I have old english game birds, which are excellent layers of large white eggs and free range foragers. I usually only let one hen brood for replacement stock. This year a classroom will be hatching out 36 chicks and then sending them back. That is many more than I need. They are mixed colour old english. If you want fertile eggs or chicks I also keep a wheaten old english trio to breed, and I could let a hen set those. Sorry for my American friends, shipping across the boarder is a hassle. I suppose I could sneak fertile eggs across, but peeps might be kinda hard to smuggle *G*. I am close to Detroit and Port Huron Mi, if anyone from the states is interested and can meet me. I am also looking for buff orpington birds, cornish birds, buck goat service in the fall, a cheap/used ice cream maker or food dehydrator or meat grinder. We are foster parents, introducing hard to manage kids to a simpler lifestyle. It is wonderful. We presently have an 18 yr old who came to us 2 yrs ago from jail, an 11 yr old who has some developmental delays and was assaulting her also delayed mother, and a normal 11 yr old who just needed a nutruting home. And of course our own 2yr old son *G*. Things are always on the go, and always changing, but surprizingly these high tec, video game playing kids are thriving out here in the country, with lots of fresh air, responsability, animals and nurturing to spare. -- (Just thought I would fill you in on who we are, hope you don't mind- drop me an email if you want, or correspond with one of the kids)--

-- Marci Brown (daleb@kent.net), April 06, 2000

Answers

Congratulations on doing such wonderful work raising those troubled kids......or as we say in the states...you go girl! What kind of meat grinder are you looking for? Hand crank or electric? I might be able to help you out there.

-- Jane Gauch (Sewbears4u@aol.com), April 06, 2000.

I think you're right, shipping chicks would be a nightmare, and eggs might be a problem. I guess we could ship them as an "omelet kit", but probably not worth the hassle. Meat grinder - I collect these things, at least the hand crank types. (An aside to other readers - got an extra? Send it to Marci or let me know what you'd like to trade for that chunk of metal you got from Grandma and haven't thrown out yet). If that's what you want, I'll hit the yard sales this summer and send a duplicate to you, assuming you haven't gotten one from someone else sooner. If you are after a motor driven one, these can get pricey. I do have sources, however, so let me know if that's your druthers. Anyway, hat's off to you Marci! We've helped out a few kids who were "virtual orphans" too, but not nearly to the extent you have. Good luck!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 06, 2000.

Hey Brad, about the meat grinders. . . I have had a couple of different kinds of electrics, including an Oster, and I found that a good-sized hand-crank Universal does the job faster, chews through small bones better, and is easier to use and clean up than the electrics. Has this been your experience also?

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), April 06, 2000.

Laura, I agree. The only time we break out the ancient butcher shop electric one is for venisonburger when our group has several deer.

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), April 07, 2000.