| Author |
Message |
yywilderness
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2011
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 2:18 pm: | 
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I solo a lot and i had found that i craved protein and particularyly eggs. Several years ago I started taking chickens on my trips. These are heritage chickens that roost. In Quebec we have a chicken bred for Canada, the Chantecler. Last year I took a short trip in Temagami and brought two chickens - I think I amused some guys at the central access, particularly when I told the chickens to get in the canoe. They're great at the campsite because they eat up every bit of food left there - the site perfect clean and just roost at night. the next morning i usually find at least two eggs. When I'm paddling i put some corn in the canoe and they peck while i paddle. |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 943
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 2:32 pm: |
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Aren't you concerned about a fox getting your chickens?
Do they roost up in a tree?
I usually travel solo with my dog,( a JRT) so the chickens would have a problem when they are on the ground. She would get them and eat them.
So, I just take a few dozen eggs with me and they last for a while.
I have never seen anyone canoeing with chickens. That must be something to see.  |
shutter_speed
Member
Post Number: 7
Registered: 10-2010
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 2:44 pm: |
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I hope nobody craves fresh milk! |
irishfield
Member
Post Number: 288
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 4:07 pm: |
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I think there's a joke in here somewhere.. but I'll stay quiet! |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 944
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 6:48 pm: |
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Yeah! I don't think a cow would fit in my canoe either.And my dog would mosty harass it until it got itself out.
I wonder if cows swim in rapids?
Do chickens swim? |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 1294
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 8:49 pm: |
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irishfield
Member
Post Number: 289
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 9:50 pm: |
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Next thing guys will be getting their sheep to carry the canoe up the portage and rewarding said sheep for their efforts later in the day.. |
dock
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2011
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 - 10:47 pm: |
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i think lugging a cow along would be lighter than the canoes we portage with.
irishfield's sheep quip above is pretty damn unbeatable though.
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grncnu
Member
Post Number: 42
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 2:58 pm: |
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i think the chickens are a fantastic idea and the macho jokes not all that funny... |
emerald
Member
Post Number: 7
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 4:48 pm: |
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We raised 5 or 6 chicks one year for the kids and they would catch the mosquitoes and blackflies right out of the air. So no bites for the humans and pretty soon, no bugs.Great idea for the fresh eggs. The chicks also learned quickly to come to our call, so I guess the portage is no problem.? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 946
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 - 6:13 pm: |
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Read about these canoeing chicks here:
http://www.cfagrf.com/Chantecler_chicken.htm
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ed
Moderator
Post Number: 949
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 8:00 am: |
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Dock wrote: "i think lugging a cow along would be lighter than the canoes we portage with"
I dont think the canoes we carry are any more than ~ 75-80 pounds.
Mostly like portaging a feather.
A cow would be a bit more difficult... even for me.
The chickens look like a better bet.Canoe on your shoulders and a chicken under each arm. And if one of them was a rooster, he would wake you up in the morning, but you would have 1 less egg for breakfast.
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fireman
Member
Post Number: 138
Registered: 08-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 8:16 am: |
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I must wade in here, especially as I spent a few years raising broilers..I think it is a wacky wonderful idea that makes an amazing story for the rest of us to tell. But practically speaking, does it not require a lot of extra weight? Besides the actual chickens, how could it be possible to not be carrying a greater amount of feed than the weight of the eggs one wishes to eat?
Or has someone figured a way to get more meat out of less feed? If so, I want in on that technology. I think they would draw animals, personally, unless you bring a guard rooster or dog. I did meet a group of young kids with adult chaperones on the Magnetewan who were bringing two white ducks in cages, but we were pretty sure that was for some strange ritual that I would rather not venture a guess over.
However, there remains a beautiful image of man and chicken in the Temagami wilderness. I prefer powdered chickens. Just add water and they do not go missing.
As for a cow, of course not, but how about a nice goat? Keeps you warm, a fine companion, and nothing tastes better with cumin, garlic, rosemary and a little beer drizzled over the chops? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 950
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 10:04 am: |
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I thought this thread was going to die a natural death, but it is getting legs of it's own. |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 1295
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 10:13 am: |
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Frankly, I hate to cool this discussion, but bringing livestock is silly because of the feed issue, as Fireman says. If you like meat then why not bring frozen chicken and store it in a freezer wannigan? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 952
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 10:34 am: |
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Don't worry Brian. None of us are planning to bring ,chickens, cows or goats out in the bush with us.
We are in the "crazy days" now, while waiting for ice -out, so all manner of nonsense will surface for discussion.
Looks as if it is going to be a long wait this year. |
dan_carpenter
Moderator
Post Number: 77
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 10:53 am: |
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The ultimate supply of fresh meat on a canoe trip.
Imagine paddling the Groundhog River, going around a bend, and running into a herd of wallowing pigs. Free - range bacon and pork chops on the hoof, with no fuss or muss.
Beyond every serious tripper's wildest dream... |
joepa
Member
Post Number: 9
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 12:16 pm: |
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One thing I always bring with me is hard boiled eggs - they keep a long time and are easy to pack - easy to eat - and are filling - never go on a trip without them - chickens can be kinda messy - they can fill the canoe pretty quick - |
dock
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 01-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 1:59 pm: |
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fireman
i am veering off course here...but goat??
