tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post8451518290632531885..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Chicken in the Freezer......FinallyFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-5213075341917818192015-01-17T00:16:01.737-06:002015-01-17T00:16:01.737-06:00I have invented a manually operated plucker that c...I have invented a manually operated plucker that can really speed up getting the feathers off. I called it the "Buck-It Pluck-It". You can build one for under $40. You can google "Buck-It Pluck-It" and it will show up. I am also including the link to me operating the plucker in a youtube video. http://youtu.be/UvEFCo7gxgoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00135628273650018357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-71961175175192786142014-10-02T08:05:13.224-05:002014-10-02T08:05:13.224-05:00Thank you, Heidi. The meat is great and well worth...Thank you, Heidi. The meat is great and well worth the work involved.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-37201927810424698682014-10-02T02:08:42.235-05:002014-10-02T02:08:42.235-05:00Great post, very comprehensive and a difficult top...Great post, very comprehensive and a difficult topic! Killing animals is always hard, but necessary sometimes. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing at the <a href="http://www.pintsizefarm.com" rel="nofollow">HomeAcre Hop</a> be sure to come back and share another :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01180548650930167024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-78686574703040063442014-09-22T19:21:08.799-05:002014-09-22T19:21:08.799-05:00Vickie, chickens have always been my favorite live...Vickie, chickens have always been my favorite livestock. Given the opportunity, they can scavenge for most of their own food. As you know, they're good for eggs and meat. Chickens can destroy a garden, especially a young garden, in a very short period of time. <br /><br />Butchering has always been difficult for me. I have to get myself prepared to take a life. I know it's okay to do so, but it's still difficult. Good luck on your future plans.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-5282703257450897142014-09-22T14:30:01.240-05:002014-09-22T14:30:01.240-05:00Great post. I need to learn a lot about this &quo...Great post. I need to learn a lot about this "stuff" because my husband and I are planning to raise both egg layers and meat birds soon. I think I remember my grandma also skinning her birds instead of plucking them, because her fried chicken never had skin on it. When I was little I just figured she didn't like chicken skin, but now as an adult it seems to me that it would be easier just to skin the chicken. My husband and I don't eat chicken skin anyway, so it would make sense to me to skin it in the beginning. I have seen quite a few tutorials now on how to butcher chickens and I honestly don't think I would have any problem with it, especially if I was as reverent as you, though I might be just a bit squeemish in the beginning. I am also glad to see how when you run up against adversity you have learned to just go with the flow. I need to learn how to do that also. Thanks for writing your story with truth instead of sugar-coating it.Vickie @ makingoursustainablelife.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210045536198927269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-4792010093961543152014-09-21T22:04:48.065-05:002014-09-21T22:04:48.065-05:00There is just nothing like homegrown chicken, Fion...There is just nothing like homegrown chicken, Fiona. You are right about that.<br /><br />We hope you do well in acquiring and setting up your new place. We look forward to hearing about it. We wish you all the best.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-8826875671155974612014-09-21T22:02:35.769-05:002014-09-21T22:02:35.769-05:00Jim, we have had friends that have raised rabbits....Jim, we have had friends that have raised rabbits. None of them raised them for a food source, they just raised them to sell to other folks as a food source. The feed to meat ratio for rabbits is excellent, and I love fried domestic rabbit. I encourage all to certainly look into this source of food.<br /><br />I don't know how easy it would be to acquire rabbit pellets if our just-in-time delivery system ever falls into disarray. That is the primary reason we have never raised rabbits. But again, I encourage everyone to look at alternative sources of food production, whether it be rabbits, aquaponics, or whatever somebody wants to do.<br /><br />Tell your sister thank you, and thank you for the comment.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-86923678101454667562014-09-21T21:55:53.938-05:002014-09-21T21:55:53.938-05:00Hi there, some how I got on to this blog because m...Hi there, some how I got on to this blog because my sister sent me it. But I just cant help but comment on the chicken VS rabbits subject. I live in the Mo. Ozarks on a self sufficient retreat and I raise chickens and rabbits for my meat source along with deer and fish in my stocked ponds and what I have found, speaking from just a cost factor, rabbits are the most profitable meat source I have ever raised not to mention the free deer I harvest each year. Two does and a buck is more than enough for a meat source. Each doe has four litters a year which average 24 babies for a total of 48 rabbits a year. I butcher after 12 weeks for 3 pounds of meat from each rabbit. I buy pellets and also feed grass hay that I grow along with clover that grows wild. My cost per pound ends up being $1.35. Try buying any kind of meat in the store and see what you pay. My chickens are a different story costing much more to feed and keep. They need much more room compared to the rabbits. I could go on and on about my self sufficient survival operation but time won't allow that. Good luck and thanks for reading from JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-28429171949344462242014-09-21T21:23:04.453-05:002014-09-21T21:23:04.453-05:00I enjoyed this post. I had been wondering about bu...I enjoyed this post. I had been wondering about butchering younger birds and it looks like it would work well. Your comment about the taste of home raised chicken as opposed to store chicken hit the nail on the head! It is almost like two different species.<br /><br />Thank you for the mention of the "Crazed" blog. Until you write it down you really don't know you have done so much or learned so much....and we haven't even got the new place yet.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-55490696310238363242014-09-21T14:21:50.910-05:002014-09-21T14:21:50.910-05:00Hello Alexander. Thank you for reading.
No, we ha...Hello Alexander. Thank you for reading.<br /><br />No, we have never tried raising rabbits. I believe in a collapse type situation, rabbits would be too difficult to maintain. Their diet requires more than we are capable of providing. We have researched them, though, and have decided to stay with chickens for that type of protein. <br /><br />Good luck on the urban environment, hope your garden goes well.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-58646487795798900912014-09-21T11:35:15.308-05:002014-09-21T11:35:15.308-05:00Hello Frank and Fern. Thank you for sharing your ...Hello Frank and Fern. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I wish I could raise ckickens, but live in a suburban situation in Florida. I do garden some. I am going to retry lettuce and chard seedlings again, just hope the deer leave them alone. Plan to try potaoes in January. Have you ever raised rabbits for protein?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520390392596252284noreply@blogger.com