If you haven’t heard already, a unanimous vote by the Carlisle zoning board determined that our chickens are illegal and will not be permitted to stay with us.
I imagine you have noticed my post have been few and far between lately. We are undergoing some changes here on the backyard homestead that I will discuss further at a later date. Some of these changes will likely be life changing so I have directed much of my attention in the direction of these changes. I am not yet ready to discuss them publicly, but I assure you this will be an exciting time for Simple Prepping.
As far as the chickens go we are still up in the air of the fate of the eight. We are considering a few options. We have family with the facilities who would be happy to take them as well as some friends who would like some laying hens who are willing to share the eggs, but then the question of responsibility, who feeds, and “fairness” arises. We are also considering culling them for sustenance, but of course once they are gone that is all we get. Its chicken put away, but nothing else in the future. It is a hard decision to make. I am currently leaning towards the direction of canning and freezing. They are here to provide us with food so please spare me the sympathy comments. It is a good chance to put away some high quality free range and mostly organic chicken. I have thought about selling them at a swap or on Craigslist, but I don’t believe I will get out of them what I put in.
Another thought is to just keep them anyway. Sort of a chicken protest or maybe even descend into the ranks of the chicken underground and just hide them. Or should I say ascend? Of course I would never be able to speak of this openly, so what’s the fun in that?
So let me know what you think. Would you rather have some eggs coming in from off site or secure a good amount of meat? I am interested in hearing your experiences and your opinions in the comment section.
Have you considered Coturnix quail? You can raise them in an indoor rabbit cage, and as long as you have a broody silkie to hatch them or an incubator, you’re in meat and eggs for the long haul. Most places do not have any kind of a rule against quail. Three of their eggs equal one chicken egg. They aren’t too loud. They are pretty clean. They go from chick to full grown laying adult in five weeks. The eggs take only eighteen days to hatch. They don’t have a ton of meat but one bird is plenty of meat per person, and it’s great smoked, fried, or baked. Cleaning is EASY. It’s better than dealing with neighbors and a town that doesn’t get what you’re doing.
Thanks Kassandra. That’s a very good idea! I will have to look more into the quail. I wonder if one could consider them “livestock” or “poultry”. I’ll have to look into the space requirements more also, but I imagine I could throw those right in the existing pen. hmmm cool!
Kassandra,
Thanks for that info. I’ve never heard of Coturnix quail. I’m checking into it, also. They sound very interesting.
As for eggs or meat, I’d choose the meat. Where I live, farm raised eggs are pretty easy to get. Free range meat chickens are not.
Good point. We have many places around here selling fresh eggs.