Recent content by katbriar

  1. katbriar

    Derperella, the (weird) Faverolles, & Friends

    X2 I'm glad you're both well and a sincere thank you for your update. I love the way you tell a story!
  2. katbriar

    Killing, Plucking, Eviscerating, & Cutting Up Your Chicken - Graphic!

    After culling, I take each bird by the feet and swish in a fine gallon bucket of water to which I have added about a teaspoon of dish detergent (any brand). Swish until the feathers get soaked and the bird is wet to the skin. This gets some of the dirt off so that your hot water stays cleaner...
  3. katbriar

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    And then your chickens get in there and have the whole carefully arranged layers tossed like an Olive Garden salad in no time.
  4. katbriar

    Coop Project: Maken the Plunge & Getting Chickens

    I'm sorry to read about Blondy. I enjoyed your thread from when you first started posting and am glad to see you back at it. I also found my two Welsummers to be skittish, nervous birds. They did not do well in my mixed flock and were often randomly aggressive and then stand-off-ish with the...
  5. katbriar

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    I cull in the spring at peak laying time for any who are not laying... All of that is to help me only carry my best layers through the winter and so I won't be feeding slackers all winter long....this also makes room for any new chicks produced that same year. I'm pretty careful not to...
  6. katbriar

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    @Beekissed, I can't find a post my sometimes faulty brain attributes to you. I thought you decided which birds to cull in the fall either by how late in the prior spring they started to lay, or maybe when they stopped laying in the previous fall. It was some way you anticipated the length of...
  7. katbriar

    Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

    Looked like the scissors were barely big enough. Took three cuts to get through the neck. She was quick, but I still cringed at the sawing at the neck.
  8. katbriar

    Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

    Sorry to hear about Mozza; glad Vincent is so caring. Happy New Year to you and yours, congratulations on your new job, and may you all be together soon!
  9. katbriar

    Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

    Fire ant farm- lovely post. And in enjoyed you list. Thank you for sharing it. I agree with you about being better for the thoughtfulness and process. Thinking about it can make some of feel guilty, stressed, etc but it's also the way we figure out how to do better next time and forgive...
  10. katbriar

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    For anyone thinking about getting a heating pad- Sunbeam is having a super online sale. I saw one pad for 70% off. I purchased one from them last year; it has no auto off feature so it heats constantly and comes back on by itself in the event of a power outage. Customer service was super...
  11. katbriar

    Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

    How close are you? I don't see a count when I'm catching up, but maybe that's because I'm on a mobile device?
  12. katbriar

    Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

    Sally Sunshine- Haven't been on this thread for a while but I want to jump in and add to Fisherlady's comments. I've purposely gone with a slower growing Cornish cross strain from Privett. The cockerels finished out in 12 weeks at 4 to 4.5 pounds (processed, not live) pullets in 14 at 3.5...
  13. katbriar

    Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

    Blooie, thanks so much for your long and thoughtful posts. And congratulations on all the extra joy you've had because of the little people in the last week. You're right to brag on them all!
  14. katbriar

    Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

    Think he's inclined to climb with a harness?
  15. katbriar

    Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

    I'm just going to jump in to give a "can do" to those wondering about fermenting at high altitude and low humidity. I live in high desert country at 7500 feet where we get 7-12 inches of rain per year. Our humidity is usually in the 20s. Heck it rained today and it's still only 32% right now...
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