Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Pic?
Or is it in your thread? What page?

Does that mean you actually have a piggy already?

Still shopping for the right one Bullwinkle

I recommend a heritage breed, but since you're not breeding, don't bother with one that's registered. The older breeds are meant to be raised on small farms. They tend to be thrifty and hardy.

This summer I raised Tamworths (see Bullwinkle's thread a few pages back). When my apple trees start producing more I may try Gloucestershire Old Spots.

I want to try saddle backs one day....

Are the bunnies and chickens [and pig] for the plate, or just to create a shop zoo?

You'll love having a pig as a garden plot digger. They are amazing. Ours could put his nose down, and dig in dryish Adelaide dirt up to his eyes, and just walk forward like a ripper behind a tractor. Roots would snap, or he'd stop to eat them, and the soil was loose and not brought up in clumps like with a spade.

They also drop all their nutrient in one place. We often saw ours running home from the other side of the property 500 metres away in desperation to get to his chosen toilet spot. Obviously they dont read, and have never heard they're meant to be dirty.

Having said that they do love dirt and mud.

Friends thought we were doing them some great favour by bringing them pig manure, because they thought we spent hours collecting it when really if was just 10 shovel loads from the one spot into a bag

You can encourage the toilet to be in a spot that suits you by moving the soil and recent manure from the pigs choice, to your choice.

That way you can make it right next to the compost heaps to be added as desired.

Mmmm
I have to think hard about this one! The rabbits have been bred for eating, 5 are in the freezer, one in tonights dinner and 5 still hopping, their days are numbered. We have bred chickens and have some nice varieties, those that crow will be cooked unless someone wants to buy them or they are to become the breeding stock. Someone enquired today about buying some of the older chickens, not quite laying yet, I tried to say that they were not for sale yet, but have been told I am not allowed to keep them all They all had a laugh at that including the cuctomer, who promised she would love them and give them a good home.
The pig is to be a pet, Eddy (dear husband) is not supportive of killing the animals and thinks I am heartless, so I don't do it at home.
The idea of the quails is for both meat and eggs, of the 10 that have made it to adults 8 are possible males, only 2 are egg layers. Not much meat on them compared to rabbits or chickens and the effort has been far greater as well as the associated costs.
It is all another learning curve and has been an enjoyable experience. I was seriously meant to be on a farm, but this is as close as I will probably get, so I just do what I can.

Todays harvest consists of another 3/4 bucket of tomatoes and a handy sized zuchini.
Tomatoes are being made in to a pasta sauce that is sending aromas all through the house.
Yesterday I finished making the 1.5 litres of Piccalilli and making up 3 jars. It is quite like a sweet mustard pickle made with zucchini, onion, capsicum and cauliflower plus a few extra bits. Needs to wait a week before eating.

I almost went with a saddleback! The man I purchased my pigs from had a few. It was tempting because they look so much like my cows (belted galloways).

All our slaughtering is done whilst hubby is off premises and kids hid in their rooms. They all enjoyed last nights Pork Riblets Braised in Vietnamese Caramel Sauce http://chubbyhubby.net/blog/?p=198 though!

Lol, so you know what it's like then cjinVT

Do the kitchen varieties of rabbit taste like wild (import) Australian rabbit? I've never had one of those domesticated ones. They look huge.

A few years ago, an old digger told me to remove the gamey strip from around the backbone to give the ferrel ones a more delicate flavour, and it worked. But I'm guessing the domestic ones are a little more refined in flavour.

Out of the first batch of rabbits that we processed, 6 out of the 7 weighed more than 1kg, that is meat and bone. I have never bought rabbit, imported or otherwise and of the ones that I have eaten over the last year they are more like chicken and seem to take on the flavour of what they are cooked in. Tonights rabbit is in the crock pot with the homemade tomato sauce, garlic and red wine. For the record the tomato sauce that I cooked up is absolutely divine, I think the rabbit stew will be delightful and perhaps tomorrows lunch.

Aaaand the BYAP cookbook comes out... when?

The test kitchens are working overtime Mr Bill whilst gathering pics and content

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk pics and