Consolidated Kansas

[Candace69]

Is this Candace - Fern's breeder? (This is Michelle)

Yes, Fern is a Great Pyr!

Thanks for the ideas, any rabbit idears? lol We can all contribute and have awesome meals!

 

[Deerfield Acres]

I've been gone for about a week on a work trip. Got back late Friday evening. I took my desktop computer with me and just got it set back up this morning. I was WAY behind on reading...

I've got a little bit of a problem on my hands. I had arranged to pick up 5 khaki campbell ducks from one seller and one white chinese goose from another on my way home from my work trip to Eastern KS. Both sellers were in the Topeka area. I picked up the ducks first and then went to get the goose. I had told the lady selling the geese that I wanted a female white chinese goose. I also mentioned briefly to her how to tell a male from a female. She locked them up the night before I came and then got to looking at them. She thought that they were all males (all 30 of them), so she let them out BEFORE I ever got the chance to look at them myself. She then called me to tell me that she thought she had only males. Well, I REALLY needed a female goose to be a companion for the goose I currently have, so I was willing to take other breeds. I never told her that because I thought she'd keep ALL of her birds locked up. Boy, was I wrong. I spent 2 hours trying to catch her geese, with no luck. They kept going back to the pond where they felt safe. I ended up leaving without a goose, and got home a lot later than I had wanted to (it was a 7-8 hour drive). Now, I'm back home with no plans to go to Eastern KS again in the near future and still need a goose. My DH's grandmother has geese and would be willing to loan me one, but her geese are white chinese and are strictly utilitarian and are never handled. I would really prefer one that is friendly, especially if it is a chinese as they are the ones that are known for being aggressive. Does anyone know of somewhere I could get a female goose in the Northwest KS/Eastern CO/Southwest NE area? or someone that would be willing to meet me to sell a bird?

Lizzy, sounds like a wild goose chase for sure, and not even funny.

Welcome mommahen! Tell us about yourself.
Just posted a few pictures of my silly peachick. He was sitting on my lap trying to type for me, but then decided to jump up and eat my hair. He's getting huge and very spoiled!
Had to put him down when he turned around and pooped on my legs though!!!

First, Hi everyone and I am doing great! lol I am still under a doc's care and still have things effect me ie the STORMS, love 'em, but HATE the way I feel with the pressure changes!
Verna LOVE the peacock pic! That is tooo cute, I know I have missed much and can't catch up, it said 10,000 posts almost! ARGH! Can't catch up that much!

Anyway, II am trying to play catchup on everything, I am SOOOO behind, I know, everyone is, but I need some help. One thing I see suffering is DH, I get caught up in getting this or that done (ie cleaning the cabinets in the kitchen, hadn't been done in over a year, was going to do, but then ended in the hosp): lots fell behind this summer....

Anyway, I don't think about dinner, and I NEED to; so I thought if someone gave me hints suggestions on a menu for over the next month, I might start getting more inspired and-thinking about dinner if I have something I don't have to think about; pull and get done etc...

you can suggest Mexican, American, Chinese, pot roast, chili....
For example, if you suggest rabbit, say, make it rabbit roast... lol or rabbit enchiladas...he does not like chicken, but we have rabbit, but he doesn't like it allot, he prefers pork, beef then rabbit; but I like rabbit, so once ever week is ok on that.

Some stuff he likes, I have to marinade, he has a teeth sensitivity, and if it's too tough, he won't eat it. SO I try to marinade stuff for a day or so, and if I don't pull anything, I have to just make do with whatever.....
If you can just start giving me ideas and I can start filing in a menu for the next month.

We have dressed out rabbit, pork and beef. in beef, stew, roasts, ground, steak; minute sirloin, rib eyes....in pork, ribs, steaks, ham roasts, roasts roasts roast; and chops! We have about 20-25 rabbits we dressed out left from the 40.

Sides we can figure out as we get the main dishes!
So, suggestions? And we can all help each other too. I am just needing to work on this part of my day. I need to THINK about it. So DH gets a GOOD meal! I want to catch up, but try to be organized...Organized..RIIIIGHT!

Help please?

Candace, so glad to hear you are doing well!! My husband makes a boneless pork tenderloin roast, marinated in soy sauce, garlic salt, bit of meat tenderizer overnight and then roasted slowly at 250 degrees for several hours with a bit of water in the bottom of the roasting pan. Bake potatos the last hour or so, depending on size, steam some broccoli, throw together a quick cole slaw, add dinner rolls. Take the tenderloin out of the pan and make a thin gravy from the pan juices. Slice the tenderloin into single serving size chops. My husband's favorite.

