“How can you kill something you raised?” well let me tell you

That is a question I get by everyone when they find out I actually eat chickens and turkeys I have raised. 

In a previous post I gave a brief explanation of how this is done I have made a few adjustments after a few processing's now. 

Start with a building a fire; you will need this later.

Put a huge pot of water on to boil.

Get your bird.

Hang a rope from a tree limb.

Tie the turkeys legs together and hang him upside down.

 

This will freak him out for just a few seconds, then he will calm.  This is my preferred killing position; they do not flop on the ground and bruise the meat.

Next take a super sharp knife and cut the veins on each side of the neck. Only the veins try to miss the fingers.

 

Give them a few minutes to bleed out. 

Put the turkey in a wash tub and pour hot water on it. 

I prefer this to dipping the bird, it seems to get the wing areas better.

Pluck the bird.

My photographer was pretty much grossed out at this point and pictures of removing the entrails would be too gross for some of my readers (and you know I’m politically correct). 

Remove the entrails, neck, feet, etc. and toss in the fire along with the feathers.

Otherwise your help will get them.  You don’t want them to get the taste of fresh blood.

 

That is Lucy, Sasha and Winston’s pup.

Once the bird is cleaned, soak in cold water to cool the temperature down.

Wrap in freezer paper, like the chickens pictured below

or put in the refrigerator and cook in two days as the turkey picture below.

Then kiss the cook!

ENJOY!

Wacky Wednesday…from the mouths of babes.

The other day Brad and I were feeding the animals.  When he walked up to the Pot Bellied Pigs Pen he said.

  “Hamlet, this place is a pig sty, clean it up.”

Wonder where he got a statement like that……maybe I should have posted a picture of his room.

“You Ain’t Gonna Believe This” Mel Tillis

It snowed in North Alabama on Christmas Day.

Headed out to do chores.

 
When you have a tractor and a snow in Alabama, you will have to pull at least one person out who has stuck their car in the ditch.

Samantha ( my oldest) after giving Dad a quick hand.  Without a coat she was freezing me.

Rosebriar Farm K-9 Naughty or Nice List

 

Winston – NICE – He found the lost pot belly pig.

 

Sasha – UNDECIDED – She had some cute pups this year, which all found good homes but she assisted Duke in many poultry murders and she should have been names Houdini.

Duke – NAUGHTY – He killed chickens and turkeys this year.

 

Wishbone (my dad’s dog) – NAUGHTY – She has killed more chickens than

Inexperience that ends with a Wacky Wednesday Quote

So there are some issues with being inexperienced of the bovine species.  I recently went in with my brother-in-law to purchase a bull calf or so I thought.  It was later revealed to me, Wendy (Jen’s Sister) and I had made the deal Jon knew nothing of it until we owned a calf.  And as you all (as if I have a bunch of readers) know animals at Rosebriar Farm must have a name, Wendy decided to name this fellow Standing Rib Roast and noted so in the ‘for” column of her check.

When I purchased the calf I was unaware he had a cold, which with the brutal weather we had come in the next few days made it much worse.  He was walking around and eating fine, he had a small matted area around one of his eyes.  In a matter of about three days this become a bunch of matted area around both eyes and he was having a hard time sucking a bottle, as he would suck, he would pull his head back and cough.  Asking a cattle farmer friend of mine he suggested I try giving him some penicillin; an intramuscular (IM) shot in the neck (no need to damage a good steak with a puncture wound).  Really if you don’t believe it look it up. Since this was a Sunday afternoon, I called another cattle farmer who might have some meds I could get until I could get some, I spoke with his wife and she told me he didn’t have any but I should call his brother who just happens to be a veterinarian.  Much to my dismay he did not seem to care I had a very sick calf; said he did not use penicillin on large animals anymore, he had something better.  I waited as if he would then suggest something…….after a long pause.  I said “and” (keep in mind he has a vet truck with all the meds on board to make farm calls), he says come by the office tomorrow and we will discuss what to do.  I hope you are reading this part with an irate tone as I will not take another animal to him. 

Since then Dr. Steve Powers, where I take my small animals has recommended a large animal vet.

