Congrats on your wins! Do you have any new pics of the barn yet, I would love to see it?Wow, seemed like a long day. Glad I am home, all birds are back in their coops and resting too.
I went to the Pryor, Ok. Poultry show. Left at 6 this morning and got back home about 4. Anyway had 519 birds entered in the show. This is only a bantam show. I took 3 pictures and thought I would show everybody some of my show birds.
This cockerel took first in his class, then turned around and won Best Variety, and Best of breed.
This cockerel took second behind the above bird.
This pullet won her class, and won reserve best variety, and reserve best breed.
The show only had pullets, and cockerels entered in the rose comb division, and I took the two top spots. I beleive there was a total of 12 black rosecombs in the show. So I had a very good day, and plan to try to make a couple more shows this spring. But most everybody is going to go into the breeder pens. I have got to get some babies on the way!!
You are hilarious! How are the little chickies doing? I think they're so cute now that they're getting their little wing feathers, not that they weren't cute before, but you know what I mean.I wonder if they make "pinless peepers" for people? It just seems they may be very useful when I have to go to Atwoods during chick days.
You know that holding is dangerous right? I have to go to Orschelyn's when they get their chicks in, I have decided to get 3 barred rock pullets & I hope they turn out not to be roosters. They do get them mixed up sometimes. I have to keep my eyes closed to the rest of them unless they have Red Stars or something like that & then I may get one or two of those. My first batch of hens is getting into their 2nd laying season, so I figure it's downhill from here & I will have to replace some by the time these would get grown.Quote:
My last batch was pretty horrid too. I know what went wrong - but I was ready to just call it a learning experience and pitch the whole 5-gallons. DH, on the other hand, said "its not THAT bad" and said he would drink it. Well, it took him a year - all by himself - to go through that batch. He finally just drank the last one. I mean, this stuff was awful, but he apparently acquired a taste for it and insisted he liked it to the very end. He now keeps nagging me to brew another batch, and I really do need to get going with it. I bought 50lb of corn sugar one time and I have it nicely stored in an airtight tote but don't precisely know where we put it when we moved. As soon as I find the sugar, I'm good to go.....
DS was looking at a Burgess catalog this morning and discovered they sell hops. He suggested we buy some hop plants and then we can more fully brew our own beer. So far I haven't delved into full grain brews, since the kits are really pretty easy, and when I read the instructions for full grain brewing it sounded too complex and time-consuming. Have you found a way to simplify it down so its doable for one person in a short amount of time, and if so, would you be willing to share? I really would like to learn more about it.
If he is interested in growing his own hops I might have some rhizomes from my crowns again this year. Let me know on that. He will want to get them in the ground after the final freeze.
All-grain brewing is a tad scary if you have never done it. I was that way when I started. If you and your husband are interested and are any where neat Olathe, you are welcome to come watch an all-grain batch get made.
As for alternatives, I have heard of all-grain brew in a bag method. I am not familiar with it, but could look into it for you. Again let me know. I can talk beer making about as long as I talk chickens. That makes my DW crazy some times. In fact she calls me the "chicken whisperer".
In other news, I ran to the TSC in Olathe this evening for some layer feed and scratch grains. They had their chicks for sale. I was not impressed with their selection. I will have to head to Lawrence to see what they have. I called Orschlen's and they should get their chicks in this week. I will have to check them out as well. Besides, DD wants to go hold baby chicks. Holds are free right?
I'm so looking forward to the warmer weather we're supposed to have this week. It was still really chilly when I went out awhile ago, it's supposed to be 55 this afternoon though & 69 tomorrow, yay! I'm planning on finishing up my breeder pens this afternoon & getting my SFH & Cream Legbars moved into their new quarters. I'm sure they will be happy to be out of the muddy pen they're in. Tomorrow I'm going to work on my goat pen & a friend is coming to help me, so that will be nice to have someone else to help hold things. It's always nicer to have help than to do things alone, more fun too.
Well you all enjoy your day, my grand daughter is coming this afternoon.
