Recent content by jgervais

I haven't been on here in a while, I guess thats good if it means I've had a pretty healthy flock. I have had one chicken though that has had a sour crop a few times over the past 2 months. I posted a blog about what I did to treat it with some pics, and she seems to fully recover each...

We had a few Dorkings that were crosses, and the meat was definitely lighter. I have not eaten any other heritage breeds - just cornish cross, dorking crosses, and pure dorkings. The breast of the Dorking is quite large, and the meat is very white. Not all of the meat is dark meat, however, what...

I had a few that were a bit nasty and a few that were pretty sweet. I think it just depends on the roo. Our last one attacked my daughter, but I really think he was just being a good rooster and protecting his ladies. My daughter came running out of the house, hair all wild, no shirt (she's 2)...

Thanks for the love over the post! I'm the first in my family to raise chickens, so I don't have a lot of knowledge passed down. All learn as you go. Brining was a remarkable discovery. mmmmmmmmmmm Originally Posted by jgervais I've heard to let them rest for 24hrs at least otherwise the...

I have a small door that I can shut them in if they go in on a really cold night. The few nights that it was below zero I would actually take each chicken and shove them into the enclosed coop part and shut the door. But night after night they sleep outside huddled on the roost. I think maybe...

This was in June, just getting around to posting it now. My Dorking mama, with her Dorking cross babies, was mad at whoever was giving her the stink eye on the other side of the fence

Thanks! I was just sooooo lost my first year - glad to successfully report back on year #2!

I was really nervous my first winter in Michigan as a chicken owner. I made a little 'how-to' based on my experiences last winter. Here is the graphic, and the story to accompany is here: http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-do-chickens-need-in-winter.html

Seems like all of my Dorkings have been broody all summer... I have 9 hens and get like 3 eggs a day :-/ Maybe Dorkings are better for soup pots!

I have a few hens that are not laying well these days... is it bad I keep looking over at the soup pot?

Apple Cider seems good for everything! I can only imagine how awesome it would be in a brine. I will try that next for sure.

For brining I used a huge plastic bowl with lid. The collapsible kind from pampered chef... so maybe its actually silicone.. To cook him I have this amazing enameled oval cast iron pot. I put it on the back burner on super low, with about a cup of water on the bottom just to make some steam...

Well, my big beautiful rooster took his spurs to my 2 1/2 year old daughter, needless to say he wasn't around long after that. He met his fate the following morning. On the bright side he was delicious! He was the last of the Dorking roosters (I did successfully hatch 7 dorking babies, so...

I've been afraid of brining for some silly reason. I wish I didn't wait so long to try it, especially on some of the tough older chickens. I finally brined a 1 year old rooster and it was the most delicious chicken I've ever cooked! Heres the story and recipe with a pic of the finished...

This is all useful information, thanks for the reply. The ramp was super small, just incase the chicks jumped out of the nest box, the ramp gave them a way to get back up the 12" the box sat off the coop floor. I was worried one would fall out and not be able to get back in and I was also...