So for the past couple years I've been considering the idea of raising chickens. I thought it would be a great way to enjoy fresh eggs and meat. I would know where it came from and it would save me money and the food would likely be far better quality than what I can buy at the grocery store. During the past couple of weeks I started considering this more seriously and sought some advice on the matter. Some of the friendly people in the forums at Backyardchickens.com have been very helpful and have cleared up a couple of misconceptions that I had.
It turns out that it's fairly unlikely that raising my own chickens will save me money and could actually cost me more than store bought. My eggs will be cage-free organic eggs but I don't spend the money on cage-free organic eggs from the store now so I can't consider the cost of those kind of eggs. Even if I build a coop as cheaply as possible, the cost of grain will make up a good amount of the cost of the eggs I get. The eggs themselves won't start coming until five or six months from the time I actually get the little chicks.
There's also the matter of butchering. I really don't have the stomach for it and if I pay someone else to do it then I'm right back to where I started to it not being worth it financially. I also learned that most people butcher between eight and nine weeks which seemed awfully young to me but I'm certainly no expert.
After learning all of this I was still on the fence about whether or not this was going to be a good thing to pursue. Then another tainted food recall appeared on the local evening news. It seems that this is happening several times a year now where we can't trust the food that is being certified as safe to eat by the FDA. When I started to think about that and combined it with the massive inflation that many economists are expecting due to the government meddling in the economic system, I knew that I really didn't have a choice anymore. I knew that even if financially it doesn't work out better right away, that in a very short amount of time it could be a great investment and if safer, more nutritious food is the result then that is even better. So this Spring, I will most likely have some chickens and you will have a front row seat to all of my chicken escapades.
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8 comments:
will you be getting the chickens before or after your album comes out ?? :)
It seems to be taking you a week or more to contemplate chickens. What happened to the MWF posting schedule?
Russ Q
8 days contemplating chickens. When will we hear from Tim again? Has he died? Have the chickens revolted and attacked him? Where in the world is Timmy Sandiego? Stay tuned to the same bat channel for the exciting conclusion of 'Tim's Life'
Russ O
Would all the posers back down and get your own names. Though I agree with your content, have a big enough pair to put your own name.
Russ H
Dateline Tim Watch, Day 9
There is a cautious optimism among the crowds that Tim will come out of his hole today.
If he should poke his head out of his hole, speculators are saying that the effect will be similar to that of the rapidly approaching Groundhog Day.
Should Tim see his shadow today if he appears, readers can plan on 8-10 more days without posts. However, according to Miss Cluella the psychic, if he should happen to not see his shadow, readers can start expecting Tim to return to a MWF schedule.
So, depending on where Tim is located in the U.S., there is a 33% chance he will not see his shadow. The Russ who asked 'Where in the world is Timmy Sandiego?' was quite prescient in his question. Tim's location in the U.S. will have direct impact on the future posting volume.
We will keep a close watch on this developing situation, and will break in as necessary to keep everyone informed.
Until then, this is Russ G reporting, Peace Out.
Are you freaking kidding me? Another stupid impersonator. This not humorous in the least, use your own freaking names you cowards.
Russ H
My website seems to have become a magnet for people named Russ.
So it seems, what kind of retards are reading this thing?
Russ H
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