January 2010 Egg Count

93 eggs for the month. Not too bad for a COLD January.

The tally is in!

A couple of weeks ago we butchered our first two pigs- both miniature pigs. They are regular pigs, but bred so that they are much smaller. Each one weighed probably 60-70 lbs (versus our other two are at 150-200 lbs). Here's how much meat we got from the two and it's estimated worth:

Ribs = 7 lbs
Back = 11 lbs
Front Hock = 13 lbs
Back Hock = 13.5 lbs
Total: 44.5 lbs of meat

Estimated retail value = $264
Cost to purchase/raise the pigs = $87
Net Profit = $177
Total estimated time to care for the pigs = 8.75 hours

Not to bad for two miniature pigs. Can't wait to see how much we get from the big pigs!

Egg count

Yeah - now we're talkin'! 36 eggs. But the weather is starting to get cold again. Hope it warms back up soon.

New farmer

Well, it's official.  We have another edition to the farmstead crew.  We went to the doctor today to confirm I that I am 7-weeks pregnant and the baby looks healthy! 

On or around Sept 16th, we'll have a major culture shift around our house, but how exciting!  We are both so excited at the prospect of raising a child that appreciates where his/her food comes from, how to grow it with their own hands (chemical free of course) and hopefully will want to carry on this way of life.

Yet another chick!

This morning all of the chicks looked fine. I checked them around lunchtime and one is really weak and looked nearly dead. I checked his bum and it looked just fine. I tried dipping his beak in water and tried to get him to eat. A few minutes later he died in my hand. I have no idea why. Sigh.

2 more chicks...

Two more of our baby chicks died today. We think the culprit is 'pasty butt'. We've been diligently watching and wiping behinds now.

Egg count

Much better this week - 29! The warmer weather seems to be helping.

Lost a chick :(

One of the chicks was very sick and weak looking when we opened the box. We were hoping for the best, but he didn't make it. So sad! :(

Awe.... baby chicks....

Here is the new gang!

The chicks are here! The chicks are here!

The post office just called to tell us our chicks arrived. Dan's on the way to pick them up now...

Chicks are born!

Today is the day that Ideal Poultry says our chicks are supposed to be hatched and shipped. YAY!

Butchering Day

Today is the day to butcher our two miniature pigs. They're about as big as they're going to get AND they keep escaping from their pen. Here is the process...

Egg count

Well, it hasn't gotten any worse. In fact, more than double of last week - 11 total.

Awaiting our new arrival!

Last month Dan ordered a straight run of 36 chickens. We also ordered 2 Buff Orphingtons and 4 Ameraucanas - the Easter egg chicken. Can't wait until they arrive next week! Hopefully we'll have eggs from them by late June of this year!

Egg count

Can it get any worse? 5 eggs for the WHOLE week!

Tiny egg!

Look our tiny little egg we got today. We assumed it wouldn't have a yolk, but we cracked it open and it did... it was just a tiny version of a regular egg.

Egg count

For our first week of 2010 (only 2 days) we got 2 eggs. Sigh.