The geese are out in the small pen beside the barn during the day, and we’ve gotten our first goose eggs. We’re pulling the eggs from the geese to sell as eating eggs until we decide whether we want goslings. We still don’t have a slaughter facility that can handle plucking. We can process them if we skin them, however. I’m not sure whether anyone would buy skinned geese, though – crispy goose skin is so good! We’ve got a few more weeks to decide, as we need to keep the first few eggs from each goose anyway. Hatching rates are usually better for later eggs.
The chickens are also out most days now. It depends a little on what construction is going on. We don’t need chickens “helping” the workers build the shop! They love being out, and they’re starting to lay more eggs. The Hamburgs are still not doing well – this will be their last year. I’ve tried several varieties from several places, but none have thrived, so they’re off the list as egg-laying chickens. The real stars are the Golden Campines. They’re tough chickens, and they’re laying well now – they have been all winter. The Brown Leghorns are also doing fairly well, as are the Brabanters. It’s nice to see the chickens enjoying their first grass and bugs after such a long, hard winter.
