It’s another random audience questions podcast episode (and blog post) where I pull five questions from my giant mason jar of topics you’ve sent in. Today I answer your questions about: a significant other struggling with country living, suggestions for getting things done when working full time away from the homestead, issues with too many roosters, clarification on meat bird terminology, and finally, “Amy, I cut out a bunch of things and my life is still nuts, please help.” As always is the case with these random audience questions episodes, the podcast episode is more in depth than the blog post.

If you’d like to add a question to my jar for a future episode please email it to [email protected].

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1 — Significant other struggling with country living

So, my wife (a city girl) is really struggling with country living. Complaining that our kids have no one to play with. Can't ride bikes down the sidewalk, can't run over to the neighbors house and play, can't run to the grocery store, etc... - Chris (first part of email)

It's always hard to move from one life to another. I'm positive that your wife's concerns come from a place of love and wanting the best for your kiddos, and we tend to latch on to what's familiar to us and how we were raised. If she grew up in the city, it makes sense that she's thinking, "who will the kids play with? How will they ride their bikes down the sidewalk? Why are we so far from the store?" That's the normal she grew up with. Much like I would wonder how kids in urban families survive without spending all day playing in the woods (like I did!)

There are people who like the city and people who don't, and that's okay! Sit down and have a conversation about her pros and cons, your pros and cons, and don't be afraid to include the kids in the conversation. After talking you will have a better idea about where everyone stands and how to look for compromises to bring about a happy country home. (Note: Much longer answer to this in the podcast version.)

2 — Getting things done on the homestead when working full time away from home?

... It's just a struggle. Both of us work an hour away from home and by the time we get out of work, get the girls from daycare, get home, cook dinner, (there's) not much time for anything. Any suggestions would be helpful. - Chris (second part of email)

I generally tell people to do a time audit. First, how much time do you actually have at home? Take a good hard look at that number. Then, think of how much time your homesteading ventures actually require. I mean, REALLY think of a number. Is it 30 minutes every morning and night? Is it three hours each day? Is it an entire weekend? Be aware that sometimes homesteading is so exciting to us that it can take up a way bigger piece of our brain than it takes in our actual schedule. For instance, chickens seem like a big deal. They are the gateway animal, after all. But how long do chicken chores take everyday? Ten minutes?

Next make sure to include all the other things that have nothing to do with homesteading in your time audit. We all do more than work, sleep, eat, and feed the chickens.

There are only 24 hours in a day, and you've got to be realistic about what you can fit into those hours. You either have to find time where it might be hiding in your schedule, manage the time you have in a different way, or admit that you've got plenty your plate for the place you're at currently in life.

3 — Is this what roosters do?

We butchered our own chickens for the first time this summer and we ended up butchering sooner than planned due to the boys starting to fight. Have you had issues with this?