Poultry swap

I mentioned in my last post that we added 4 ducks and were selling most of the chickens. For good reason...

My little homestead is in town. It's a small town that has a lot of rules allowing small livestock. I also have more flexability because of the specific zoning of my property.

One restriction that was limiting me was a ban on roosters. My hens were never going to hatch chicks. I would always be buying chicks.

However, a drake is allowed. My duck hens can hatch cute little ducklings whenever I let them. Those ducklings can grow into new layers for us, a replacement drake as needed, a yummy dinner or be sold for profit (or to at least make up for the cost of feed.)

Since my goal is be as cost efficient as possible and have as many income streams as possible, the switch seemed like the most logical step to take for us.

Whenever you see a limit or block in your path, brainstorm and find a way to overcome the obstical. It may not be what you thought you'd do, but don't get caught up in the details and keep your eyes on your goal!

Oh the changes!

I promise one of these days I'll get better about updating this blog.

There have been a lot of changes and yet nothing has changed. We're still us, with the same goals, ideals, values, morals and struggles. So here we go....

The switch to GF has been a challenge to my budget. I'm figuring it out slowly, but it took my $450 average grocery bill up to about $575. After this months big shop, my total is already at $540. I have $20 set aside for food the rest of this month. Good thing the pantry is full! Next months goal is an even $500 for the month.

I made the choice to pull Dakota out of school. His weak immune system and horrible asthma combined, he was never going to make the attendence requirements. He handled it well and we got to keep his curriculum, so hopefully next week we will be back to homeschooling. I am incredibly excited to be homeschooling at least one munchkin!

The homestead has been busy! Bought a goat buck and got both does bred! Come March we will have sweet little kids and fresh milk! We're breeding holland lops again. Our meat rabbit herd got a new sure and has welcomed numerous litters. Even the garden was still trying, Octobet yeilded 4 yams and 2 zuchinni! Biggest change is the welcoming of 4 ducks and the farewell we will say to 28 chickens today! I'll explain in another post why that change is happening.

Finances have not recovered from me getting sick, but they are in the.process. The budget still looks scary and putting it on paper still makes me sick to my stomach, but each month is a little better. Hopefully I'll be able to add another weekly cleaning job before the end of the year.

My hope is to update here weekly. Maybe if I start with once a week I can get back in the habbit of blogging!