So the next morning I made a trip to Cagle’s where George Cagle helped me with my problem.  He told me what he would recommend and sold me the necessary items and even told me if some of the items were not needed to bring them back.  He was not out to make a few bucks on a sale, he wanted to help me get my calf healthy and keep me as a satisfied customer.  For days we (Brad and I) treated this little fellow and each day we saw some improvement.  And when I say treated I mean treated; IM shots of antibiotics, tube feeding with Bounce Back, a (Gatorade, Pedialyte, type) electrolyte replacement, as well a tube feeding regular milk formula for calves.  This is similar to intubating  a person except instead of finding the airway to the lungs you find the stomach. 

Well a week and a half into this whole ordeal., when. I was at a company gift exchange when I get a phone call from Jen (ignore), I immediately sent her a text, “swapping gifts, I’ll call later, what’s up?”.  As soon as I sent that I get a call from Sam, my darling 18 year old daughter (ignore), forward the same text message to her as a response.  By the time the text message went out the phone indicated a voice mail had been received.  I immediately check to message to hear:

“Dad, your Standing Rib Roast, is not standing……uh…..it’s dead.”

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky Wednesday

A Montana rancher got in his pickup and drove to a neighboring ranch and knocked at the door.  A young boy, about 9, opened the door.
'Is yer Dad home?' the rancher asked.
'No sir, he ain't,' the boy replied. 'He went into town.'
'Well,' said the rancher, 'Is yer Mom here?'
'No, sir, she ain't here neither. She went into town with Dad.'
'How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?'
'He went with Mom and Dad.'
The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the  other and mumbling to himself. 'Is there anything I can do fer ya?' the boy asked politely. 'I know where all the tools are, if you want to borry one. Or maybe I could take a message fer Dad.'
'Well,' said the rancher uncomfortably, 'I really wanted to talk to yer Dad.  It's about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Pearly Mae, pregnant.'
The boy considered for a moment. 'You would have to talk to Pa about that', he finally conceded.
'If it helps you any, I know that Pa charges $500 for the bull and $50 for the hog, but I really don't know how much he gets fer Howard.'

“Where’s the beef?” Little Old Lady from an 80’s Wendy’s commercial

I know I have posted a picture of the little bottle fed calf Jon and I agreed to purchase.  Well Monday evening I picked him up and moved him in, since I was working alone and trying to get him settled in the dark, I was unable to get any picture. He was on a feeding schedule of 11:00 am and pm.  Well that's not going to work here.  So, I fed him about a quart of milk replacer about 7 pm, to get him to his new feeding time of 5  am/pm.  At 5 am he was as eager to eat as I was to feed him in 19 degree weather, I guess he was still adjusting to his new roommates.

With Maestro Coming out of the bus stop.

Brad, my helper, checking him out.

With Sally.

This evening at 5 pm he was HUNGRY! 

That must have been good…he downed it quickly.

Still loving technology.

Today I was looking at craigslist and saw the following ad:
We have baby calves for sale, still on the bottle for $75 OBO. If you are interested call me at 706-237-XXXX
or call/text at 706-313-XXXX. Can send pictures.
So, I sent a text message asking for a picture.  Here was the response a good looking Charolais, bull calf.

I forwarded this message to my brother-in-law, Jon Waldron, explaining I should be able to bottle feed and wean as I am usually home during the month of December (not a busy month in the boiler business).  I explained to the owner, I was discussing the purchase with Jon and it would take a little while to get back with them.  Three or four hours later Jon got back with me and we worked out a good plan, as I was walking through the grocery store (texting) with Jen…Jon will buy the calf, I will take care of getting it, castrating, weaning, and then take it to his farm in Murfreesboro, TN.  He will feed hay until the pastures are green, and when we are ready to slaughter…we will split the processing cost and beef. 
Technology is great while Jen was purchasing beef at the Fresh Market, I was buying in bulk for next year. 