Don't you mean lamb. I grew up in Texas and have been to plenty of cabrito (goat) cook offs. Seems like you have to cook goat about a week for the meat to be barely chewable.
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fireman
Member
Post Number: 141
Registered: 08-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 2:06 pm: |
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Well, yeah, but goats are more personable. I have never cooked goat but have eaten it a lot in the middle east and from Toronto west Indian restaurants.
with a sheep,you could knit yourself a nice sweater, as well.
I think, originally, schwarma was made mostly from goat. Beef is pretty rare in the desert and chicken would be more efficient just eaten as is.
the way schwarma is cooked over a low fire for a very long time, it would make sense with what you say. but you can milk a goat, as well.So there is that. Can goats swim? Or do they get to sit in the canoe? |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 953
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 2:55 pm: |
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joepa:
Why not just bring fresh eggs? I usually bring a few dozen and they last for a few weeks or longer. In the Summer heat, + 40ºC, you may decide to use them up quicker, but generally they keep well in the shell for 3-4 weeks.
I usually bring brown eggs (seem to have thicker shells) in plastic cartons and wrap the carton in a large Zip Lock bag and put it in one of my food barrels, at or near the top, with maybe a towel or soft shell jacket on top of the eggs between the lid, while portaging the barrel.
Precooked bacon is also tasty and will usually last the Summer heat for a while. Add in some shredded dried potatoes and you can make hash browns to go with your bacon and egg breakfast.
That way you don't need to bring along a chicken(s)or hunt some farmers free range piggies.
If you aren't a bacon fan, make up some turkey sausage, cook it and dry it and have that instead.( tastes like the sausage in McDonalds egg McMuffins) |
bush_pilot
Member
Post Number: 187
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 2:56 pm: |
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Interesting photo of the pigs. Reminds me of a story I heard a few years back from an old fellow on Georgian Bay. As a boy he spent the summers with his parents who were light house keepers on a remote island near Parry Sound. They would bring a pig with them that roamed the island esting rattle snakes. Apparently the snake can't reach high enough to bite the fleshy part of the pig. At the end of the summer the family had a nice fat pig for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure if its a true story or not but make for a good tale. |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 954
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 - 3:14 pm: |
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I would have thought the pigs would not have fared so well in a contest with a Massasaugua rattler, but wild pigs are native to parts of the US Southwest and there are rattlesnakes there. So maybe the story has some truth to it.
I am not sure if putting a pig on an island would go over very well today, now that these snakes are on the endangered species list, here in Ontario, but I can recall dealing with them while camping in the Parry Sound area when I was a kid. That would have been in the early 1950's and they were reasonably plentiful back then and somewhat more agressive than they are now. |
canoepanda
Member
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2011
| | Posted on Saturday, April 9, 2011 - 9:53 pm: |
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I've been an avid reader of this forum ever since I spent a summer at Songadeewin. This whole topic has really irked me. Bringing domesticated animals into the wilderness is ridiculous. Not only is it animal torture to these poor creatures but there is a serious risk of disease transmission to endogenous animal species (chicken to loon transmission is well documented). I love dogs too but bringing them into the wild is also totally unacceptable. Its better for the natural ecology if you just leave your pets (or chickens) home.
-michelle |
bvr
Member
Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 10:12 am: |
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I guess people should stay away from the wilderness also. That makes sence! |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 998
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 11:13 am: |
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Michelle:
This whole thread was mostly a joke.The first poster with the chickens, didn't come back. The post with the pigs was showing the back end of a farm on the Groundhog River. All the talk about goats and pigs and cows was just nonsense to amuse the posters.
But people really do take their dogs with them on trips.Dogs have been associated with people for several thousands of years and they are found with people wherever they live on the planet.
Please let me leave this thought with you....
In July of 1968, I was flown into the remote settlement of Port Burwell in the North West Territories. About 150 Inuit people lived there at the time. As I stepped out of the boat that took me from the float plane to shore, I was greeted by the 350 dogs that lived in the settlement with these people.
Paddle by any remote Anishnabi settlement in NW Ontario, or any other Province or Territory and you will see lot's of dogs living with the people and travelling out on the land with them.
As far as I know the only Province in Canada that has banned dogs, owned by non-native people, from travelling out on the land, in protected areas only, is Quebec.
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fireman
Member
Post Number: 156
Registered: 08-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 8:20 am: |
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The issue of dogs and humans in "nature" is a very contentious one. Many a time I have had people condemn me for letting my dogs run free on my property which is lousy with deer.
Their argument is that it stresses the deer unnecessarily and, the dogs are not part of the deers' natural habitat.
I guess first off, laziness is my main motivation here. My dogs like to run around. The alternative is to have them always on a leash but that is unfair to the dogs.
Secondly, how natural is it for the deer to be here, grazing on agricultural stubble, apple orchards and planted trees? surely the deer can withstand the strain of a barking dog. I would compare it to a human being stressed by a loud car horn while driving. Unpleasant, but is it really a sin?
Humans and dogs are, regardless of merit, joined at the hip. We love our dogs in a way that helps us survive the world we live in. I've heard it said that a dog is the only creature that will love you more than you love yourself. And boy, do we as much love as possible these days.
If a man wants to bring a chicken canoeing, so be it. I will bring the BBQ sauce. |
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