Experiments at KTS Acres

Today at KTs acres weather to wet to do anything at the land. Chickens are all well and digging up my veg patch quite nicely.

So today is about experimentation with last years produce. River Cottage Food U tube on sky and her we go.

First up was a Leg of Pork - Making ham is the intention. The leg of pork 1.6kg is curing in salt. £ days per KG -  near enough 5 days using river cottage recipe. for more info search u tube making ham. not much to see below but lets wait and see.

Next up Making Prosciutto with Pork Belly. The below is sitting in my fridge as per river cottage food tube recipe

Then there are my salami s that I started a while ago coming on well

All go at KTs Acres

Finally internet has arrived at new house. Mean while KTs acres are being planned. So far Chickens have their patch  they are in what is going to be my veg patch. Why dig when you have chickens to dig and fertilise your patch.

Todays project was not only building pig arc but joining two broken pig arcs and creating a big animal shelter for the sheep. They are going to be pampered as usual.

 

Water trough added. Now just project gate to deal with before my ladies the sheep can move in. New gate posts and gate required. Which is in hand Hopefully sheep will join the chickens all pregnant after a visit from the Ram.

So all going to plan down at the acres. All excited for the prospect of the next 5 years in KT's acres.

Busy summer

It's been a big gap since I last wrote a blog. I still have a smallholding. I have been busy finding and moving house and smallholding. I have a field for a long let and the animals other than the sheep have moved in. Chickens loving their new home. Sheep are still on their holidays. So day one of the new smallholding project stated yesterday. Going to call it kts acre! 

The new house is lovely a lot more suitable. I have salami in the process of being made from my pig and lamb. Had some delicious home grown pig, lamb and chicken. So I made it know where my meat comes from. Let the journey continue and you lot are coming with me virtually at kts acre! 

Unexpected fertility

I went into the field this evening to check up on the sheep and what did I see a lamb! what a lovely surprise. Didn't think mum was old enough teenage pregnancy.

Baby Chicks are now in the nursery pen outside and loving it and getting bigger.

Live Cockeral Hat

Came out this am to find my hen has actually hatched a chick. It was pretty doubtful at many time along the way. She laid on these eggs on a perch near to next doors dogs out in the elements. She had 12 eggs she was down to 5 as she kept accidentally knocking a few off the perch when she left the nest at feeding times. she now has 7 eggs so she is laying eggs whilst hatching chicks.

I took the decision today to move her off the ledge into the nursery. I risky decision as very high risk of her going off the eggs. This is balanced with chicks falling off the ledge when they hatch and dying. Touch dilemma. Anyway I lifted mum and eggs and baby chick all at the same time and put her in the nursery coop. Phew Mum hasn't rejected chick or eggs. Whilst doing it out of protection cockerel flew and landed on my head and shoulders to see what I was doing with his lady and child. All is well in the chicken coop now.

Chickens for eating

This blog is a diary of my life as a smallholder and my smallholding is about knowing where my food comes from.. This is about eating my chickens so if you veggie or don't want to read its time to move away from this blog until the next post.

I have chick births today and yesterday. Its also been a sad day but a time to mark out of respect to the animals that I raise for food,.I had some very kind friends who are licenced to dispatch Chickens come round this afternoon. I had far too many cockerels  and had to dispatch two of my cockerels. There was no horror story they are very professional. They stunned the birds within seconds no pain no trauma. Very dignified and they had a happy life.

I then plucked the chickens. I have plucked pheasants but never a chicken. Lot easier with a chicken in my opinion. Then removed all the inner bits. Considered saying the livers but didn't in the end. The two Birds are now in my freezer. Need a couple of days before I will look forward to the meat.

I have to admit its taken me 4 years to get to this point of been able to dispatch my own chickens.

Time to check on the other 4 hatching chicks in the incubator

Chicks a hatching

Yesterday on day 19 I think! The first hatched now up to 5 and another 4 breaking through.

5 in their new warm home