Chicken Herder

This was the first Labor Day I ever recall working. I was on my own for most of it, but with only 13 turkeys to process, it wasn’t a big deal. John, a buddy from church, hung out for a while, just chatting, but then decided to plunge in for processing fun. He has been a game hunter in the past, so this was no stretch for him (though it may have seemed a bit unsportsmanlike). With his help, and a couple tips from Will and Sue (some farmer friends/mentors), the day actually ended earlier than I had projected…a FarmerSam first.

We still have one or two turkeys left. Most people don’t have access to as many refrigerators and freezers as we do, and so don’t have the option of storing a frozen turkey for two and a half months. If you want one, it’s not too late! Next year I will schedule the turkeys to reach processing weight the week before Thanksgiving, and will probably take orders in the spring, so stay tuned.

We didn’t do many turkeys this year (although 30 sounded like a ton when I was ordering them!).  At the time I post this, all but four are spoken for.  These are pasture-raised, all natural turkeys.  The cost is $3 per pound.  According to the books, I should have a range of weights from 15-25 pounds.  If you want a turkey, please fill out the order form.  Most of the turkeys are spoken for, so get your request in quickly.  I will honor requests in the order they come in on my website.

Important Note: I am going to be processing the turkeys on Labor Day (the 7^th, this coming Monday), and I will need to you pick-up that day in the afternoon.  I will begin processing around 7:00 am, so I am hoping to be finished with them no later than 2:00 pm.  When you order, please let me know what time you will be coming by to pick up your turkey.  The earlier you pick up, the more likely you are to get the size you want!

In all the craziness of processing week, we failed to report that our egg flock is here.  One hundred cheeping chicks arrived in their slatted cardboard travel boxes on Friday, August 21^st at the Lake Villa Post Office (we’ve been quite the hit at the post office this summer). 

These chickens are beautiful…tan ones, yellow ones, reddish ones, black ones with white on their heads,  beaver-stripy ones, owly-looking ones, and a grey one.  We ordered 75 chicks that will eventually lay brown eggs, and 25 that will lay blue.  Here are some pictures of them when they came.  Very soft and fluffy. 

Here are some pictures of them now, two weeks later.  As you can see, they are getting their big girl feathers and Farmer Sam had to put a net over the top of their brooder because they were clearing the walls with their little hop-flights.  They’re going outside tomorrow or Friday.

Obviously they are months away from actually laying any eggs.  Maybe January.  We are really excited about these chickens and providing our community with fabulous eggs.  And for now, they are providing some great entertainment value.