Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
With spring upon us, the geese have been laying with enthusiasm. Though the laying season is short – really, just a few months – they provide plenty of big eggs. We’ve had them scrambled and in custard rice pudding…so why not hard-boiled? And why not in the Instant Pot (IP)?
Continue reading “Under Pressure: Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Goose Eggs”
It’s hatching day here on the farm and we have chicks working on emerging from the confines of their eggs. For me, hatching is always fun, gratifying, and a little stressful…but, in the end, definitely worthwhile.
Continue reading “In The Incubator: First Hatch Of 2022 Update”
It’s been a while since we posted about the delights of beef tongue. Yes, lengua tacos are nice, but tongue can be the basis for other toothsome dishes…like this super simple rice bowl.
Continue reading “Clean Eating: Tender And Terrific Tongue”
We value roosters here – as flock protectors (though effectiveness varies by rooster), fertilizers of eggs, and, when we have too many, food. We’ve found, over time, that even roosters that may initially seem mild-mannered can become real jerks and we don’t brook jerks on the farm. They go to “freezer camp”.
With each chicken egg hatch, around half of the chicks will be males. What to do with all of those cockerels? As we mentioned in an earlier post, you must have a plan for them or it can get real, fast: when cockerels’ hormones kick in, they can become a handful.
Continue reading “Slow Food: The Terroir Of Pastured Rooster”
We had a banner year for ducklings…between the two sets we incubated (with varying success) and two clutches incubated by broodies (much more successfully), we went from 5 total to 30+. Seriously.
The second set of eggs we incubated resulted in 5 total hatching – 4 drakes and a single duck. With each hatch, we know there’s a likelihood of at least half being male; unfortunately, not that many drakes are necessary for a self-sustaining flock. Consequently, the “extra” drakes must either be rehomed or culled.
The crux of it is that we have too many drakes now. As they reach about 5-6 months of age, their hormones kick into high gear and they begin chasing and grabbing the ducks.