This morning R and I loaded all the white chickens into crates and all the turkeys into another taller crate. Thanking each one individually. Heaved them up onto the back of the truck and off they went to a small local bird abbatoir.
They call them (abbatoirs) lockers here but I am not sure why.
I load in darkness so the birds do not panic. My trusty torch (flashlight) on low and aimed into a corner for a reflected glimmer. R said I don’t see well in the dark. You will soon, I told her. And she did.
People who live in towns are often afraid of the dark especially when there is only a sliver of a moon.
The turkeys loaded beautifully much to my relief.
John does the driving and R is riding along as they are her fowl. And I am doing chores. Reduced chores!
Don’t let your breath out yet though as I am loading the plonkers in next. Tomorrow.
Boo and I found another possum in the barn yesterday and much to his disgust I was able to save it. Here it is pretending to be dead.
As it was already in a container (fell in looking to steal the feed) it was easy to put the lid on and move it elsewhere for release. Possums do not hibernate but it is time she found somewhere else to get out of the cold. it was in the bottom of the torpedo canister. (Technically it is the torpedoes accelerant canister but / you know. You remember the ones.
So I loaded her up and relocated her. Still they scare me with those awfully long noses and rows of razer sharks teeth and tails without hair.
And here is my sun. Coming up.
Chores will be early this morning.
Today I will clean up after the meat chickens. And begin preparations for shifting this mob of hogs tomorrow. I will walk them to the barn and load them up there. What could go wrong?
Though you know me. Everything will be organized with military precision. Farm chess.
Go HERE for the weekends photographs plus I talk more about how I am retraining my nose to smell again.
And the wonderful walk about! Pop over!
Have a great day!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
15 responses to “Starting at Four in the AM”
The best thing about loading the chooks in the dark is that they’re dopey – and empty. Dressing an empty chicken is so much easier. You have a long day ahead of you, Miss C, I hope you have a good sleep before another early start tomorrow. That is a beautiful winter sunrise.
The work load will lessen a bit after tomorrow. But no doubt your work list will grow as you get the Farmy ready for winter. We are still quite warm here, but the leaves 🍁 are definitely falling.
Playing possum!
That’s what the possum was saying under its breath.
Well done Celi. We’ll all breath a sigh of relief for you when the plonkers are loaded up tomorrow and off your hands. We currently have a possum living under our shed and ravaging our bird feeders. Time to set up the ‘have a heart’ trap and take its furry self to another area. The question is where…local fish and game have very strict rules about where to unload/release the caught culprits!
I can see why they would have rules. They are a menace when they are feeding themselves in the city. but where do they belong? I took mine to another of the family farms that has no stock. So I can only complain to myself.
The only thing I have to say about today’s post is that possums are the ugliest animals on the face of the planet. LOL
Right? They really are. It’s like god said to her toddler – sure – you can have a go but only one – OK? You can use these left overs bits.
Have you ever looked at some insects up close? If Bill Gates and others have their way, the insects may replace the beef in the stores.
get up and get ‘er done! you are on it and with less creatures to tend to on the farm it should get easier, but of course new seasonal chores ahead
At least the possum made it convenient for you by falling into the container. Love the pic of Boo standing guard 🙂
Abattoir comes from the French for slaughterhouse. Possums scare me too with those long noses and LOTS of teeth. However, they are useful animals for eating other pests. Goodbye to the chickens and turkeys or in French, adieu.
I have possums, too, occasionally. I like them. This morning, I read on Facebook that possums can handle bites from poisonous snakes, and they eat ticks like they are candy! I don’t know if it’s true, but I’m glad you relicated him.
Three in the last two days. All over at the big farm now where there is no stock. No wonder we had no eggs!
Think of all the ticks they may be eating . . .