Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

I lost two young birds during the storms last night. One was a peachick but the other I believe was a young cockerel. Just not used to where they go in the storms. It's pouring again. We had already gotten 5-6 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours and it's coming down like mad. It's going to start flooding here if it doesn't stop. I lost my shoe twice in mud today. Just pulled it off my foot.
I set a post while ago with dry concrete mix cause the hole I had drilled for it became a mini pond. I have no doubt it will soak up plenty of moisture to set now.
Part of my fence was loosing power so DH and I just went out and put a couple jumpers between wires. It was working great then. I had ordered a fence tester and I think it should be here tomorrow. We just used an amp meter to detect the electrical field cause this fence carries too many volts for a normal tester. I sure hope in time we get it all working just right.

 

[Trish44]

We got a lot of rain here too & the river is out of it's banks & flooding the fairgrounds again right in the middle of the Bluegrass festival. That's kind of becoming a regular thing it seems like.

I moved all of my older chicks out of the growout pen yesterday & into their permanent pens. I culled my older cream legbar rooster so I could replace him with a new one. All I have left in my growout pen now are a few lavender orp chicks & a pair of mille fleur cochin chicks. I had hoped to not have any chicks in there by now but it didn't quite work out that way.

 

[HEChicken]

We got a lot of rain here as well - our pond is overflowing. I was out of town and had an exciting flight home in the storm. I've never flown through a storm like that before and the flashes of lightning sure did light it up. We had to divert a long way around to approach from a direction that was less subject to the storms and that meant a very late landing. The turbulence was so bad they wouldn't even let the flight attendants up from their jump seats and instructed passengers to prepare for landing without any checks that we got it right

My poor sheep were out in the pasture during the storms. They have a small shelter but its not like being in a barn. We had to move them this morning as they'd been on that spot as long as we're comfortable for parasite control and wouldn't you know, the section of pasture they are on now gives them access to the barn - now that the storms have passed. Still, if we get any more rain in the next few days, they'll be glad to make use of it, I'm sure.

All animals fared well in my absence - its always a relief to return home and find all is well as I can't help worrying about them when I'm gone.

 

[lizzyGSR]

You guys could share some of that rain. We've watched all of it go around us or build to our East and move away from us.

I still haven't butchered my rooster that attacked my son. I advertised him for sale today, hoping to not have to butcher him. I know it isn't the time of year to be trying to sell a rooster, so we'll see. He may end up going to freezer camp anyway. It sure would be sad, though, 'cuz he really is a nice bird, with good blood lines and good with the girls. I think I've found an alternate rooster. We'll hopefully get to go meet him next week. In the meantime, I've had lots of people offer me roosters.

I've got eggs running out my ears now, so I've been trying to find some good recipes to use up some of the eggs. We can only eat so many breakfast dishes before we get tired of them, so I've been trying to find some different things. Here's a few ideas I've found. Anyone else have any other non-breakfast ideas?

Egg noodles - anhone have any pasta dishes they'd like to share the recipe for?
Egg salad sandwiches
Mississippi Mud Brownies

I've also been trying to make more things for breakfast, instead of eating cereal. We like sausage gravy casserole, and it uses lots of eggs. We've also been trying egg casserole, french toast, baked french toast, pancakes/waffles, etc.

 

[chicken danz]

We got a lot of rain here as well - our pond is overflowing. I was out of town and had an exciting flight home in the storm. I've never flown through a storm like that before and the flashes of lightning sure did light it up. We had to divert a long way around to approach from a direction that was less subject to the storms and that meant a very late landing. The turbulence was so bad they wouldn't even let the flight attendants up from their jump seats and instructed passengers to prepare for landing without any checks that we got it right

My poor sheep were out in the pasture during the storms. They have a small shelter but its not like being in a barn. We had to move them this morning as they'd been on that spot as long as we're comfortable for parasite control and wouldn't you know, the section of pasture they are on now gives them access to the barn - now that the storms have passed. Still, if we get any more rain in the next few days, they'll be glad to make use of it, I'm sure.

All animals fared well in my absence - its always a relief to return home and find all is well as I can't help worrying about them when I'm gone.

Sorry about your rough flight. Glad you made the trip back home safely. Try to rest up.

