Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

It is a whopping 6 degrees here right now. The sun is shining but there's not much it can do with the wind blowing like it is and the snow on the ground. I am trying to get my self psyched up to go out and try to feed and water. I'm just not sure I can keep the hose running. I have had it freeze on me before while it was running contrary to what people say. I could carry some water but water for the bigger pens would take several gallons.
I was supposed to get a couple packages yesterday and they are lost in the snow storm some where. One of them is a new vacuum sweeper. But I guess that gives me an excuse not to clean the house, right?? My other one worked great for awhile after I fixed it and then it quit again. It's one of those I am sure was never intended to be rebuilt, like with a sealed motor etc. Irritating though when I need to clean the floors.

 

[michelleml]

My poor chicken run is covered with snow so they would not come of coop. So layer straw down for them and they are happy little campers. I've never seen this much snow coming from texas. It's crazy and snow drifts up to my knees. My dogs hate the snow I had shovel a path for them (two dachshunds and a tiny 3 lb chihuahua). I'm so ready for spring

 

[22qZoo]

is really thick yolks a sign of good fresh eggs? I see it mostly with my green eggs, its so thick it is hard to get it to mix up!

That's a good fresh egg ,all the good stuff in there, protiens, fats,yadda yadda, are really rich compared to store bought eggs. you should see a goose egg sometime you can all most cut the yolks in half .I dont know how much of a "foodie" you are but I have never had a sauce break on me when I've made stuff like hollandaise using my own fresh eggs. (side note; I'm loving the duck eggs for GF baking)


DANZ~ the trio are doing fine,they are not loving the snow however. One of the girls layed an egg this am. and the little roo crowed today.

 

[Trish44]

I wish I could get out there & check on my birds, but I just don't dare right now. I found out today that I'm not going to find out the results of my MRI on my knee until the 14th. The nurse wouldn't give me the results over the phone, she said they do have the report but the Dr. wants to see the actual films from it. So some more waiting, sigh

.

On another note my little chicks are doing great, they're really starting to run around in the brooder. I finally got a count on the BC Marans OQB & there are 16 in there, I have no idea how many are pullets & how many are cockerels. The gal I got them from said it takes several weeks to be able to tell when the little cockerels start getting bigger combs. I do know how many cockerels & pullets I have in my heritage RIRs, there are 4 cockerels & 5 pullets in there. I will keep 2 cockerels & 4 pullets for sure, so I will have a pair & an extra cockerel I will probably sell. I need to get some current pics of them when I get a chance, but they're so crazy. Every time I reach in the brooder they just go berserk & jump & run all around like I'm going to kill them. I had no idea they would be that flighty. I'm hoping they will settle down eventually.

 

[chicken danz]

That's a good fresh egg ,all the good stuff in there, protiens, fats,yadda yadda, are really rich compared to store bought eggs. you should see a goose egg sometime you can all most cut the yolks in half .I dont know how much of a "foodie" you are but I have never had a sauce break on me when I've made stuff like hollandaise using my own fresh eggs. (side note; I'm loving the duck eggs for GF baking)


DANZ~ the trio are doing fine,they are not loving the snow however. One of the girls layed an egg this am. and the little roo crowed today.

Great! Don't they lay a nice blue egg?
Well it took me over three hours to feed and water. I just got back in. I had three different hoses completely freeze up on me with the water running. It is just insane out there. I was so sick of pulling hoses around. The worst part is my final hose froze on me when I was out where I needed the most water. The geese are going to be very unhappy because they only got their 5 gallon bucket of drinking water filled and not their swim tub. But hauling all the water a gallon at a time about killed me, especially since every water bowl had to be rinsed out. Those starlings have got to go!! I was thinking maybe I should set up a nice heated bird bath in the center of the yard and put out a feeder or two and make sure they were in direct line with the back door. An easy shot with the shotgun and some bird shot might shoo them off. The worst thing is they squeezed through 1 inch netting in several pens but them couldn't figure out how to get back out.
Unfortunately I lost 3 pullets today. And they were all in the heated areas. They were all old enough they should have been okay but I think they might have just gotten smothered. And why pullets? I have plenty of extra roosters. And why were all three of them more valuable birds?
I guess I'd better start looking for something to cook for dinner.

 

[ashncarson]

That's a good fresh egg ,all the good stuff in there, protiens, fats,yadda yadda, are really rich compared to store bought eggs. you should see a goose egg sometime you can all most cut the yolks in half .I dont know how much of a "foodie" you are but I have never had a sauce break on me when I've made stuff like hollandaise using my own fresh eggs. (side note; I'm loving the duck eggs for GF baking)

I have tried duck eggs before for baking! I used to make homemade mayo when I first started all my special diet stuff, but I was the only one who woudl eat it, so I did not do it for long.

 

[ashncarson]

one more question for tonight.....any of you guys raise Lavender Orpingtons?

 

[Trish44]

I have tried duck eggs before for baking! I used to make homemade mayo when I first started all my special diet stuff, but I was the only one who woudl eat it, so I did not do it for long.

I'll bet homemade mayo would be awesome, however we don't use all that much mayo any more so making it probably wouldn't be worth it for us.

one more question for tonight.....any of you guys raise Lavender Orpingtons?

Danz & I both have Lavender Orpingtons. I have some of hers & also some Hinks line as well.

 

[ashncarson]

I'll bet homemade mayo would be awesome, however we don't use all that much mayo any more so making it probably wouldn't be worth it for us.

Danz & I both have Lavender Orpingtons. I have some of hers & also some Hinks line as well.

I think if I was to add another chicken this summer I would want it to either be a lavender orp. or a barred rock. but then again I remember reading you should not raise one by itself....so maybe it would have to be 2 chickens.

 

[Trish44]

ash, yeah you should get them in twos so they have a buddy to hang around with. Danz & I also have heritage Barred Rocks, they're from the Frank Reece line & HEChicken has them as well.