Penelope Penguin hatches some eggs - update for 2011 at post 194!

Ladygrim

Just found this thread - great pics, really made me smile.

PenPen, how are they all doing? Any new pics?

LG

Shez

Darcy is looking very dapper!!! hope he's not getting hen-pecked by those two old birds!:rotfl:

I think we should have a "caption competition" for the second photo!!

Penelope_Penguin

Shez wrote: »

I think we should have a "caption competition" for the second photo!!

Great idea - can you start, only unprintable ideas are springing to my mind

Penny. x

Ladygrim

How about

"The eggs-factor debate continues?"

LG

pavlovs_dog

PenPen - sorry to be morbid but what do you do with the bird in the event of them going to the great chicken coop in the sky? i assume you rear them for their eggs rather than their meat, but could you eat them, if you wanted to? or is it a case of them not being safe to eat if they have died?

AussieLass

*Hurry up and grab the axe. Sissy's chatting up MY Darcy*.

Penelope_Penguin

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

PenPen - sorry to be morbid but what do you do with the bird in the event of them going to the great chicken coop in the sky? i assume you rear them for their eggs rather than their meat, but could you eat them, if you wanted to? or is it a case of them not being safe to eat if they have died?

No probs, PD! When we first had them the children wanted to bury the hens, but to be perfectly honest, over the years we've lost so many (all but 4 to natural causes in their old age) we'd soon run out of room. So they go into the bin, I'm afraid Unless you're completely sure what they died of, they're simply not safe to eat.

Most of the hens we've had have been egg layers, so no chance of any decent meat from them. The ones we have currently are *dual purpose* so can be table birds as well as egg-layers. We're currently keeping all of them -1 cockerel and the rest are hens. We've been lucky in not hatching too many cockerels, but that's likely to change in the future.

Our long-term plan is to have a smallholding with several other varieties of poultry, and pigs, kept for their meat. There'll be no room for *passengers*, so we need to be aware that the fate of much of the livestock will be the pot. We'll be doing this on a budget, so though the smallholding won't necessarily need to pay its way entirely, we won't be keeping pets (even the dog will be a gun-dog, and the cats will be mousers ).

Penny. x

Penelope_Penguin

've just been reading on another thead some [STRIKE]childish squabbling [/STRIKE]lively discussion between 2 posters - you know who you are Aussie and Churchie

To put your minds at rest, none of our girls will find their way to the pot or table - they're far too valuable laying eggs. And Darcy won't be going that way, either. We need him for his *coquerel duties* :eek: :whistle: :whistle:

Penny. x

Churchmouse

:T :j :A :T :j :A

Thank you PenPen!! See I told that [strike]evil[/strike] [strike]naughty[/strike] wonderful person that is AussieLass that you'd NEVER consider Mouse for the table :rotfl: :rotfl: And obviously she needs Darcy, but I'm not sure she wants to share:o

AussieLass

I always knew Darcy wasn't going in the pot. He's getting worked to death as it is.

No need to tell fibs to spare Churchmouse Pen Pen. Enjoy your Christmas lunch.