@lizzyGSR You can freeze those egg noodles for use later. They are great like chicken and noodles or in soups and stuff as well. I always sliced mine thin so they were able to be used in more things. Keep them in mind for pot luck at church as well. Nothing like home grown chicken with homemade noodles for a crowd.
I tend to make angel food and at the same time sponge cake when I am over run with eggs. It can also be frozen for later. I also love quiche and it can be made with so many variations and eaten any time of day. Not just in the morning.
I've managed to get really sick with this stupid infection from seasonal allergies. I blew out one of my ear drums during the night trying to get my head cleared enough to breath. I've done that in the past a few times and it does heal regardless of what some people might say. It's actually a relief cause it lets that pressure out. It just burns and itches right now. I've been running a fever so I may have to go get some antibiotics. I really hate to. I'd rather just clear it naturally.
I went to the Gardner auction yesterday. I have to say it was a bust. They had had to reschedule the date and it sure hurt them. The stuff that did go to auction sold mostly in the high price range. Except rabbits. @Trish44 I wish you had been there. There were lots of papered rex and mini rex that went for a prayer. As well as several other kinds. It just seems to me that is what you have been raising some of. There was a papered bred doe there that went for like $6. Unbelievable. Even the registered flemish does went for less than 20 and you never see that. But junk chickens went sky high. I didn't buy anything at all. I just wished I had brought some birds to sell because it was definitely a sellers market for birds.

 

[HEChicken]

Sorry the auction was a bust Danz....

Lizzy, in addition to the quiche mentioned above, I like to make custard. Here is a link to my recipe: https://selfsufficiencyandotherassortedhijinks.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/baked-custard/ I adapted it from another I found online because the original only used 4 eggs. I needed to use up both eggs and milk so I doubled the number of eggs and it turned out much better than the original recipe, which would have been a lot thinner and runnier. Of course you're not trying to use up milk like I was but I bet you'll enjoy the custard anyway and probably your little boy as well.

It is another gorgeous day here. I still have a lot to do to get caught up from being gone for a week, especially indoors, as yesterday was so nice I spent a good portion of the day outdoors.

 

[Trish44]

Sorry about your rough flight. Glad you made the trip back home safely. Try to rest up.

@lizzyGSR You can freeze those egg noodles for use later. They are great like chicken and noodles or in soups and stuff as well. I always sliced mine thin so they were able to be used in more things. Keep them in mind for pot luck at church as well. Nothing like home grown chicken with homemade noodles for a crowd.
I tend to make angel food and at the same time sponge cake when I am over run with eggs. It can also be frozen for later. I also love quiche and it can be made with so many variations and eaten any time of day. Not just in the morning.
I've managed to get really sick with this stupid infection from seasonal allergies. I blew out one of my ear drums during the night trying to get my head cleared enough to breath. I've done that in the past a few times and it does heal regardless of what some people might say. It's actually a relief cause it lets that pressure out. It just burns and itches right now. I've been running a fever so I may have to go get some antibiotics. I really hate to. I'd rather just clear it naturally.
I went to the Gardner auction yesterday. I have to say it was a bust. They had had to reschedule the date and it sure hurt them. The stuff that did go to auction sold mostly in the high price range. Except rabbits. @Trish44 I wish you had been there. There were lots of papered rex and mini rex that went for a prayer. As well as several other kinds. It just seems to me that is what you have been raising some of. There was a papered bred doe there that went for like $6. Unbelievable. Even the registered flemish does went for less than 20 and you never see that. But junk chickens went sky high. I didn't buy anything at all. I just wished I had brought some birds to sell because it was definitely a sellers market for birds.

I'm sorry about the auction, it's just that time of year I think. I don't raise Mini Rex any more, I sold them & got Mini Lops instead. I haven't done a thing with them other than have them for pets because I'm too busy with my chickens & other animals. I had a sick ram recently & I almost lost him. I had to de-worm him, which I think in the end is what made him so sick was a high worm load. He got really weak & I had to give him electrolytes & then a B complex shot. He is slowly getting better, but he's still not back to himself yet. At least he's up & moving around with the flock now so that's a plus. He's eating some but not back to where he was before & he lost weight. I'm just glad I didn't lose him because he's a really nice ram & has fathered nice lambs.

I've been moving birds around like crazy trying to get them all in their permanent pens. I moved the two guineas to the guinea pen yesterday & they're getting picked on but they learned pretty fast to fly up on the roost. If they can make it through this initiation they'll be OK, the guineas are tough. I started doing my testing for renewing my NPIP yesterday & got through all of the pens. Now today I need to do the main coop, that's the biggest group. I'm already so tired & sore from yesterday, I'll be glad to be done for another year.

