This past March 1st was the day ten years ago that I got my first rabbits from Moonkitten. There was Adam, a blue NZ buck, Scarlett, a red NZ doe, a black doe and a white doe. A couple of years later I got my first chickens and for the last three years I have got turkeys each spring and processed them each fall and am looking forward to them again this year.
It's been an incredible journey with extreme highs and lows. Many times things have happened that had me bursting with happiness and unloading that on my family, friends and just about anyone who would listen...lol. There have also been times that had me so bitterly disappointed and upset that I was brought to tears. Going out to do chores in the morning and finding a new litter of baby rabbits can really make your day. Losing that litter because their Momma was an idiot can turn your day upside down.
I had a little silkie rooster (Strutz)and a gold laced cochin hen (Chicken Little) living together in the turkey shed one winter who I was looking forward to running around the yard the following spring when a mink got into the shed and killed them. She left nine eggs in the corner of the shed in the cold so in the off chance they would hatch I put them in the incubator not expecting anything but one hatched! I was over the moon with the funny looking tiny creature with the funny hair on it's head and feathered feet that slept on my shoulder while I lay on the couch and peeped at the top of it's lungs while it followed me around from room to room in the house. Three days later it died. I was crushed.
I've had rabbits and chickens die in my arms. I've picked up baby rabbits right out from under the mother still bloody and slippery from birth. I had a chicken lay an egg right in my hand. I was kneeling down outside the turkey shed on day and a full grown turkey flew/jumped up onto my shoulder then about a minute later it pooped right down the front of me, jacket, jeans and on my boot. They sure hold a lot of poop. I've raised about six chicks in the house and every one of them slept on my shoulder pressed up against my neck or on my chest as they got bigger.
I've learned to butcher all the animals and process the meat. I've learned about the reproductive lives and habits of all these animals, observed the social structures of the groups of animals and built and rebuilt the housing as I learned new things and got ideas about how to make improvements which would benefit me and the critters.
I started off on Homesteadingtoday and when this site was started I eagerly signed up. I couldn't have done it without the people on these forums. I"ve only met a couple people from this forum and I know I don't come here as often as I like but there are a lot of good people here and I feel comfortable here. I'm thankful for those who have taken the time to answer my questions and give advice over the years. I"m looking forward to continuing the journey and having more experiences. I currently have a litter of newborn rabbits in the kitchen...lol... turkey chicks will be in the basement at the end of April for two or three weeks until they get big enough to go outside... looks like the adventure continues...
It's been an incredible journey with extreme highs and lows. Many times things have happened that had me bursting with happiness and unloading that on my family, friends and just about anyone who would listen...lol. There have also been times that had me so bitterly disappointed and upset that I was brought to tears. Going out to do chores in the morning and finding a new litter of baby rabbits can really make your day. Losing that litter because their Momma was an idiot can turn your day upside down.
I had a little silkie rooster (Strutz)and a gold laced cochin hen (Chicken Little) living together in the turkey shed one winter who I was looking forward to running around the yard the following spring when a mink got into the shed and killed them. She left nine eggs in the corner of the shed in the cold so in the off chance they would hatch I put them in the incubator not expecting anything but one hatched! I was over the moon with the funny looking tiny creature with the funny hair on it's head and feathered feet that slept on my shoulder while I lay on the couch and peeped at the top of it's lungs while it followed me around from room to room in the house. Three days later it died. I was crushed.
I've had rabbits and chickens die in my arms. I've picked up baby rabbits right out from under the mother still bloody and slippery from birth. I had a chicken lay an egg right in my hand. I was kneeling down outside the turkey shed on day and a full grown turkey flew/jumped up onto my shoulder then about a minute later it pooped right down the front of me, jacket, jeans and on my boot. They sure hold a lot of poop. I've raised about six chicks in the house and every one of them slept on my shoulder pressed up against my neck or on my chest as they got bigger.
I've learned to butcher all the animals and process the meat. I've learned about the reproductive lives and habits of all these animals, observed the social structures of the groups of animals and built and rebuilt the housing as I learned new things and got ideas about how to make improvements which would benefit me and the critters.
I started off on Homesteadingtoday and when this site was started I eagerly signed up. I couldn't have done it without the people on these forums. I"ve only met a couple people from this forum and I know I don't come here as often as I like but there are a lot of good people here and I feel comfortable here. I'm thankful for those who have taken the time to answer my questions and give advice over the years. I"m looking forward to continuing the journey and having more experiences. I currently have a litter of newborn rabbits in the kitchen...lol... turkey chicks will be in the basement at the end of April for two or three weeks until they get big enough to go outside... looks like the adventure continues...