Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

Dad couldn't believe we wanted that wood.....I thought he was crazy for wanting to burn it. LOL! We hauled it all home last year and we are just now getting around to taking a bit here and there off the piles. I haven't had raised beds before, but understand that the yeild can be doubled for many different varieties of veg. in raised beds..so I'm out to give it a go. I plan on using all of the PVC up in storage that DH thinks he has hidden from me (in hopes that I won't use it...he should have hidden it better...

) anyway, I am going to use it to make frames for all of the raised beds so that I can cover if needed.

Marans Marans

Great deal on the wood Pinkchick! You will have some awesome new coops. I have been debating making some raised beds here. Right now I do a lot of stuff in pots, raised beds would be so much easier. I do plant most food stuff in the ground but I like the raised beds so much better. I used to have them at our old place. I want to make a raised bed with a tall frame above it just for all our dragonfruit. Then I could just cover it in the winter if it decides to freeze and stick a small heater in there if necessary.

Cool on the seed starting. That's what I've been doing for the last month. I have a bunch of baby papayas, maters, peppers, etc. Now I need to start a bunch of brugmansia seeds next. I have my pods all maturing in the greenhouse now.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's fuzzy butt pics!

 

[Debbi]

Good morning all

Hey Randy!! Where have you been? Out carousing and dancing no doubt?

I was just outside, in my nightgown no less, and the sun is shining, 52*, daffodils are coming up, and there are tiny bugs flying in the air! Really?? Feb. 1st?? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but in the meantime, I will enjoy this weather!!

Kim ~ I would much rather see those clean shaven leggies, than the funky combs! Pics, pics, pics please!!

Good luck to all that have chickies on the way! In another couple of weeks or so, I should be getting some to hatch here too.

 

[DMRippy]

OK guess I need to, at least, plant my maters.

I need more time.... raining today so maybe get a few little things done. I am going to be selling some chickens soon so I will need to do some rearranging too. I need to process this week too.... that will be a first. Hope we don't screw that up, I would hate to kill us over something we did wrong.

 

[Debbi]

I may have to go to raised beds here too. The old knees are making it harder to weed and pick a little harder every year. So, how do you guys keep the chooks out of the raised beds? I'm thinking chicken wire? I can see already the window boxes I have setting on the deck railing are going to need some kind of protection! I have seen Olivia and Pip both SITTING in them already!

What happened to my chicken-free zone?? I got to sit out on the deck last night and watch the chooks, sipping a brew, when Myron, Billy, and Pip all decided to join me. I give up, even the dog gave up trying to run them off...

 

[Debbi]

OK guess I need to, at least, plant my maters.

I need more time.... raining today so maybe get a few little things done. I am going to be selling some chickens soon so I will need to do some rearranging too. I need to process this week too.... that will be a first. Hope we don't screw that up, I would hate to kill us over something we did wrong.

No, no Donna! You are supposed to kill the chicken, not you!

Good luck, I am resigning myself to the fact that I will have to start doing it myself here too. I have never skinned a chicken before, plenty of rabbits though, so may I assume it's basically the same procedure? I can't do YouTube on dial-up, soooo....

 

[pinkchick]

Donna~
Sorry to hear about the cracked eggs and the clears....HUGE BUMMER, but no worries lady....I can get you more in a jiffy...say the word!

Debbi~ I would have my chooks come and sit on the front porch with me too...but DH has "No Chicken Poop On The Front Porch" sign posted and the chooks do not know how to read..so I must keep them off, or get them hooked on phonics for Christmas.

But seriously, I don't try to keep the chooks out of the garden, but they don't even try to get in it even though it is right next to their grassy commons area and I only have it fenced with 4' fence. They are too lazy to fly-jump their big butts up and over the fence.

 

[Debbi]

Donna~
Sorry to hear about the cracked eggs and the clears....HUGE BUMMER, but no worries lady....I can get you more in a jiffy...say the word!

Debbi~ I would have my chooks come and sit on the front porch with me too...but DH has "No Chicken Poop On The Front Porch" sign posted and the chooks do not know how to read..so I must keep them off, or get them hooked on phonics for Christmas.

But seriously, I don't try to keep the chooks out of the garden, but they don't even try to get in it even though it is right next to their grassy commons area and I only have it fenced with 4' fence. They are too lazy to fly-jump their big butts up and over the fence.

Yes, I have my garden fenced off with cattle panels lined with chicken wire for last year's garden. My birds don't fly either, hard to get those big butts off the ground! Last year's garden area is going to turn into more coop space this year, so I will have to get crafty with the raised beds. I sure wouldn't let my piggies in the garden, they would eat it ALL!!

 

[pinkchick]

No, no Donna! You are supposed to kill the chicken, not you!

Good luck, I am resigning myself to the fact that I will have to start doing it myself here too. I have never skinned a chicken before, plenty of rabbits though, so may I assume it's basically the same procedure? I can't do YouTube on dial-up, soooo....

Removing the skin is pretty easy, alot faster and I like it the best!!!!!!! I know the skin leaves a flavor that can't be replicated but once that baby has been cooked in the pressure cooker with it's own juices......who needs the skin?
Will say that back in the day....I would do a back flip for a nice crispy fried chicken skin sandwich with some Hellman's. Then it dawned on me that I was eating a coronary infarction on 2 pieces of white bread.

 

[Debbi]

Ok, the gutting part. I don't recall how I did it years ago. I do know that part isn't like rabbits! Cut a hole, reach in and yank??

 

[DMRippy]

Donna~
Sorry to hear about the cracked eggs and the clears....HUGE BUMMER, but no worries lady....I can get you more in a jiffy...say the word!

Thanks, lets see how many hatch and we may cross that bridge then. I need my flashlight that is for sure. Going to start working on the hatcher today. Getting some more insulation to hold temps better.... then I don't know, just tinker with the temps again. I may not have had the water in when I was working on temps that may have had something to do with it. I am about 50 chicks behind in my hatching.