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Post by woodyz on Mar 18, 2018 9:41:51 GMT -7
I have one calf left to butcher sometime in the fall.
Based on my last costs for raising and butchering calves I have decided that will be my last one.
I didn't lose money, but on a per # bases with the cuts we "don't prefer" included, its no longer cost effective for me.
Pigs is a different story. I will still raise 2 or 3 "batches" but I am cutting the numbers down to 5/10/5. Which will actually increase my cost per # as volume is the only economical way to go.
Next year I may even stop raising pigs. No body else wants to "take over" the effort, so I am just going to quit doing it.
Another victim of age and health
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Post by thywar on Mar 18, 2018 11:11:38 GMT -7
Maybe you could let some FFA or 4-H kids use your space and teach them things in exchange for a hog or two. Teach women in a battered shelter home how to raise animals. Of course there are risks in letting outsiders on your property. Just kicking some ideas around.
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Post by ColcordMama on Mar 19, 2018 15:22:38 GMT -7
Chickens. They're the most cost effective meat to raise IMHO. Layers as long as they produce, then into the crockpot for 6 or 7 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Small footprint of space, keep them penned up so you don't lose any to dogs or traffic, feed them scraps and weeds in addition to bags of lay formula. Get little harnesses so you can take them for walks on a leash.
Just kidding about that last one. But man I sure do love being a chicken mommy.
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Post by sirderrin on Mar 19, 2018 16:17:51 GMT -7
Chickens. They're the most cost effective meat to raise IMHO. Layers as long as they produce, then into the crockpot for 6 or 7 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Small footprint of space, keep them penned up so you don't lose any to dogs or traffic, feed them scraps and weeds in addition to bags of lay formula. Get little harnesses so you can take them for walks on a leash.Just kidding about that last one. But man I sure do love being a chicken mommy. Why kid? chicken harnessYou can even bring them in the house with no mess.. chicken diaper |
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Post by thywar on Mar 19, 2018 17:32:33 GMT -7
Chickens. They're the most cost effective meat to raise IMHO. Layers as long as they produce, then into the crockpot for 6 or 7 hours until the meat falls off the bone. Small footprint of space, keep them penned up so you don't lose any to dogs or traffic, feed them scraps and weeds in addition to bags of lay formula. Get little harnesses so you can take them for walks on a leash.Just kidding about that last one. But man I sure do love being a chicken mommy. Why kid? chicken harnessYou can even bring them in the house with no mess.. chicken diaperUh...NO!!! Some animals just are NOT supposed to be THAT domesticated. No wonder this world is screwy. Lol. I can see it now. 'You HAVE to let my chicken on this plane, it's a service chicken!!' Might as well move to some sh!t hole country and ride the 20 passenger bus along with 38 other people and their menagerie of animals. Yeah I'm a believer of let animals be animals. |
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Post by sirderrin on Mar 19, 2018 18:11:10 GMT -7
LOL it is all the rage in Hollywood these days:P I am certain you would want to follow the current trends of the "socialist" liberals
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Post by ColcordMama on Mar 20, 2018 0:11:25 GMT -7
ROFLMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by cajunlady87 on Mar 27, 2018 14:56:45 GMT -7
That's exactly what I got out of this thread from you goofballs. Woodyz, sell it all, I mean all. Buy a travel bus, hire a chauffeur and hit the road Jack and don't you come back no mo, no mo, no mo, no mo!!!!!!!!!!!  |
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Post by woodyz on Mar 27, 2018 17:43:44 GMT -7
I have had my chickens/ducks/guinea fowl killed off every year
I have trapped/killed/poisoned dogs/cats/yotes/fox/coons/etc every year and still lost them.
My Son and I re-enforced the main run and coop and have 7 new hens about 2 months old, so far they are fine
We have to haul water to them right now as the self-filling hog waterier used in our auto-water system froze when we abandoned it last fall and we have parts ordered.
those 7 chicks drink a gallon a day.
So far they are ok, it was a little early to buy chicks so we kept them in the house the first month then kept a light on them at the coop on a timer. Will keep it on till after Easter, then they are on their own for heat.
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Post by ColcordMama on Mar 27, 2018 21:39:26 GMT -7
In case you didn't get it the first ten times I said it, I love you people. Goofballs all, wouldn't have it any other way. You're such a blessing to this old grandma.
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