Chicken Confidential- part 3- A Qualitative Difference
One of the 2009 class of broilers
Mike and the kids caught the 75 free-range broiler chickens we've been raising this summer, put them in the chicken crates he made, and took them to Ashby Minnesota to be butchered. The one in the picture skipped the trip to Ashby.
We've learned a lot about raising chickens and it shows! I hope you can see how yellow this bird is- a striking difference from last year's chicken.
This year we didn't use the portable chicken coop- moving it daily around the farmyard. We just let the chickens run wild. They were smarter, more interesting, less concentrated manure, and ate more diverse food. They showed instincts- like diving under a car or propane tank when a hawk flew over. We even lost fewer birds this year. And I think they are tastier... They were "finished off" on crab apples. The chickens just hung out eating apples all day long the last couple weeks.
We made old-fashioned fried chicken (dipped in eggs- then into our hand ground Big Stone County wheat) and it tasted divine as part of a traditional August farmhouse dinner- slice tomatoes and cucumbers, sweet corn, fried chicken, and cilantro tossed rice (okay- not traditional). Everything but the salt, pepper and rice was grown on our farm. Topped the meal off with some Black Current Wine (for me and Leona) and a Summit Pale Ale for Mike.
Enjoying the fruits of summer's labor...
Comments
I remember my youngin days of raising chicken. They almost felt like pets, but it was an odd relationship though since I had no qualms about eating them either lol. I do miss my hometown of Minnesota though.
Posted by: Ethiopian News | September 25, 2009 6:29 AM
Evan,
Why don't you and Linda come out to our farm and tell us first hand about what you are up to. I was going to temp you with a fishing trip but Mike just informs me the fishing is "miserable" in Big Stone County this year.
We could set you up with a year's worth of chickens too. Seriously Evan - I hope to be able to learn from you first hand.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | September 5, 2009 6:41 PM
hi Yall! Hade a chance to talk to your Mom the other day -Told her a couple things about what I'm doing here. She'll clue you in sometime. I can almost taste the chicken in the picture; Were buying open range birds from a private party. People out there. There "Ain't nothin better"
Posted by: Evan Schmeling | September 2, 2009 9:10 PM
Oh, one of your employees made us fridg. cheese Mexican style ever had it? Looks gross. Tell the boys that jasons arm hurts too.
Jason says hey girls.
Posted by: Kelley | September 1, 2009 9:28 AM
Kell,
Your meal sounds great! I haven't put garlic on the grill- will have to try that. I have a crate full of garlic.
I'm getting to be obsessive/fanatic about eating meals from our farm. They boys had their shots today and it was traumatic for all 5 of us. When we got home about 5 pm I just wanted easy/simple dinner.
I made pasta with fresh basil from the garden. Sauted a chicken breast (save one from the yesterda) cut in cubes, tomatoes, salad from our second planting of gourmet blend lettuce, and some homemade mozzarella with basil leaves on sourdough bread. Yah--- keep it simple. Actually it was pretty easy.
Boys have sore arms but are better.
Posted by: Kathy | August 31, 2009 9:45 PM
Sounds good. We have eaten most meals from the garden. I never thought I would hear myself say that I was a total vegan last week. As I looked at the chickens eating my tomatos agian I decided to eat meat today. No, No, I didn't kill my chicken but we did have chicken on the grill with fresh sweetcorn potatoes and onions with garlic cooked on the grill. Yum.
Posted by: Kelley | August 31, 2009 6:06 PM
Indeed. Enjoying the fruits of the summer labor.
Posted by: Dr.Ethiopia | August 30, 2009 7:50 AM