fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[1muttsfan]

Hope you feel better soon. I've had many respiratory infections, make sure you get lots of sleep

 

[fuzzi]

Went outside to get some fresh air, sat with the OEGB pullets for a few. They're still flighty, but I see a little less hysteria when I'm near!

Phoebe

Dinah on left, Phoebe on right

Julia keeps checking out the nest boxes.

"You lookin' at me?"

Hatch date was June 23rd, will be 10 weeks old on Monday.

 

[kcan2]

They're still flighty, but I see a little less hysteria when I'm near!

Have you tried reasoning with them thus: less hysteria is still hysteria?

Julia keeps checking out the nest boxes.

Cute pic of Ms. Julia!

 

[fuzzi]

Have you tried reasoning with them thus: less hysteria is still hysteria?

Cute pic of Ms. Julia!

They are awfully cute, trim, not as blocky as the Sussex and Dominiques.

 

[fuzzi]

Wednesday Update

Weather continues mild and dry, perfect for yard work. I did a little mowing around the coops, about 10 minutes worth Monday, and then again on Tuesday, after work. I skipped today, don't want to push too hard as I recover.

I opened up the A-frame brooder, moved the nest box back with the other two.

Rahab called her chicks to join her under the A-frame, where crickets were hiding!

I added fresh straw to all three nest boxes, which was very, very interesting...

...the hens have not been laying much at all, but there's been a lot of feathers lying around, aka molting, so it's understandable.

Look at the size of the chicks!

The Drama Darlings are frequently squawking, displaying Chicken Little reactions to being too close to one of the hens. Zaccheus seems to be keeping his offspring in order, though I saw him give one of the cockerels a sharp (and probably well-deserved) peck. No aggression evident, just "an attention-getter"!

Zack has been molting as well, and his wing feathers are coming in white.

Zaccheus and all his hens.

Hannah is the most white, Rahab is getting lighter as well. Joanna and Priscilla are still pretty dark, but they're not quite 18 months old.

And over in Coop Deux...

Silas and his hens, and pullets. Both the Dominiques are leaving feathers all over, but Esther is still leaving an egg every other day, yay!

 

[Shadrach]

Making bone broth.
View attachment 4206288
The solids have been strained out, onion has been discarded, bones put aside, meat and carrots saved for consumption.

I wish I had the patience to make my own meat based broth.
I have in the past with cut off vegetable ends and some dog bone from the butcher; cheap way of doing it if you don't eat much meat on the bone.

 

[kattabelly]

I wish I had the patience to make my own meat based broth.
I have in the past with cut off vegetable ends and some dog bone from the butcher; cheap way of doing it if you don't eat much meat on the bone.

Very little effort required with a slow cooker. Collect bones and veg offcuts in a bag in the freezer, chuck them in the slow cooker when you have enough, strain and portion up some time in the next 8-24 hours.

 

[fuzzi]

Very little effort required with a slow cooker. Collect bones and veg offcuts in a bag in the freezer, chuck them in the slow cooker when you have enough, strain and portion up some time in the next 8-24 hours.

Exactly. It's a "set it and forget it" method of cooking.

And "Crockpots" can be purchased cheap, in thrift store or at flea markets, too. One of mine is more than 25 years old, maybe 30. My MIL gave me hers, she didn't use it. The insert is removeable for cleaning, which is a must. My big slow cooker has been serving me well for almost as long. I've used it to cook a ham, bone in. I can also fit in it all the bones from an 18 pound turkey, after stripping off the meat. Add water, a few peppercorns, a splash of apple cider vinegar, cover and cook on low for at least 12 hours. Adding a couple beef or ham bones makes a richer stock.

 

[kattabelly]

Exactly. It's a "set it and forget it" method of cooking.

And "Crockpots" can be purchased cheap, in thrift store or at flea markets, too. One of mine is more than 25 years old, maybe 30. My MIL gave me hers, she didn't use it. The insert is removeable for cleaning, which is a must. My big slow cooker has been serving me well for almost as long. I've used it to cook a ham, bone in. I can also fit in it all the bones from an 18 pound turkey, after stripping off the meat. Add water, a few peppercorns, a splash of apple cider vinegar, cover and cook on low for at least 12 hours. Adding a couple beef or ham bones makes a richer stock.

I made a load of black garlic in mine once, when I was living somewhere electricity was included in the rent and not on a meter.

 

[fuzzi]

Feathers are coming in...

Joanna, the loquacious

She's growing spurs!

And then we have the screeching meemies!

Drama, drama, drama...another member here has offered to give a good home to two of the cockerels. It might need to be sooner than later...