Animal slaughtering is not one of the most pleasant subjects to cover but necessary nevertheless. The video outlines a quick and simple way to slaughter a quail with minimal stress to the bird. The demonstration shows positioning of the birds and equipment and actions on how the slaughtering process is carried out. Actual slaughter of
Plucking a quail by hand can be a very finicky and difficult task. I've found the easiest and fastest way to process a quail is to skin it (like a rabbit). This method not only makes processing quail easier and faster but it also makes for healthier eating due to less fat. The above video
The above video shows a demonstration of how to gut and prepare a quail after plucking or skinning the bird. Processing quail is a handy and easy skill to learn for the backyard self-sufficient person because they are smaller and easier to handle than larger birds (like chickens). Learning how to gut and process quail
Here is my DIY quail stand cage made from an old childrens play gym swing set. Basically, it's the swing frame recycled and used as a stand for 4 x guinea pig hutches used as the quail housing. On top is an auto drinker feeding nipple drinkers to each hutch. This design works very well
This video shows how an everyday cheap storage box can be easily converted into an effective brooder for quail. It goes to show you don't need a lot of money or expensive equipment to grow your own quail.
How do you get your chickens back in their pen after they have been left out free-ranging? Simple – this short video shows exactly that…
This is an interesting video and was a fun one to make. The chickens are given a choice of several different and common types of food to eat all at the same time and the results are documented/compared. You may be surprised at which feeds the hens really loved and what feeds they didn't like
If you want your chickens and other poultry to be healthy, happy, and free from parasites but don't know what to use then this video may help. The video explains the use of ivermectin given as a skin treatment dropped on the back of the neck to protect against mites, lice, and intestinal worms. A
This is a light hearted video and it's pretty cute showing chicks in an outdoor brooder fighting over a Xmas beatle that happened to unfortunately fly into the cage. The chicks fight and chase each other around the pen passing the beatle to each other like a football game!
The above video shows how a mother hen looks after her baby chicks after a natural incubation. The hen and chicks are placed into an isolation pen to keep them safe for the first few weeks. Mother hen will initially be completely obsessed with her babies and show them how to eat etc. Once the
The above video shows yours truly cleaning out my chickens nesting boxes. There's a close view of the nesting area and how easy it really is to clean them out and restock the straw. Also, I show what nesting anti mite, lice, and flea treatment we use to dust the nesting boxes with in order
The Missing eggs mystery is a childrens story slide show I wrote and put together from actual events in our own backyard concerning a large quantity of eggs, which had been mysteriously disappearing over several days. The images have text narration and bubbles and the slide show has background music and animal (bird) sounds to
The above video shows a comprehensive review on a cheap "no name" Chinese made egg incubator. The review explains the specifications and features and then time lapses showing a real example of how the egg incubator performed under testing from egg to hatching and all the way to the brooder. The incubator itself has the
The above video shows a basic setup for plucking and processing a chicken after slaughter. It describes the tools required and goes through a demonstration showing what water temperature (60-65 degrees C) is best to soak a chicken in prior to plucking to make the job much easier. Main points in the video are: table/tools
The above video is just a quick demonstration about how a chicken pen can become blended into the surroundings to give it a more natural look. A more natural pen closer to nature is easier on the eyes and keeps the chickens happier. Of course, this method of housing chickens (and other poultry) is not
For many chicken and poultry owners the threat of dog and fox attack is a constant worry. The best way to prevent dogs and foxes from getting to your chickens is to ensure your pen or enclosure is safe and secure. Unfortunately, not all of us have the resources or funds to build a barrier/fence
Here's an example of a feeding and drinking station for chickens which not only works well but is also good for mixed flocks of different species like ducks and chickens. Ducks in particular can make a right mess of chicken drinkers so in this example the video shows how the chickens get access to the
The humane chicken or other Poultry killer neck breaking device is a manually handle operated tool which painlessly and easily despatches all kinds of poultry with little fuss or mess. I used to use a cone method (a common way to kill poultry) by securing the bird upside down in a galvanised cone then removing
This is my first article on Self Sufficient Me (SSM) so let me begin by extending a warm welcome and sincere thanks to you for visiting SSM and I hope this will be the start of many returns by you as we explore the realms of self sufficiency. I have been interested in self sufficiency
I love tomatoes – I really do. This fruit who many confuse as a vegetable (but who cares) is one of the most versatile foods on the planet. Where would we be without tomato ketchup, bolognese sauce, tomato pizza base with sun-dried tomatoes mozzarella cheese and a few basil leaves, tomato and lettuce salad,
Self Sufficient Me is a blog about self-sustainment by growing our own produce (plant/animal), and self-fulfilment by looking after our health (physical/mental) through exercise and slowing life down a little.
