Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Okay, okay, by popular demand...


Peek-a-boo, Carrie!


They're hoping I'll give them some more grass.


These are the Buff Orpingtons we bought as day-old chicks, and the Rhode Island Reds we hatched from our own eggs.
Now they can't decide who to watch, me or Madman. Because Madman had had a wonderful idea for a photo.

First, he scooped up one of our little Orp hens. Then he went to catch one of the meat birds. Then he came back to hand me the Orp to hold, because he couldn't get hold of a big bird while holding a little bird. (They're a little reluctant to take a 'walk with Dad'. They've finally twigged to the fact that no one ever comes back from a walk with Dad...)
We finally got it all together...


Now, these birds are exactly the same age. The white chicken is a Cornish Cross - a chicken specifically bred to eat and grow and eat and grow. Madman can hold the Orpington in one hand, but really has to cradle the meat bird.

Look at the difference in size of feet, alone!
The meat birds are heading to the freezer. Madman and I both have Sundays off, so we're doing in a few of the big birds every weekend until we get them all done. Ideally, we should have offed the lot of them all at once, but we just can't handle that much mayhem in one day...

And even though no one asked for bunny pictures, here's a few anyway. Cuz it's not all chickens (or sheep) all the time, chez mango...

This is Clover. She's grown 'a bit' since my last photo of her...

And Stiffler wants to know "S'up?"

And so, good night. It was dark in the coop...

That's the rooster on the lower rung, watching over his flock. The other hens are over on the perch by the nest boxes. They're not supposed to be there, but you can't tell a chicken anything...

6 comments:

Diane said...

So, I can't remember. Are you going to eat the Orps too or are they just for fun? And any baby rabbits, er Hassenfeffer, yet?

Anna M said...

Wow, what a difference in birds! I know Sharon said she'd never raise the meat birds again because of mess and stoopid, how do you feel about them?

Anonymous said...

I love chickens! They're not the brightest bulbs in the pack but they're fun to have around and free-range eggs... oh my! Thanks for sharing.

Cookie said...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww...

I think it's only smart to limit how many you kill at a time because it's such a messing smelly job to get them ready for the freezer.

Anonymous said...

Have you ever read Michael Perry? He is a small-town guy from rural Wisconsin and a very fun writer. Check out his blog -- your post reminded me of this one:
http://sneezingcow.com/2009/08/05/provision-kinda-rhymes-with-chicken/

Laurei said...

That's an incredible difference. (YUM!)