Been preoccupied with Pop

I have not blogged in a couple of weeks because instead of taking care of my farm I’ve been taking care of my granddad.  Pop had a heart attack on November 21st, the day before he turned 84.  He spent a week in the hospital getting stable enough for open heart surgery in which he had:

• Maze procedure (to correct atrial fibrillation)
• Quintuple (5) bypass
• Mitral Valve repair

Pop did not become my Pop until 30 years ago, I was 9 when he married my Grandmother and he is the only granddad I have ever had.   He had no children before he became a widower but he quickly figured out the role of a granddad  to the point.
I have said many times  IN THE FUTURE, when I become a granddad my goal is to be as good at it as Pop is. 

Here is an idea of how funny and supportive Pop can be.  When I get a new animal, I always show it to Pop (my granddad) in April, I had just picked up new chicks and stepped to show him and Granny.  He asked why I did not get any ducks.  I responded saying I did not have any water for them.  In a very matter-of-fact tone he looked at me and said “dig a hole”.  

So for the past two week the farm has some what suffered, I did make sure everything had food and water but Pop comes first.  I have spent many hours at the hospital and enjoyed being able to be with him.  It made me feel good tonight when I walked in the Surgical ICU to visit and the nurse said he had been asking for me. 

Thanks to all the people who have been praying for Pop and please continue to do so, he had a serious surgery and is 84 it could be a long recovery. 

Wacky Wednesday!

A Turkey's Lament...

When I was a young turkey, new to the coop,
My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop,
Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow,
And he told me there was something that I had to know;
His look and his tone I will always remember,
When he told me of the horrors of ..... Black November;
"Come about August, now listen to me,
Each day you'll be thick, where once you were thin,
And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin.
"And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed,
In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head;
"Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald'n pink,
And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink,
"And then comes the worst part" he said not bluffing,
"She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing".
Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat,
I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat,
And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked,
I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked;
I began a new diet of nuts and granola,
High-roughage salads, juice and diet cola,
And as they ate pastries, chocolates and crepes,
I stayed in my room doing Jane Fonda tapes,
I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half,
And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed;
But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath,
As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death;
And sure enough when Black November rolled around,
I was the last turkey left in the entire compound;
So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap;
I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap,
She held me today, while sewing and humming,
And smiled at me and said "Christmas is coming..."

Borrowed from a fellow member of http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/
Happy Thanksgiving!

Wacky Wednesday

Starting today I will be posting a ‘Wacky Wednesday” post. 

This will be a funny or wacky something related to farming. 

ENJOY!

Check out these chicks

I’ve been talking writing a lot about Thanksgiving coming up, lets switch gears a little.  Here is a series of pictures of some cute little silkie chicks.  I found these locally from a breeder and wanted to add to my silkie population to one day be able to breed my own.  The two adult chickens are Scarlett and Rhett they are currently raising these; they will soon be on their own but they still need the adults to keep them warm at night.

Here they are on the first time out of the nursery, it was a warm afternoon.

I think the picture above is awesome, dad is making standing watch as other big chickens are nearby.

 

They love bread left over from meals or the concession stand.

And

Of course I had to save the best for last. 

Check out this little fellow, smiling for the camera.

Have I come full circle?

According to the free dictionary http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/come+full+circle
come/go/turn full circle: if something or someone has come full circle after changing a lot, they are now the same as they were at the beginning .
I have mentioned my Great Uncle Hoolie  before in my blogging, he is the person who planted the crazy idea in my head to be a farmer.  I used to visit his farm as a child and he would teach me things about cattle, tractors, equipment, etc as well as let me play.   His son John Glen, my cousin was one of my best cousins growing up we would spend hours playing on the farm.  Well last night instead of going to the football game Maddie ( my third child), Chris, and Cassidy (John Glen’s second and third children) all spent the night with my Grand Mother.  This morning I was out feeding my animals when they all three walked over from Granny's.
Take a look.
   
Maddie and Cassidy with a turkey feather.

Cassidy petting Lilly.

Cassidy petting Bunniculla and Chris and Maddie looking at the eggs that were collected.

Cassidy collecting eggs, she washed then and carried them to her mother.

Chris hand feeding Sally.  The leash is because she was being walked by Cassidy to get fresh green grass.

Kenzie and Maddie showing them the pigs.

Feeding the pigs, bread.
This was so much fun watching them play on my farm.  It meant a lot to me.
So let me explain this again: I played on my Great Uncle’s farm and today his grandchildren played on mine.