Consolidated Kansas

[cubbysan]

Sand seems to disappear in a short time. I would recommend some agrogate or screenings (gravel). I have some of those areas and adding straw creates mold problems sometimes. I plan to fill in some low spots with some more of my crappy excuse for dirt than add some screenings to the top of it. I don't like the idea of having birds on rocks but the mud and standing water is awful. If you have some disinfectant, Oxine, Odorban, or tek trol in example you can spray some fairly heavily in the stinking mud and get some of the odor out. I have several of those pools of green slime around here from the ducks. Of course it rained last night so that puts all the more rain in there to deal with.
I was going to mow today finally. Not going to happen.

Thanks! I am tempted to buy plywood to and put that down for them to sit on. To make matters worst, the spicket I use to fill their pool is broken. My husband tried to fix it in January, but when he started to dig down the water table kept filling the hole with water. We have been waiting for things to dry out to fix that too. I can't even hose down their pool and fill it with fresh water for them. All water for them is brought down one bucket at a time. It is really funny seeing all of them trying to climb in a little rubbermaid container to bathe. I have too many predators to allow them out of the pen.

The Oxine and Odorban - are they sold at the farm stores, TSC?

 

[chicken danz]

Another thing you can do is to buy some cheap pavers. You can find them for as little as $1 each. if you set them on the ground at least they can't play in the mud. However you will need to clean them off after awhile if you can get your spigot fixed.
No you can't get the oxine at a farm store. You can buy Odorban by the gallon at Sam's club.

 

[HEChicken]

Your absolutly right that they are probably Cornish X. I purchaced them at a farm store, where I have found out, are not so great at labeling their chicks. Thanks for the advice on processing!! Have you heard of inserting a small knife blade through the mouth to the back of the brain, as to loosen the feathers??? I read that some where but do not remember where???

I've heard of the method of putting the knife up through the roof of the mouth into the brain but it is generally used as a humane killing method. I've never heard of it as a way to loosen the feathers.

 

[KNHKLUCKERS]

Here's an excert from Storey's Guede to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow.
"Debraining helps loosen feathers for hand picking. After cutting the vein for bleeding, insert your knife into the mouth, its sharp edge toward the groove at the roof. Push the knife toward the back of the skull and give it a one-quarter twist. The trick is to avoid sticking the front of the brain, whick causes feathers to tighten instead of loosen. You can tell your knife hits home when reflex causes the bird to shudder and utter a characteristic squawk."

I have read that book probably 3 times but for some reason I thought that I read it online. Either way I doubt it makes much difference but I was curious of the importance.

I've heard of the method of putting the knife up through the roof of the mouth into the brain but it is generally used as a humane killing method. I've never heard of it as a way to loosen the feathers.

 

[HEChicken]

Here's an excert from Storey's Guede to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow.
"Debraining helps loosen feathers for hand picking. After cutting the vein for bleeding, insert your knife into the mouth, its sharp edge toward the groove at the roof. Push the knife toward the back of the skull and give it a one-quarter twist. The trick is to avoid sticking the front of the brain, whick causes feathers to tighten instead of loosen. You can tell your knife hits home when reflex causes the bird to shudder and utter a characteristic squawk."

I have read that book probably 3 times but for some reason I thought that I read it online. Either way I doubt it makes much difference but I was curious of the importance.

Interesting.....thanks for posting that.

 

[TheDownyChick]

Ack! :s

 

[sarahswank]

I hope everyone has their hatches battened down! 80MPH winds here. We watched a full sized dumpters that were half full slide across our parking lot and into two cars. No one is able to make it out to the coop yet because a tree is blocking the road out there.

Be safe everyone!

 

[TheDownyChick]

Wholly catfish!! Just rain here, so far.

 

[Polishpal]

Sorry I have not been on, I was grounded

 

[Deerfield Acres]

Warning: Processing details straight ahead.

KNHKLUCKERS, I've tried the knife blade through the back of the mouth thing after bleeding out but didn't get the shudder and squawk and I can attest that it makes it worse if you don't. We finally just skinned them and are happy with that for our own table. My mother always told me that the toxins are found in the skin and fat. So I'm programmed to skin anyway. I just soak it in milk a bit and there you go, moist and tasty. I'll probably find out that's a terrible thing to do!