I finally gave in and took Butch (the roo) to the vet for his bumblefoot today. To my surprise, my vet said it wasn't really very far advanced. He cleaned it out and packed it and wrapped it. He also gave us antibiotics (oral) for several days. Butch was VERY good at the vet's. I guess I can do the clean out next time, and my vet says he will give me the antibiotics if I need them.

On Thursday I'm supposed to remove the wrappings and check out the wound for healing. We shall see.

I swore I wouldn't take a chicken to the vet, but Butch is special.

My Speckled Sussex roo is limping today and I looked at his pad but didn't see the typical black spot. Did yours have a black spot? His pad looks puffier than the one on the other foot, but not really inflamed. You are so lucky to have a vet who knows chickens!

I will be harvesting chickens in about 6 weeks from now. If all survive, I will have 26 total for my freezer. How long will they keep in the freezer? (I am getting a large deep freezer to put out in the barn before harvest day)

I believe it's 6 months for chicken, although I've certainly held turkey longer than that. So glad for you and Fern that she is doing so well. That's the cutest pup ever!

I went out later to hear the peafowl yelling, the geese chatting, and see the red stars running for cover. Something obviously had just swooped down on that side of the yard. I really don't have any more birds I care to loose to predation!!!

I have hoot owls making a fuss after sundown. Good grief.

We just had a fly by dinner tonight. I call they fly bys, because while I love to cook -there are times that I dont have time or energy to prepare everything the night before, so it has to be easy enough for my kids to fly by the seat of their pants so to speak, and pull something from the freezer and heat it up.We just made a huge crockpot of beef and noodles, which I freeze in quart size bags to heat quickly.3lbs stew meat, 2tbs worschestershire sauce, 4cans beefy mushroom soup, 4cans water- leave on high in crockpot over night. Add 3bags frozen egg noodles and leave on low for 4 hours. Add 1bag frozen peas and 2cans of corn and 2 cans of sliced mushrooms. I make mashed potatoes ahead of time and freeze bags of them also. They just pull them out of the freezer. Dump them in a big glass bowl and heat it up in the microwave. My oldest even makes it all on her own and freezes meals for her grandpa. If time isn't in a huge pinch, I prefer to use whole foods, but kids understand dumping and counting cans...
Danz, Sera wants to see that peachick! So do I So funny!!

medawinks, I'm going to try this for my crew. It's so nice to have something on hand for those chaotic days!

Well I'm open to taking someone's spare Roo, but I'm not sold on those Silkies. Still not convinced they're actually chickens ! My new coop will be finished Oct 1st if anyone needs to unload one. I also wouldn't mind two more hens like a golden-laced wyandotte or campine. Basically I need some golden coloration as I aim to cover the whole rainbow of hues . . . Also - I thought the Welsummer Roo was the "gold standard" of roosters. No ??

MarcAustin, I felt that way about Silkies when I first got my birds, but I've fallen in love with their comical look. Haven't gotten any yet, but the temptation is there. I have a spare Speckled Sussex roo, who is a good sized bird and will be a year old in February. Doesn't cover the gold coloration, though. Still, the price is right -- FREE!

Hawkeye, I'm not going to make it to the fair tomorrow after all. Sigh. The logistics of the whole mess conspired to exclude me, no one's fault, just worked out that way. I'll be home to greet the school bus. Yippee. I know they'll have really nice weather for a day at the fair and that makes me happy. My young photographer will bring me pics and vids too.

Hey mommahen 10

 

[Hawkeye95]

Is this Candace - Fern's breeder? (This is Michelle)

that would be her!

Hawkeye, I am going to def try your versions of potato soup and Mexican casserole. Your others sound very familiar as some of our stand bys . That casserole you mentioned sounds yummy too, Danz. We don't eat much beef unless I can doctor it up to be easily chewed here also. It sounds similar to what we just made for dinner but with a nice spicy twist. I will have to experiment

yeah, you'll love the potato soup-- my kids go nuts over that one. I love that Bear Creek mix, it's great, but it just needs REAL potatoes in it! I chop all of my browned beef very finely when making my casseroles, so it should be easy to eat.

Well I'm open to taking someone's spare Roo, but I'm not sold on those Silkies. Still not convinced they're actually chickens ! My new coop will be finished Oct 1st if anyone needs to unload one. I also wouldn't mind two more hens like a golden-laced wyandotte or campine. Basically I need some golden coloration as I aim to cover the whole rainbow of hues . . . Also - I thought the Welsummer Roo was the "gold standard" of roosters. No ??

well, that's alright!

