Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Mountain Momma]

Looks like a lovely huge kitchen to work in BUT now you've piqued my curiosity. What does the sign above the kitchen faucet say, circled and all?

That turkey breast looks great and not dry. I wonder what would have been the difference if you had rested the turkey for 2-3 days before cooking or freezing; if it would have been moister.

Edit: P.S. Okay, just realized after re-reading that that's probably not your kitchen.

Church kitchen. I would love to have this kitchen, esp the huge island and huge refrigerators. The sign says "do not leave any dirty dishes in the sink!" The breast was not very dry, just a tiny bit on the dry side but I'm a dark meat person so I am never satisfied with the white meat. We joined the church group for Thanksgiving, about 20 couples and a few singles whose sig others were visiting family or already in heaven. It was a great time, played cards till late. Lots of fabulous food and desserts...and wine. So glad not to have to do the whole shebang in my galley kitchen. Loved coming home to a clean kitchen too. We might make this a tradition since our closest family has older kids that have moved out and we get together with them about a week after so everyone can be there. Those kids spend Thanksgiving with their boyfriends and girlfriends family. Can you believe that? I'm going to have a serious talke with my kids. I will not share them on holidays! There were three turkeys. Ours, a standard Butterball and another that was smoked for 15 hours. The smoked one was my favorite but most everyone liked ours better. Nina's birthday party and sleepover was yesterday and today I am dragging! So glad phase 1 of the holidays is over. The chickens have reaped the rewards of group cooking and scraps. They dont seem to miss the turkey at all. Getting no less than 14 eggs per day. Catch up later, going to take a shower and put up a Christmas tree. AAGGHH!

 

[Mountain Momma]

I freeze them the day I butcher them. These might be dual purpose 16 to18 week old cockerels, old roosters, or pullets or hens of any age. I don't do the broilers.
I double-wrap them in freezer paper. When I eat them, I thaw them in the fridge for three days or so. I consider that the aging. And when I cook them, I usually use a crock pot. The younger ones may be braised instead. I don't fry and I don't grill.
I think it does make a difference, but it's the entire package. Sex, age, and how you cook them.

I've foud that if the sex is good the age of the cook doesnt matter. lol.

 

[Maven]

We might make this a tradition since our closest family has older kids that have moved out and we get together with them about a week after so everyone can be there. Those kids spend Thanksgiving with their boyfriends and girlfriends family. Can you believe that? I'm going to have a serious talke with my kids. I will not share them on holidays!

Lisa,

When my 3 girls got grown and married, I felt the same way. BUT, I remembered how hard it was on me when I had to chose/coordinate which family's house we would go to when to try to please everyone. It became even more stressful when I had children because EVERYONE expected the grandkids at their house on a holiday.

So, once the first daughter married, I began the tradition of celebrating each significant holiday on the Saturday AFTER the holiday. That way they could go to the in-laws without the stress and frustration of having to leave early, rush somewhere else, and in the end go home with cranky, exhausted children and really have no fun at all that day.

This has worked out sooooooooooo beautifully!

They have a good time at the in-laws and don't have to rush away from dinner to go eat another dinner somewhere else. They often have a day or two to recover from that and unwind the kids, then, they can get up leisurely on Saturday morning, mosey on over to our house, hang out, have dinner, enjoy company AND stay as late as they want because no one has to get up early and go to work the next day! PLUS - as a bonus, I'll keep any and all grandkids overnight that night that any of them want me to, so they can leave and have Saturday night, and a good part of Sunday to themselves to enjoy before getting the kids back. Sometimes I'll even have movie passes for each couple to entice them to get out and have some fun so I can enjoy some grandbaby lovin'. I'm sure you know how hard it is to get a Saturday night to yourself when you have little ones about!!

I get my girls and their families to myself for a happy, relaxed dinner, I get my grandbabies to myself for a night of fun, AND all 3 of my SILs think I am the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic MIL in the whole world.

Something to think about anyway...

 

[Maven]

Quote:

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Lisa,

When my 3 girls got grown and married, I felt the same way. BUT, I remembered how hard it was on me when I had to chose/coordinate which family's house we would go to when to try to please everyone. It became even more stressful when I had children because EVERYONE expected the grandkids at their house on a holiday.

