Ok.  I want to become more self sufficient.  I have 4 bantie chickens and can't imagine killing any of them, plucking the feathers, cutting them up, cooking them, and eating them.  I think with each bite, I'd see there face in my mind.

How does one go about raising chickens for the freezer?  How do you get used to killing them and all of that?  Is it something that gets easier over time?

I thought about asking my neighbor to do it (she's a lady but I know she has done that kind of stuff), but I'd feel really silly about that.

Give me some tips all you fellow homesteaders please

and thank you all so much!!

There are 100's of what I would call ladybugs swarming around our place and they bite.  Any ideas what's going on?

Country Blessings,
Jamie

For more info, see this post:

http://codyscountry.net/blog/?p=380

I got a new Digital Camera and I think I'm really gonna like it!  I've had an Olympus C-765 for the last 4 years and it's a very nice one, but doesn't have some of the features that I want, and me, being the electronics junkie that I am, thought it was time to get a new one.   I got a Canon Powershot S5 IS.  Of course, by the time I got home it was dark out, so here are a couple of outdoor night mode pics.

Grass & Flowers that I could hardly see in the dark

Our 'Ford Flower'

Well, we've had our guineas and chicks for 2.5 weeks.  The guineas have feathers all over them and are trying their hand at flying in their box.  I told my husband last night that if we don't get the pen built soon, we'll come home some day to guineas flying all over our house.  Well, I'm sitting here at my puter today, the box is just next to my computer area.  I here this commotion and look down, and a guinea is on the side of the box.

I read that when you let guineas out for the first time, don't let them directly outside to run loose at first, or they may end up down the street.  The best way to acclimate them is to pen them where they can see the area where they will be living.  After they've been penned for a week or two, let one out.  Guineas hate to be alone, so that one won't go far, but it will learn it's way around your place.  After a few days, let another out to run with it.  If they stay around, it's usually safe to let the others out shortly after.

Country Blessings,
Jamie