Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

x2 about strictly following tested recipes -

http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_my_own_recipe.php

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
LOL! That is my FAVORITE website for canning! Back when I was learning about canning, I was cross referencing everything in Ball Blue Book, USDA & pickyourown.org... I use that site all the time...love the step by step pix! AND, trust the recipes...

 

[naglady]

Culled 3 hens today.. not laying for awhile.. making chicken jerky.. has anyone ever made it out of stew hens.. if so how did you like it.. i will be dehydrating in oven.. will be getting internal temp up to 165..
hoping it turns out good we love jerky around here..

 

[Candy442]

How many chickens do you have to have before they are not considered a "backyard" chicken flock?

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
Well, my theory is, if they are in my backyard (or side yard, or front yard ;-)), they are a backyard flock regardless of quantity!!!!

 

[Candy442]

Quote: That is just what I needed to hear ! the reason I ask is I am always reading about things you may need to worry about with your chickens, but not so much if they are "backyard" flock...well, after getting the three new birds we will be up to 13 total. Thanks

 

[lbrykowski2011]

This recipe is from pepperfool.com. I know stewed and alot of tomato recipes have to be pressure cooked, however this one don't. It says right on the site, the vegetable to tomato to vinegar ratio is ok for water bathing and cannot be altered or then is unsafe. Says you can use any pepper combinations you want, but has to still = the tomato ratio to vegetable ratio. Just letting you know so you can check the site out, also if you look in the ball and kerr canning books, they have tons of salsa recipes that are water bathed. I've been canning for over 30yrs and follow the books. Their is a fiesta salsa in the ball book for water bath that is excellent, if you like a mild salsa. Thanks

 

[RaZ]

That is just what I needed to hear ! the reason I ask is I am always reading about things you may need to worry about with your chickens, but not so much if they are "backyard" flock...well, after getting the three new birds we will be up to 13 total. Thanks

This could cause a debate. But the "worry' should be the same for any size flock. The key to minimizing your worries is good animal husbandry practices.

Give your birds ample room, fresh water, good food, shelter and reduce predation possibilities as much as feasible.
Some people will vaccinate and use medicated chick feed. Others do not. Some will treat wounds or illness or even take the bird to a vet. Others will cull injured, sick or "defective" birds. Find your comfort level.

The best thing is to keep your flock as stress free as you can manage. Stress in any animal is a bad thing. I think that many people here treat their flocks as much as pets as anything else. Heck, some chickens are eating better than I do.

Don't let the term "backyard" sound like a negative. You can have a city lot or several acres, a backyard can be any place your chickens call home.

 

[1muttsfan]

Apparently we are not going to be allowed to raise our own food, maybe so that we can support the international farming industrial machine

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/09-3

 

[preciouskitty]

This could cause a debate. But the "worry' should be the same for any size flock.  The key to minimizing your worries is good animal husbandry practices. 

Give your birds ample room, fresh water, good food, shelter and reduce predation possibilities as much as feasible.
Some people will vaccinate and use medicated chick feed. Others do not. Some will treat wounds or illness or even take the bird to a vet. Others will cull injured, sick or "defective" birds.  Find your comfort level.

The best thing is to keep your flock as stress free as you can manage. Stress in any animal is a bad thing. I think that many people here treat their flocks as much as pets as anything else. Heck, some chickens are eating better than I do.

Don't let the term "backyard" sound like a negative. You can have a city lot or several acres, a backyard can be any place your chickens call home. 

Couldn't have said it better myself!

I never would've imagined that I would treat my chickens as pets ... People tease me at work on how I spoil them, worry about them etc. I am sooooo happy that they now have triple the space in the run, where they are stuck all day while I am at work....

I love & spoil ALL my pets...which the 4, er, I mean 14, chickens!!
(& REALLY love my fresh eggs....which I have converted quite a few people at work to! Hard to keep up with demand).

Ok. So. For the second time I got the silliest TINY egg...it was 25g! Smaller than any pullet egg. Had one a month or so ago that was even smaller..like a 1/2" diameter orb! Silly girls....