But if you ever had one, you'd love 'em.

MarcAustin, silkies are wonderful! I had two roosters and I was totally smitten with them after just a short time. They are very endearing and friendly and have quirky little personalities that it is impossible not to like. I have a friend who is afraid of birds but I told her I wanted to introduce her to my silkies because they're really more like animated plush toys - they don't seem like birds at all, probably because of the different feathering. Mine actually used to come when I called them and it was so cool to go out and spot them at the far side of the chicken yard, call them, and then watch these plush toys come running across the yard as fast as their little legs would carry them, to practically jump into my arms for some lovin'.

Hawkeye, I have copied down your recipe for Mexican casserole - I am always interested in something different. When I bought the last beef from my mennonite friend, it was an older cow so there was a LOT of hamburger. New ways to prepare hamburger are always welcome.

Medawinks, I have never heard of "beefy mushroom soup" - I'll have to look out for that.

For anyone interested, I have a dish I make that I call GNG and since its a cute story I'll tell you what it stands for. Years ago I threw together some food for the kids one night that they raved over and asked me to make again. So I did, over and over. The pot made enough to package some up for lunch the next day so I would take it to work. Well, one day after making this dish, I decided to throw in a can of black beans, and anyone who has worked with black beans, can imagine that it made the whole dish take on kind of a greyish hue. Next day at work someone asked what I had brought for lunch and I self-deprecatingly told him "Grey Noodle Goop". He said "Oh, GNG" and the name stuck. To this day we call it GNG regardless of whether or not it has black beans in it or not.

GNG
Ingredients:
Variable to include:
Can(s) whole kernel corn
Can(s) green beans
Can(s) peas
Can(s) dried beans (black bean, lima etc.)
Can(s) cream of mushroom soup
Can(s) tuna, drained (or substitute fake crab, browned hamburger or browned sausage, or leave out meat altogether for a vegetarian dish
Shredded cheese
Macaroni, rotini or shells

While pasta is cooking, open can(s) of mushroom soup, add shredded cheese to taste, and as many cans of vegetables as you desire or have on hand. Mix all together and serve.

As you can imagine, this dish is extremely variable. We have it once a week or every other week and it is different practically every time.

I LOVE the silkie description!! ha! They are like happy little fluff balls out there. Mine are all very friendly. They aren't going to go running from you. You can walk right up to them and pick them up. Your 'casserole' sounds really great! Love the variation! I do something like that every now and then when I just want to mix things up a bit. I love it because you get all your veggies in one shot, and less meat.

Yes, Fern is a Great Pyr!

Thanks for the ideas, any rabbit idears? lol We can all contribute and have awesome meals!

I hope those recipes helped you?? Not a rabbit eater here. I have done a lot of rabbit eating when I was a kid and I think those days are well over with. I used to go hunting with my dad and help him skin and gut after we shot them. I can do wild rabbit-- but not domesticated!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Lizzy, sounds like a wild goose chase for sure, and not even funny.

Candace, so glad to hear you are doing well!! My husband makes a boneless pork tenderloin roast, marinated in soy sauce, garlic salt, bit of meat tenderizer overnight and then roasted slowly at 250 degrees for several hours with a bit of water in the bottom of the roasting pan. Bake potatos the last hour or so, depending on size, steam some broccoli, throw together a quick cole slaw, add dinner rolls. Take the tenderloin out of the pan and make a thin gravy from the pan juices. Slice the tenderloin into single serving size chops. My husband's favorite.
My Speckled Sussex roo is limping today and I looked at his pad but didn't see the typical black spot. Did yours have a black spot? His pad looks puffier than the one on the other foot, but not really inflamed. You are so lucky to have a vet who knows chickens!

I believe it's 6 months for chicken, although I've certainly held turkey longer than that. So glad for you and Fern that she is doing so well. That's the cutest pup ever!
I have hoot owls making a fuss after sundown. Good grief.

medawinks, I'm going to try this for my crew. It's so nice to have something on hand for those chaotic days!


MarcAustin, I felt that way about Silkies when I first got my birds, but I've fallen in love with their comical look. Haven't gotten any yet, but the temptation is there. I have a spare Speckled Sussex roo, who is a good sized bird and will be a year old in February. Doesn't cover the gold coloration, though. Still, the price is right -- FREE!

Hawkeye, I'm not going to make it to the fair tomorrow after all. Sigh. The logistics of the whole mess conspired to exclude me, no one's fault, just worked out that way. I'll be home to greet the school bus. Yippee. I know they'll have really nice weather for a day at the fair and that makes me happy. My young photographer will bring me pics and vids too.

