don't really want to drive all the way out there for fewer than a dozen - I'd rather just process them myself and save the gas and money).  This will seriously reduce the number of eggs we are getting per day to something more reasonable for us to eat or pickle.  I took the ones with single combs, since they are far more likely to get frostbitten in winter than the breeds with rose combs.  I did make exceptions for Chiquita (our only remaining hen from the original batch 6 years ago) and Speckles (because she is the friendliest and everyones' favorite).  Now I just have to start training the half-grown chicks to use the larger coop, instead of the small on (which I need empty for the next batch).  I need to remember to set up an appt for the beginning of October for all the extra roosters from the two batches of incubator chicks, and any that the hens hatch and raise themselves.  That's a month longer than necessary for the first batch, but it will be the right amount of time for the second batch, and I only want to make one more trip this year.

SWARM!

I was watering veggies in the hoop house when I noticed an increase in pitch and volume of the buzz from the hive next to the hoop house.  I don't know whether I am annoyed that on a day when I already had 100'+ of fencing to put up, and nine million other things to do, that the hive decided to throw a monster swarm.  Or maybe I'm grateful I was right there when it happened, so I could follow them to the tree they decided to hang out in, or more accurately, the tree they moved to, after the first tree proved unsuitable for whatever reason.  Anyway, they started 30' up a cherry tree, where there was no way I could reach them, but then they moved to 4' off the ground in one of the pear trees I planted a couple years ago.  It was the biggest swarm I've seen - I decided to put them into a deep instead of a nuke, just because it was such a large swarm... think 2+ footballs worth... or a ridiculous 5# worth of bees.  I had to cut the branch off the pear tree, but it needed to be pruned anyway because of the downward curve it was growing in.  It wasn't the smoothest transfer I've ever made because I had to cut with my right hand, and hold the small end of the branch with my left - the branch was too thick to cut further back so I could hold it between the tree and the bees.  But the ones that fell outside the box all headed inside afterward, so apparently the queen was inside.  I hope they stay there.  I'll move them to the other side of the hoop house tonight... when my bee suit is dried out from all the sweating I did in it while doing this.

In case any beekeepers are wondering, the deep has five frames with partially built comb in it, and I will add the other five when I take the branch out tonight, since by then the bees will have crawled off that in favor of the comb.  I like this trick for hiving packages without shaking them, too - just stick them in a hive with some built out frames and they leave the box on their own.  Then take away the empty box on top that makes room for the branch/box they were on/in, and everyone is happy.

First Setting Hen for 2019

She has hatched six little chicks, of the nine eggs she was setting on.  I released her from the dog crate so I could put the second hen that was trying to set into it (because the other chickens kept chasing her off her nest on the floor of the coop, and messing it up, and laying more eggs in it, and basically making the whole exercise pointless for her.  If it stops raining, I'll go outside this afternoon and get some pics...

More food from the homestead!

I can't say the food was just from the garden, because we processed three roosters long past their expiration date yesterday.  I have a date with the commercial processor next week, but these three needed to go ASAP, because they were being 1) really hard on the hens, and 2) making me come outside at 10PM to break up rooster vs male guinea fights.  And since I like the velociraptor/male guinea for his entertainment value, if not the ridiculous amount of noise he makes, the roo(s) had to go.  It was a lot quieter this morning with only one rooster in the coop.  I still have to take the others to the processor, because it would be an all day job to do it here and I have too much other stuff to deal with one more thing.

Anyway, I parted out the roosters, threw the thighs/legs in the crockpot with some rhubarb/orange sauce, boiled the breasts to use in Chicken Pad Thai this evening, and made stock with the remaining carcasses... which immediately went into the asparagus soup that we had for lunch today.

Earlier in the week, I harvested ten cups of arugula and made a pint jar of arugula pesto, which the DH thinks is even better than pesto made with basil.  I like it, too.  The kids have not tried it, but I am betting OD will love it, and YD will prefer tomato sauce, as usual.

I have a ridiculous amount of lettuce (mostly Jericho, which has done really well for the last two years - outperforming every other lettuce I've ever grown).  If the daily deluge stops long enough, I will cut some and we will have lots of salad this week to go with the leftover chicken, egg salad, and asparagus.   I also have to figure out what to do with the remaining sweet potatoes - I have some in jars in the windows that are growing slips to plant, but there is still a bucket full harvested last fall that we should eat soon.  I have a cold sweet potato salad recipe and a sweet potato soup recipe that can be served hot or cold... I haven't tried either yet, but I'd like to, especially if the temps really get up to 70 and stay that way this week.  Since it is pouring now, I'll believe it when I see it.

We also processed three rabbits, which was a mistake on my part - we should have processed four, because I need the extra cage for the grow-outs that need to be separated from the does.  And I need to re-breed the does, which isn't going to get done until I can stand outside without getting soaked.  I wish we'd gotten these down in the February when the coats were prime, but it was so dang cold no one wanted to be outside for that.  They will definitely be for the large crockpot due to size and age.  I've never cooked a tough rabbit and don't intend to start with these.  In fact, I might try grinding them, since I've never done that before.  I wonder if there are any good rabbit/pork sausage recipes... if anyone has them, please send me a link or a pic!

Spring has arrived... sort of

Despite the rain and chilly weather, spring has officially arrived - we had our first asparagus of the season (and harvested enough to make asparagus soup tomorrow), and we had dandelion fritters for supper.  Yes, yes, I know that isn't an optimal diet.  It is a TRADITION... which is how I justify eating deep-fried food, covered in powdered sugar.

An additional herald of spring is the first setting hen.  It is the usual one to start things off - the brown, feather-legged three year old cross.  She is setting on nine eggs in the dog crate in the larger chicken coop.  This is in addition to the six week old chicks in the duck coop, and the 5-7 day old chicks in the pole barn.  Now, if I could just Munsell's to call me back to set up a time to process the dozen that need to go to the freezer...