So, once the first daughter married, I began the tradition of celebrating each significant holiday on the Saturday AFTER the holiday. That way they could go to the in-laws without the stress and frustration of having to leave early, rush somewhere else, and in the end go home with cranky, exhausted children and really have no fun at all that day.

This has worked out sooooooooooo beautifully!

They have a good time at the in-laws and don't have to rush away from dinner to go eat another dinner somewhere else. They often have a day or two to recover from that and unwind the kids, then, they can get up leisurely on Saturday morning, mosey on over to our house, hang out, have dinner, enjoy company AND stay as late as they want because no one has to get up early and go to work the next day! PLUS - as a bonus, I'll keep any and all grandkids overnight that night that any of them want me to, so they can leave and have Saturday night, and a good part of Sunday to themselves to enjoy before getting the kids back. Sometimes I'll even have movie passes for each couple to entice them to get out and have some fun so I can enjoy some grandbaby lovin'. I'm sure you know how hard it is to get a Saturday night to yourself when you have little ones about!!

I get my girls and their families to myself for a happy, relaxed dinner, I get my grandbabies to myself for a night of fun, AND all 3 of my SILs think I am the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic MIL in the whole world.

Something to think about anyway...

Now THAT IS AWESOME!!!

, have learned something VERY valuable today..THANK YOU

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Lisa,

When my 3 girls got grown and married, I felt the same way. BUT, I remembered how hard it was on me when I had to chose/coordinate which family's house we would go to when to try to please everyone. It became even more stressful when I had children because EVERYONE expected the grandkids at their house on a holiday.

So, once the first daughter married, I began the tradition of celebrating each significant holiday on the Saturday AFTER the holiday. That way they could go to the in-laws without the stress and frustration of having to leave early, rush somewhere else, and in the end go home with cranky, exhausted children and really have no fun at all that day.

This has worked out sooooooooooo beautifully! They have a good time at the in-laws and don't have to rush away from dinner to go eat another dinner somewhere else. They often have a day or two to recover from that and unwind the kids, then, they can get up leisurely on Saturday morning, mosey on over to our house, hang out, have dinner, enjoy company AND stay as late as they want because no one has to get up early and go to work the next day! PLUS - as a bonus, I'll keep any and all grandkids overnight that night that any of them want me to, so they can leave and have Saturday night, and a good part of Sunday to themselves to enjoy before getting the kids back. Sometimes I'll even have movie passes for each couple to entice them to get out and have some fun so I can enjoy some grandbaby lovin'.  I'm sure you know how hard it is to get a Saturday night to yourself when you have little ones about!! 

I get my girls and their families to myself for a happy, relaxed dinner, I get my grandbabies to myself for a night of fun, AND all 3 of my SILs think I am the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic MIL in the whole world.

Something to think about anyway...

As a child who was dragged from household to household, I applaud your "compromise" - although I believe at is the wrong word. Arrangement, maybe. The kids will grow up having those special Saturdays with their grandparents, not whirlwinding around from house to house, not even remembering what happened at each. Now that I'm grown and live 3-1/2 hours away from my family, I make the return trip home for all holidays. However, I WILL NOT drag children away from their own home on the holidays. So, should I ever (lose my mind and) decide to have some children of my own, my husband and I will celebrate in our own home, and then travel for a Saturday arrangement like yours. Especially on Christmas. Never once growing up did I get to play with my new toys past 9am when we were supposed to be at the first set of grandparents' house for breakfast and gift giving.

Anyways, I love love love your arrangement, and I'm certain that not only your children, but one day your grandchildren, will be grateful for it

 

[galanie]

I've foud that if the sex is good the age of the cook doesnt matter. lol.

Ain't that the truth!!!!

 

[delisha]

Lisa is so funny

 

[Sally8]

Lisa is so funny

 

X2

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Chicken question: my chicks are 5 & 6 weeks old now. Mom is still sleeping its them in a nest box, although the little guys can perch just fine up there on the roost, I've seen them playing during the day. Is it normal for her to mother for so long? Or could it be because the weather is so much colder than if these had been spring chicks - maybe she would have already returned to being a real chicken by now? Lol... I'm just curious whether she's over-doing this whole mama hen thing at this point? I'd love for her to start laying eggs again... How long for that?

I know I'm being impatient, but....

... She's one of my best layers! Chickens are not vending machines, I know, I know. Thanks!