There is major flooding in Winfield & people were gathering for the bluegrass festival so they evacuated the whole fairgrounds & they all had to go to the lake to camp. This is the 2nd time in the last 8 years that this happened at this time. The flood stage for the river is 18 feet & it's predicted to be at 33.3 feet by Monday evening, it's crazy. At that stage the roads coming into town from the north & west will be closed because of water over the road on the highways. This happened in 1998, the first year I lived here as well. The fairgrounds will be a mess & it remains to be seen if it will go down & get cleaned up in time to have the music there. If not, the other year it did that they moved it all to the lake, which is kind of a mess because they don't have the grandstand or the stages out there.

 

[chicken danz]

There were lots of mini lops as well and they only brought like a $1 or $2 a piece. That is what was weird. Even when bird prices are down rabbit prices have always stayed high at Gardner because the top notch breeders bring in their registered stock. I could have made a fortune on birds but I really had no clue how the sale would run.
Oh HEChicken I love custard. I used to make it all the time. DH doesn't care for it so if I make it I eat it all by myself! I may have to make some while he's stuck on night shift.

 

[chicken danz]

It's supposed to be a hot day today. I would hope it would dry things up a bit but then it's supposed to rain the rest of the week. Geez! How can I get things done in this weather? I may try to move some birds around today anyway and just hope for the best. I'd hate to loose some because of the weather. I have a few great potential breeders I sure don't want anything to happen to. I really need to put a few young pullets in the breeder pens and pull out some of the hens so I can have some fresh stock for spring hatching. I really have a problem with getting rid of birds that are producing well for me just because they are a couple years old.
I posted some pictures on facebook but wanted to put one here I took of the pig yesterday. It was fairly cool so I let him out to free range and he and the dogs romped and played for quite awhile. Precious and he romped for a good hour before I took this pictures and she had to go take a nap. This is Brittany and Yeti.
Britt is saying, " Do I smell ham?"
I just let him roam and then went looking for him. He apparently had had enough and I found him sound asleep in the garage. I've been giving him a little dog food as a treat which he loves. I bought some bacon flavored dog food and he won't touch it. LOL. Does he think I'm trying to season his hams already? He is growing for sure.
I had 5 chicks hatched by broodies in the building yesterday. I pulled a couple and put them in with some I hatched in the incubator but left the other three.
I also realized that all the sussex chicks that had been free ranging in the building are missing. They were getting pretty good sized. I couldn't find a trace of them. I think they must have wandered outside and gotten grabbed by something.

 

[Trish44]

Sorry the auction was a bust Danz....

Lizzy, in addition to the quiche mentioned above, I like to make custard. Here is a link to my recipe: https://selfsufficiencyandotherassortedhijinks.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/baked-custard/ I adapted it from another I found online because the original only used 4 eggs. I needed to use up both eggs and milk so I doubled the number of eggs and it turned out much better than the original recipe, which would have been a lot thinner and runnier. Of course you're not trying to use up milk like I was but I bet you'll enjoy the custard anyway and probably your little boy as well.

It is another gorgeous day here. I still have a lot to do to get caught up from being gone for a week, especially indoors, as yesterday was so nice I spent a good portion of the day outdoors.

I tried your custard recipe awhile back & really liked it but thought for my taste it needed a bit more sugar. Other than that the problem was I ate way too much of it by myself, lol. I've been freezing eggs lately because I knew there would come a time I wasn't getting many due to molting & now my laying flock is starting into that faze. I do have a few young pullets getting ready to lay & when all of them kick in I'm hoping they will cover that period of time that the others are taking a break. I added quite a few young ones this year that I hatched out from my breeding birds. I hope I didn't get too carried away but I do have some hens that are getting older now. I won't cull them as long as they're laying but I don't want to feed them if they're not producing so eventually they'll have to be stew.

@chicken danz that pig is getting pretty big already, I see ham & bacon in your near future. I'm still working on my DH about getting one eventually for us to grow out. Right now we have 4 wether lambs that will need to go to the locker probably in November. I'll be glad when they go because they're pigs. My ram is doing better every day, I'm so happy he made it through this because he is a good ram as far as being respectful to me & breeding the ewes. My oldest ewe is expecting lambs again the first of the year I think. I kept the lamb from my other ewe I sold so she won't be old enough to breed till next year some time probably. That's OK because we don't need 4 lambs growing out right now again anyway.