Maine

[Widget]

Nothing is funnier then a cockerel learning to crow! All my roos have acquired their grownup crows now, it's interesting how different breeds crow differently. I'm so used to it now, it doesn't wake me up anymore!

Try a lion learning how to roar. Now that is funny. Even funnier is when the lion is very sensitive and sulks when you laugh at him. He really was not that bright. One winter day he decided to lick the metal cage fencing. Just like a scene out of The Christmas Story except it was the King of the Jungle with his tongue stuck. Poor Albert. I miss him. Of all the animals I worked with while a zoo keeper he was my favorite.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

If any of ya'll are interested in learning more about FF and all the wonderful benefits of feeding it to your flock, take a peek at this thread... There is a ton of info and lots of good folk to help answer any and all questions you may have.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

 

[suzMEchicks]

I starting reading the thread. Very interesting. I need to figure out this crop thing too. They're full, they're empty. Don't they just eat? I'm starting to feel like a bad mother. Ihave Thursday off. I will investigate further.

 

[CoopChick719]

they are funny creatures. This past couple weeks even with light on all the time, i was getting 2 eggs here , 3 or 4 there. Then there's 7 . I dont know. I could've missed one that morning I guess. Anyway I want to ask about other things you guys feed your chickens besides the chicken food and water of course. I had a couple of boxes of cereal that were way out of date . Kashi. They loved that and yesterday my husband gave them a small loaf of zucchini bread which there is no sign of today. He made it, said it didnt come out too good for his liking. I always give them bananas that are getting too brown which they love. The only fruit they havent liked is citrus. What do you think? Would you not give cereal or home baked stuff? Probably should be careful about sugar, salt and grease. I'm off to the Boston area. Thank God for good driving weather. Enjoy this beautiful day everyone!

I gave mine 2 day old donuts from work last week. NOT...ONE...BITE...LEFT!! Now it's not something I'd do every week but a nice treat once in a while. They also like crackers and wheat thins, apple cores, pizza crust.

 

[anyasmifya]

OK Anya, talk to me! Tell me about your fermented ginger ale. What else are you fermenting for your own consumption? All I can say is that my girls have been starving themselves all winter. In the last 2 days of FF, their crops are nice and rounded. If we get an other cold snap, I may have to buy an other heated dog bowl, b/c below 20 degrees, the FF just doesn't stay thawed long enough for them to eat it. Same with sprouts. One BYC person made a double bowl affair with dry rice microwaved, and nestled the FF bowl into that, and had pretty good results. Our grandparents didn't coddle their chickens the way we do ours!

Well, yesterday I made anadama bread. That's a bread with wheat flour, white flour, molasses and cornmeal and yeast of course, pretty tasty, semi-healthy bread. It's a New England speciality bread. You can find a good recipe for it at king arthur flour. Here's a link if anyone is interested. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/new-england-anadama-bread-recipe

Ginger ale/beer is really easy to make at home. I like strong ginger flavor so I add lots of extra ginger and a pinch of cayenne! I don't bother with the whole boiled simple syrup step, I just add it all into a bottle and let it sit a few days. Too many dishes for that step. Then at the end when it's ready to drink I just strain it through a sieve, into my glass! Here is a recipe from alton brown: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/ginger-ale-recipe/index.html

I also started my own sour dough culture. That is a real pain in the a**! But it's kind of fun. Took me two tries! Don't recommend it. But you can cheat and use yeast which makes it A LOT easier.

I really want to try making dill pickles, kimchee, and sour kraut! It's hard cause my house is usually too hot, even in the winter! Wood stove! Gingerale only takes a few days, so it's not so bad. And bread loves a warm environment.

 

[lazy gardener]

I like Anadama. I haven't made bread in a long time. If you like pickles with a bit of a bite, try dilly beans. I have a tender palate, so don't make them too strong, but they're wonderful in a sandwich!

 

[quailtrail]

I starting reading the thread. Very interesting. I need to figure out this crop thing too. They're full, they're empty. Don't they just eat? I'm starting to feel like a bad mother. Ihave Thursday off. I will investigate further.

I'm with you!!! I need to read up on this as well.

 

[Cknldy]

I had a lot of out of date raisins and a bag of flour my husband has banned me from using for biscuits so I made "flock block" loaves for the chickens yesterday. Just made biscuit dough, added scratch, raisins, honey flavored soybeans no one would touch, dry dog food. Cinnamon sprinkled on top. Greased pan at 400° about 35 minutes, turn em out and let cool. Cut to size and string em in the coop. After some curious stares there wasn't much left! It actually smelled and looked so good that I would have eaten it myself if I didn't know all of the ingredients Who has chicks hatching already for Spring selling? I was wondering if sales would be slow until all the snow and cold is gone.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I do love me some Dilly Beans (thanks, Ash).

By the way, Bucka, how's your egg count? Mine has gone up. Can't recall if I posted/asked about that, yet. I've lost it (but it wasn't a far trip).

 

[striperon]

When I was growing up on the farm, we had a big garden and we canned all the vegetables we could. We never bought canned vegetables or fruit. We went to an orchard to buy baskets of peaches and apples and plums; canned them so we didn't need to purchase canned fruit. All the cores and peels went to the chickens, the vegetable waste went into their run as well. The only thing left was the peach pits, apple seeds and stems. It was a great time in my life. My grandmother was the leader of the chicken project. We did not have much cash money, but we ate well and worked together for our extended family. My fond memories of that time motivates me to keep chickens. Love my grandmother, love the memories of her chickens.