I joined my dad yesterday to visit my Uncle. We went to our province and meet our cousins. It’s been a long time since the last time we went there. My Uncle James is a farmer and he manage a lot of farm animals, poultry and livestock. I really enjoyed my trip to my Uncle’s farm especially the part where my cousins tour me in their place to meet all the animals. I found out that aside from poultry and livestock animals, they have lovely animals which can be found mostly in Zoos. They have turtles and parrots and more! And because this is a rare opportunity, i didn’t miss a chance to take some photos.

This is one of my Uncle’s poultry animals. This is a hen. They are the one who lay eggs. According to my Uncle, hens can naturally live for more than 6 years! Unlike broiler chicken who take less than six weeks after they have reached their slaughter size.

Now, here’s an imported-breed pig. Usually, pig has a pinkish color but this one has a fussy dark brown hair. It’s almost like a wild boar. I wonder how the taste differ from the usual pig. This pig is probably the cleanliest pig i have ever seen. Usually pigs’ habitat are muddy places  but look at the cage of this one, there’s no sign of mud isn’t?

Anyways, i enjoy our trip so much. It seems that i saw an actual FarmVille (a popular facebook game). I will tell the rest of the stories of this exciting farm trip including a little drama about the slaughtered sheep.

Managing a Poultry business is not an easy task! This is what I’ve learned after we visited my Uncle’s farm in our province in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. I really had so much fun playing with my neice and nephews, so as my cousins.

The Province of Ilocos Norte specializes in some agricultural products like rice, corn, garlic, root crops, legumes, tobacco and other fruits and vegetables. The province is also known for their Tilapia Industries. My Uncle is currently raising poultry like chickens, ducks and other livestocks like cow, sheep and pigs.

Among all these poultry animals, raising chickens is the most interesting. Most farmers keep chickens primarily as source of food, consuming both meat and eggs.

Here, i took a picture of one of their chicken.

I’ve learned that not all chickens are laying eggs. Chickens that are farmed for eggs are called “hens” while chickens farmed for meats are called “broiler chickens”. Sad to say, the life span of these poor broiler chickens typically take less than six weeks after thay have reached their slaughter size. Luckily, egg laying hens will naturally live for more than 6 years!( Thanks God)

Moving forward, chicken eggs are incubated until they hatch after 21 days. My uncle is using an improvise incubator, placing  incandescent bulbs inside the cage.

Nearly all parts of the chicken can be used for food and the meat can be cooked in many different ways. I love chicken dishes like “Chicken Adobo” (a popular filipino dish), chicken curry, grilled chicken and more!

These chicken dishes are perfect to match up with some Ilocos yummy delicacies like chichacorn and Bibingka (rice cakes).

I will share it all in my next post.