Colorado

[21hens-incharge]

I was just looking at peach butter. I made apple butter years ago in the crock. Of course without proper canning equipment it was a small batch and kept in the fridge.
I do freeze a ton of things from the garden but really wanted to learn canning. You know for when retirement hits and social security is anything but secure.

 

[COChix]

@21hens-incharge
Happy belated, glad you didn't go to the race.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you CoChix.

Been an interesting day learning all the things that can go wrong canning lol. I have a batch of peaches in now to do the waterbath as just regular canned peaches. I hope they do not turn to mush or I will have to make some kind of fruit compote out of them.

Still a lot of chores in the yard waiting on me. BLECH. I was going to mow but we got a little rain so the grass is now wet. Not enough of course to actually water anything just enough to stop me from mowing.

 

[uzisuzuki]

I am going to give it my best shot.

Uzi,
Thank you for the wishes.

Did you get the peacock a mate? Not recalling when the people were going to be there.

We are picking him up a mate on the 22nd. Which I'm sure my smallest chicken will love since she's pretty much the focus of the peacock's attention (she's the only one that will eat next to him). I'm sure he'll be happy for it too since he keeps trying to sleep in the coop with them before deciding it's too small for him. I honestly thought either someone would claim him or he'd take off by now.

So far, no more surprise birds. I'm anticipating an emu to show up around this time next year, the way my luck has been going.

 

[suncatcher]

Happy belated birthday 21!!!! I have never made peach jam, but have made Plum butter years ago, so very yummy!!! I have considered digging out my Rumtopf, and starting some fruit in it, but have not done so yet!!!

Busy weekend here! Got some much needed raking done, feathers every where!!! Then as it was too hot to be outside, did some major cleaning inside!!

As to ordering from hatcheries, depending on their rules, some you have to order 15, 25 or as little as seven. I have ordered from Ideal, Stromberg and My Pet Chicken with success. Stromberg does drop ship, so whatever hatchery is closed to you is who they order from, they more or less act as a middleman.

Yep, peacocks need a ton of room, especially the males once their tails are fully grown..... Emu's, oh my!!!!

Samsr, Funny!!!!! I used to love to shop, now, not so much, prefer to do it on line!!!!

 

[COChix]

So saw my parents this weekend and they brought us 4 boxes of Organic Peaches from Pallisade! Get this, the price for all 4 boxes was $48.00 not too shabby! Last year we bought a box from someone here on the front range and we paid $40 for one box! We are giving away a box for eating to family and friends. I am going to take the easy way out and probably freeze some and make peach butter with honey. Made some last year and it was great! I have that on my plate and trying to make some lotions/salves today. Feels like fall in the air in the am, just wanting cooler days. Our temp gauge hit 101 the other day, blech I am over it!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you Suncatcher. It has been interesting making the jam. I had to laugh yesterday. The neighbor that brings us honey stopped by to bring us some ............Peach jam. He comes in and sees the sea of jars in the kitchen and says "Well dang. I was hoping to trade for eggs." Like I would not give them to him anyway.
The jam looks like it is setting up nicely so I am calling it a win. I am hoping to get enough raspberries to do raspberry jam next. Thinking I want to try and keep the seeds out of the jam if possible.

Quote:
I could not for the life of me remember when you were scheduled to get him a properly sized friend. Poor fellow wants a friend so badly.
Thought I would throw this out there if you have a way to get some to make him a house. Uncle Bennies in Loveland has slightly damaged siding for 15 dollars a 4x8 sheet. That is about half of what Home Depot charges for it. Not sure if you are needing to make him a structure or if he will be hanging with his buddy in the barn.
Years ago I used to drive the back roads from Fort Lupton to Longmont. One very cold morning I could see in the dim light what looked like spanish moss hanging from the trees. It turns out it was the massive tails of male peacocks. They were all very very high up too.


CoChix,
I am right there with you on being over the heat. I am glad this week is forecast in the 70's and 80's.

 

[Chick Fest]

Hi Colorado chicken owners,
When I was looking for a builder I wished that a post popped up like this one, so that's why I'm writing this. I hope this info helps someone avoid a terrible experience like mine.

If you come across Jason Cordova and Christine Romero when you're searching for someone to build your coop, I recommend that you save yourself a lot of time, money, and frustration and avoid doing business with these people. They're based in Denver but do business in the mountains too. I had a very bad experience with them. In summary, they did not finish what was agreed to in our contract and he did not finish it per the schedule in our contract. The coop was supposed to be completed in 7-10 days (no more than 20 days, weather dependent; however, weather was not an issue). After almost 2 months, the coop was still not done and I had to get someone else to finish it. They are likely not doing business as 5280 Coops any longer - I don't know what their new business name is. Send me a private message if you're interested in more details. He advertises on Craigslist with this picture. It looks great, but don't fall for it.

 

[suncatcher]

Welcome Chick fest! Thanks for the warning on this company. Problem is most people pay all up front, I would only agree to half a payment if even that...... once someone without ethics has all your money, they don't always do what they promised. I have seen this with house setting and building too.

 

[uzisuzuki]

Thank you Suncatcher. It has been interesting making the jam. I had to laugh yesterday. The neighbor that brings us honey stopped by to bring us some ............Peach jam. He comes in and sees the sea of jars in the kitchen and says "Well dang. I was hoping to trade for eggs." Like I would not give them to him anyway.
The jam looks like it is setting up nicely so I am calling it a win. I am hoping to get enough raspberries to do raspberry jam next. Thinking I want to try and keep the seeds out of the jam if possible.




I could not for the life of me remember when you were scheduled to get him a properly sized friend. Poor fellow wants a friend so badly.
Thought I would throw this out there if you have a way to get some to make him a house. Uncle Bennies in Loveland has slightly damaged siding for 15 dollars a 4x8 sheet. That is about half of what Home Depot charges for it. Not sure if you are needing to make him a structure or if he will be hanging with his buddy in the barn.
Years ago I used to drive the back roads from Fort Lupton to Longmont. One very cold morning I could see in the dim light what looked like spanish moss hanging from the trees. It turns out it was the massive tails of male peacocks. They were all very very high up too.


CoChix,
I am right there with you on being over the heat. I am glad this week is forecast in the 70's and 80's.

I might have to look into that, thank you! I still have to put the corrugated metal on top of the chickens enclosure. I am so slow & forgetful now! I would eventually like to get something built for them near the chickens, but I think for now I'll need to set up an area in our barn for them. I know he's been hanging out in there when it rains at night already, so it won't be too hard to set them.