Chicken Plan

We ordered another 25 chicks for the end of March.

They are a basic dual purpose.

We've had to establish a
"Chicken Plan".

For the past couple years we have had around 20 mixed barnyard chickens.

We get a good amount of eggs ranging from 18 eggs to 3 eggs.

Our girls are getting up there and they molted this past summer.

I sold a few this spring

but

we spend quite a bit on feed. 

In the winter we spend about $40.00/month in chicken feed.

We can buy eggs for cheaper.

So

our new plan.

We are going to buy 25 new chicks every spring.

We will let them mature and lay through the late summer.

We are then going to butcher half in the fall and let the other half lay through the winter.

Come spring we will buy 25 and start over except 

at fall butchering we will butcher last years old hens and half of the young hens.

It should be a good experience.

I was lucky that I grew up with a Dad that hunted and taught us how to butcher and clean animals.

I also grew up listening the my mom and grandma talk about butchering chickens.

This will be a learning process for our girls and Dusty.

They are feeling a little nervous about this endeavour

but

there is something satisfying about raising your food.

I know what it is fed.

I know how it was treated.

and as we sit around our table to eat there is a respect that is gained through this process.
That is priceless.