Hey mommahen 10

OH no! So sorry you don't get to go to the fair. Ah well, I'm sure you'll enjoy your day! I did go to the fair again today! Since it was free, and all. I think that beefy noodle soup that Medawinks was talking about is going to be on our list of things to make very soon! VERY soon! I also love pork and your dinner idea sounds pretty darned good, too! BTW, next year, I'll line you up for some silkie pullets when I do my culls again. I think I have most of my culls spoken for now. Except for the young cockerels. I have a couple to get rid of.

Lizzy-- how did I forget to reply to you? Anyway, after reading your horrible story of spending 2 hours trying to run down geese, I was just thinking how crazy it was that she let them all out before you even got there. I mean, surely, she could have at least left them in so you could see them. Wow. I hope you find another goose.

I spent the day at the fair again, today. My boys were back to school so it was my youngest and my mom. More Pronto Pups!! I can never get enough of those! Then came home and got the boys off the bus and have been cleaning house. That's about it!

 

[Candace69]

that would be her!

Talk about duh, I thought she ASKED if she was a great pyr, dis is my brain....

Thanks for clarifying Hawkeye!

 

[MarcAustin]

Quote: Post me a pic. Are you within an hours drive of El Dorado ?? Two of my hens are Sussex so I'm sure they'd like him!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Talk about duh, I thought she ASKED if she was a great pyr, dis is my brain....

Thanks for clarifying Hawkeye!

No problem! I often respond to something I have imagined or didn't read right. No biggie.

 

[HEChicken]

Josie, I meant to say I agree that was smart of Molly to look up when you pointed. Dogs usually don't "get" pointing.

Awww...Karen, sorry you don't get to go to the fair.

LOL about the "wild goose chase". I never thought about that expression before and what its origin must have been.

Candace, I bet you can substitute rabbit for almost any beef or chicken recipe. I substitute all the time depending on what I have. I know there are some sauces/condiments that are more complementary with one meat or another but in many dishes it really doesn't matter and you can use any type of meat.

 

[chicken danz]

I actually had a wild goose chase myself earlier this spring. On my road there was one lone snowy goose sitting by a pond for months. I didn't know if it was injured or nesting or what but it was a pretty open field and I just knew the coyotes would get it. So one day I had DH stop and I climbed the gate and went in to try to wrangle the goose. Well use your imagination. The thing would sit until I would get 25 feet from it then take off and go 100 feet away. I think I spent 45 minutes running around that pond trying to catch up with that silly goose before deciding if I kept chasing it, the vultures would be having me for lunch. I kept thinking someone should have been telling me to act my age. Sadly it was there maybe 2 more months then disappeared.

I went out about 7:30 and found one of my big ole buff orpington hens laying on the ground by her pen. I don't know if she broke her neck or what. No obvious trauma. It worries me though with the owls an hawks coming around. One might have grabbed her and dropped her. I don't have netting over that pen but most of them go inside the building to sleep so I have no idea what happened.

I left the lid off the bin last night that the peachick and one of the lemon cuckoo pullets are staying in. I noticed about bed time they jumped on the edge to sleep. They had their tails pointed toward the bin so I left them. Now I've created a monster. Each time I put them back in they jump back up on the edge. I guess I'd better get a temporary peafowl pen built regardless of whether I have another baby peachick or not.

I have more Swedish Flower hen chicks hatching today. Yipee! If I have a good hatch that should be enough for some good breeding stock. Hopefully by spring I'll be hatching a few of my own.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Lizzy-- how did I forget to reply to you? Anyway, after reading your horrible story of spending 2 hours trying to run down geese, I was just thinking how crazy it was that she let them all out before you even got there. I mean, surely, she could have at least left them in so you could see them. Wow. I hope you find another goose.

I guess her logic was that I had specifically stated that I wanted a FEMALE white chinese. When she looked at her birds and didn't see anything that she thought I would be interested in, she figured she would let them loose and THEN call me to tell me that it was a waste of time to drive all the way out to her place because she didn't have anything I would be interested in. The flaw with her logic, though, was that she didn't think about me having a 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice and still wanting to come out anyway. She also didn't think about me wanting to determine the gender of the birds myself.

Lizzy, sounds like a wild goose chase for sure, and not even funny.

No, it wasn't even funny. The neat thing was that this lady had a bunch of different animals. While I was there, I got to feed a llama, pet a baby llama, and pet her goats. I also got to see a Hennie (hennie = mini horse + donkey) for the first time. I'm a horse lover, so that was really neat.