Falling Down Heights, my daily life

[JacinLarkwell]

Going into winter, I think I have 13 Muscovy (three drakes and ten hens), six Quackers (one drakes and five hens as I think I will end up culling Derpy), and five Calls (three drakes and two hens).

Then there's nine OEGB, four Brahma, six bantam Cochin, three Chantecler (grrrrrrr!) and four BYM hens, including Rudy. Plus that spotty cockerel who is heading for the freezer in about a month.

Two obnoxious geese that refuse to get along with anyone else so they'll need their own pens.

As for rabbits, there are currently 13 meat, and two mini Rex, but the Rex doe may give birth this week and some of the 13 need to be processed. I'm probably holding back one doe from the six juveniles. There's also one adult buck I should do but he is so friendly! Not proven though even though he's almost 3 years old. Kept telling myself to cull him since Spring but it still hasn't happened.

And of course three kitties and one large dog.

I spend more on animal feed than food for me!

Rabbits are great at acting the opposite if how they look. Beautiful show rabbits put the one from Monty Python to shame and obvious culls are little lap dogs

 

[Canadian Wind]

Those darn wings. The fact my nose hasn't been broken yet astounds me after all this time

Same! And then it had the audacity to bleed all over me! He wasn't going down without a fight, or at least some sort of revenge. Can't blame him, especially since he was *this* close to being kept for breeding.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Rabbits are great at acting the opposite if how they look. Beautiful show rabbits put the one from Monty Python to shame and obvious culls are little lap dogs

Exactly. He's such a sweet old boy.

I've found that the females are the ones more prone to being nasty. Once had a beautiful black Lionmane with the meanest temperament. The day she sunk her teeth into me was the day she went to freezer camp.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Exactly. He's such a sweet old boy.

I've found that the females are the ones more prone to being nasty. Once had a beautiful black Lionmane with the meanest temperament. The day she sunk her teeth into me was the day she went to freezer camp.

I had a Japanese harlequin doe named Angel. Little did I know when I named her that that it was short for "Angel of pain and violence". From the nestbox, she was nasty

 

[Canadian Wind]

DONE! For today.

Still a lot of work, but much less than plucking. Easier on my arthritic hands too.

I took my time with the second one, trying to get as intact a skin as possible. Saw someone on here that treats the skins with the feathers on and makes wall art with it. This duck was pretty with his chocolate barred feathers and I may try to make something similar. I also liked this fella; he almost died twice last year from the cold (in FALL!) but made it through winter. Lost a few toes to frostbite too. He had a meek and gentle personality. Gonna miss him.

One thing I noticed, and I don't know if it was because he was on forage much longer than the other (since late Spring compared to just a month) or if it was age (year+ old compared to four months) but he had much more fat! The younger drake barely had any. Also, just like with rabbits, older ones are harder to skin.

 

[Canadian Wind]

TOO COLD! And it's just starting. Indoor temps in the trailer are 15c/60f with both heaters going. Was unable to get anything to help the situation yet. Sucks to be broke.

Left forearm is still sore and there's a lump where the drake winged me but no bruise yet. Doesn't hurt as much as yesterday.

Dreading having to do two more today. My whole body hurts, especially my feet and ankles. Almost looking forward to doing the rabbits as they are so much easier. Just mentally it's more difficult.

 

[TwoCrows]

TOO COLD! And it's just starting. Indoor temps in the trailer are 15c/60f with both heaters going. Was unable to get anything to help the situation yet. Sucks to be broke.

Left forearm is still sore and there's a lump where the drake winged me but no bruise yet. Doesn't hurt as much as yesterday.

Dreading having to do two more today. My whole body hurts, especially my feet and ankles. Almost looking forward to doing the rabbits as they are so much easier. Just mentally it's more difficult.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Procrastinating going out there. I dispatched today's ducks and they are waiting for me to finish with the processing. My hands are already cramping just thinking about it.

And there's still four more after! Two more days of this. Wish I had someone to help. Or just to keep me company.

 

[TwoCrows]

Wish I had someone to help. Or just to keep me company.

More hugs.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Done. Wasn't as bad as anticipated. Even took the time to quarter on of them and debone the other. Takes less room in the freezer that way and is more easily portioned so I don't have to cook a whole bird.

Dogs got wing treats