Best BC Beef

Got our turkeys moved out of the brooder house today and into the movable outside pen. They are so happy. This meant we were able to let the chicks out of their ring and free to roam the brooder house. Some of them look like they are going to take of flying. They start running across flapping their wings, happy to have extra space. We are down to 12 hens, only getting 2-6 eggs a day. I guess that saves butchering them, just so annoyed that we don't catch the foxes in the act. There is a pair and at least 6 pups living across the road at the neighbors house. The nice retired man likes to watch them and he feeds them. Apparently, we are feeding them too.

I never thought I would have so many animals. The farm, yes! Me, no! We had 25 turkeys (one got out and was killed by our dog) we got 50 laying hens (chicks right now) and still have our 28 or so old hens which aren't laying so much...but any amount of eggs they squeeze out is better than no eggs at all! We sent 3 pigs to butcher so we are left with 9. Anessa has her horse. We have two dogs. We have at least 2 barn cats (cats are hard to keep track of) and my daughter was trying to convince me we need rabbits again. Chore time gets long enough when my kids are gone, not adding any more to the list at this time. But, really love this life!

Turkey poults coming soon. Need to do some predator proofing on our brooder area, but looking forward to having a summer project for Jonathan and Anessa to earn some extra money. Found out that this year pigs will require ear tags like cattle if we are transporting them to butcher. It's not that huge of a deal, but anyone raising anything for human consumption is required to have a BC Primary Residence ID#. Even if it is for your own consumption, if you transport your pig to a facility tags and a manifest will now be required. I don't think turkeys and chickens require a leg band or anything yet, but I will have to check on that.

Well, the fox ate all our new laying hens so now it's up to the older girls to keep us in eggs.

Anessa is a little warier than usual after the incident with Jonjon and the cow. I just can't seem to be able to hold the calf and tag at the same time so she had no choice but to swallow her nerves and help. She likes to do the banding of the bulls. I give the shot, then she bands, then I have her sit on the back while I sit on the front and pierce the ears. If she isn't holding the calf down with me those things can crawl away with me on top no problem. It really makes me reevaluate whether I want to shed those extra 15-20 pounds I find annoying. It's going to be that much easier for them to get away and that much harder for me to keep them still.