Arizona Chickens

[LarryPQ]

I prefer a friendly chicken who will occasionally snatch a sandwich over a flightly one! Seriously though, the next batch of chickies is due the 1st, then the 15th. I will lockdown the bator on Thursday night. THEN the pictures start.

The broody OEGB was still sitting when I collected eggs after work. She had 3 LF eggs, and 2 of her own. She got up for playtime, but then went back in pretty quickly. I will candle on Monday, if she is still determined.

 

[redrocketrooster]

Aww I love my fish! But then again my fish aren't dumb fish...Black Ghosts and Dojos.
They eat right from my hands. What kind of fish do you all have?

I tried to build an incubator from a tank, did not work well. Tanks let the heat off, it's easier to use a sterilite bin and tinfoil it.

Tried to place the coop today but realized the gate is 5 inches too small. I'm in the middle of dismantling it and painting.
I need to do a lot of sanding however. It wasn't sanded on the inside much, frankly the inside where the chickens live is the ONLY part that does matter.

Laree,
Are you just over run with eggs?

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
Not really- we were getting between 6 and 9 eggs a day, which has dropped a little with the broodies. My buff orpington, Nugget, has not got the hang of laying yet, and will occasionally smash an egg. She has to stand up for that "final push" sometimes so I wonder if she has some internal issue. I got her at the feed store, so who knows what her genetics are.

Anyway, throw in a toddler & preschooler who like to collect eggs, who are TERRIBLY excited when they find the eggs, and the number of eggs available for eating is even lower.

Factor in eggs for hatching, mooching in-laws, a husband who comes home for lunch, homemade bread and pasta, and we come to the conclusion:

I NEED MORE CHICKENS!

I do love fish, but I REALLY didn't want this tank. I was preggers at the time, and knew I would be taking care of it. The FIL "gave" it to us instead of paying the DH his wage.

Right now there are only 5 black tetras in it: the little survivors have lasted the entire house remodel. I think their scales are made of drywall mud.

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
Not really- we were getting between 6 and 9 eggs a day, which has dropped a little with the broodies. My buff orpington, Nugget, has not got the hang of laying yet, and will occasionally smash an egg. She has to stand up for that "final push" sometimes so I wonder if she has some internal issue. I got her at the feed store, so who knows what her genetics are.

Anyway, throw in a toddler & preschooler who like to collect eggs, who are TERRIBLY excited when they find the eggs, and the number of eggs available for eating is even lower.

Factor in eggs for hatching, mooching in-laws, a husband who comes home for lunch, homemade bread and pasta, and we come to the conclusion:

I NEED MORE CHICKENS!

I do love fish, but I REALLY didn't want this tank. I was preggers at the time, and knew I would be taking care of it. The FIL "gave" it to us instead of paying the DH his wage.

Right now there are only 5 black tetras in it: the little survivors have lasted the entire house remodel. I think their scales are made of drywall mud.

Homemade Bread? Pasta? When can I come over for lunch?. . . .

 

[cap1717]

The cousins from Montana and Iowa are here, and my new coop is rapidly taking shape. . . designed by cousin Ed, an architect, and built by cousins Tom and Kathy, with Ed's assistance. It will be about 9'x9'. .. open air on two sides, one side will be the house wall and one side the block fence. Completely covered with vented roof. . . It is pretty much framed now, and looking very good. We will finish it with a good quality hardware cloth, and it looks like we can make it entirely "wild bird" proof. . .

It's a very good thing that Tom and Ed both grew up on farms, as they are being forced to work with 6 curious chickens underfoot. . . so far, no one has been stepped on!

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
It's not just you. . . I am a good bread maker, but last time, it turned out awful. . . I had even gone the extra measure and purchased bread flour. I am thinking that there may be a problem with the yeast. . . I don't do much baking when I am working full time, but looking forward to retirement and the chance to become more "domestic" again!

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
You could try tossing in some "gluten" or kneeding it longer....assuming you are saying the bread is over dense.

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
You could try tossing in some "gluten" or kneeding it longer....assuming you are saying the bread is over dense.

Mine was not overdense so much as just flavorless! Very dissapointing.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Quote:
You could try tossing in some "gluten" or kneeding it longer....assuming you are saying the bread is over dense.

Mine was not overdense so much as just flavorless! Very dissapointing.

Here's my favorite bread recipe. I was sure the amount of salt was a typo, but this has good flavor if you like ww flour.

http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/2009/06/another-whole-wheat-bread-in-mixer.html

Edited to fix typo's.

 

[LarryPQ]

The bread density was fine, just boring. Sometimes I will use heavy cream when I am making "breakfast bread", and it is fine, just not great. To then I used half heavy cream and it was too chewy (even with gluten). I will try your recipe.

Kinda like when you for get to put in salt or something basic. Once I made chili and forgot tomato sauce. I just couldn't figure out why it was wierd. Not bad, (I mean, it was just bean soup, really) but weird.