Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

I started using the very same apple peeler close to 40 years ago and have been very happy with how they work. The one I'm currently using must be close to 20 years old and I've never had any problems with it, even the vacuum base works very well. However, I've found that if I first moisten the bottom before attaching it, then press down firmly before flipping the lever, I don't have any problems with it. I attached it to a lipped cookie sheet to minimizes the associated mess, and the vacuum base seems to work better on a metal surface.

While it does a great job of removing the peel a misshaped apple won't be completely peeled. I normally have 2 large metal bowls of water to which I add Fruit Fresh to prevent the apples from turning brown. Peeled and cored apples are placed in the first bowl until it is filled. Next I cut the the apple in half, check for bad spots and remove any core that was missed. The slices go into the 2nd bowl. When that bowl is filled the apple slices are put in a colander to drain. They then can be placed on the dehydrator screens for drying, or into ziplock bags for freezing.

 

[gladahmae]

I think I'm gonna have 40.00 roasters and 20.00 eggs they way I'm feeding.

I know what you mean about that! While I like the *idea* of using DP cockerels from when I go hatch-crazy for roasters, I come back to the fact that I was at around $10/bird processed for the white broilers and didn't have to feed them for 6 months. (Next year I won't buy straight-run.....I'll just get all cockerels, and make sure I order in time to get them when I want them!) I have no doubt they will NEVER pay for the coop and care, but FRESH eggs are the only ones I seem to be able to eat and not feel

for 40 minutes after eating. Plus I like them.....obviously.

On another note, anyone want a nice partridge silkie cockerel? Cute as can be, but has a straight comb instead of a walnut comb. I really thought he was a she, but I caught him trying to crow this morning. FREE! I'll probably put him on CL tomorrow.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

My personal view is that straw is a horrible choice to use is a coop or a run.  It doesn't absorb anywhere near as effectively as wood shavings and is much harder to remove.   Also I would never add any organic material to a run.  It holds moisture and eventually creates a stinking mess.  I know many folks claim that their birds like to scratch through piles of leaves and straw but why create more work for yourself?  .

Yep, This is the Truth. I do use straw in my houses, but never ever will I put it in the run ever again. It resulted in a horrible mess and it took me a week to clean up. The resulting mess was unsanitary to the nth degree IMO.

Hey Opa-- now that I've got sand in the run, every morning when I go dump the buckets, they are full of sand. Now what? It's still better that mud, not complaining.

Tomorrow I'm taking the 4 Drakelets to the butcher. I decided that I just wasn't confident enough in my own abilities. Should be fun to crate them up for the ride in the dark. He He. Should I do the crating tonight or tomorrow early?

 

[Totalcolour]

Tomorrow I'm taking the 4 Drakelets to the butcher. I decided that I just wasn't confident enough in my own abilities. Should be fun to crate them up for the ride in the dark. He He. Should I do the crating tonight or tomorrow early?

I like to crate mine the night before taking them anywhere. That way they are settled and the drive is better for all concerned. Also, you don't want them to have access to food for 12-24 hours. (easier to clean).

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Thanks for the response TC... I figured as much on the no food. Have you ever had them get injured during the crating up process? Edited to Add: that was a very difficult task! The 2nd one I got into the crate had some kind of wing injury when I put it in the crate From being trampled by the flock during the mayhem and panic of me being inside their pen. I am so sad about this. I really wanted it to be stress free for them.

 

[NovaAman]

I must say that I did like the leaves in the run. They broke them down so fast, and I didn't have squat to rake out at the beginning of spring. I did have to rake out obviously, but so much of it had been broken down. When I finally get the $$$ I am planning on putting in several yards of sand in, over either crushed concrete or paver base.

Got the green house cover up for the marans today. Had to do a bit of modifications to the back side that goes up against their coop, but all in all, it's a tight as heck fit. Was a PITA to put up by my lonesome, but it is done. Wondering how warm it'll be in there in the winter...

 

[Amy PT]

I started using the very same apple peeler close to 40 years ago and have been very happy with how they work. The one I'm currently using must be close to 20 years old and I've never had any problems with it, even the vacuum base works very well. However, I've found that if I first moisten the bottom before attaching it, then press down firmly before flipping the lever, I don't have any problems with it. I attached it to a lipped cookie sheet to minimizes the associated mess, and the vacuum base seems to work better on a metal surface.

I'm going to try both of these ideas next time. Thank you!!


We put leaves in the run that is covered. The girls churn and shred. If the run wasn't covered, it would probably be a goopy mess.

 

[preciouskitty]

I'm going to try both of these ideas next time.  Thank you!!

Yes, thank you for the ideas....

 

[Jake Levi]

I love leaves everywhere, pens, coops and runs. They break down beautifully, make ideal compost and when you add in chicken manure they are soil deluxe. Win win.

I use straw in my raised pens, and nest boxes, comfy, and good for them to walk on in the wire bottomed pens.

 

[Opa]

Yesterday David brought me a 5 gallon pail of winter pears so today I will be working them up. For some reason I've always peeled pears by hand but I think I will try the peeler today. Due to the size and shape of the core I don't want to use the slicing/coring function of the apple peeler but I will try using it for peeling only. The hardness of winter pears make them ideal for canning since they don't break down like Bartlett pears will. I think I will probably make these into candied pears with a syrup using cinnamon redhots..

Some time today after 1pm the ortho clinic will be calling me to telling me what time my surgery will be tomorrow. I don't know why they couldn't have scheduled the time earlier so I schedule my own time. Seem the medical profession is very concerned about them time but ours is meaningless.

I've got to finish filling out the medical history forms for the arthritis specialist I will be seeing on Thursday. I've read novels with fewer pages than they are asking for. I certainly hope that they can find some way to at least slow the loss of function that arthritis is doing to my hands. Pain can be tolerated but loss of strength and function is a whole nother cross to bear.

Once I have recovered sufficiently from my elbow surgery I will be making an insulated nest box for a friend. She wants to move egg collection to the outside of her coop to increase the space inside it for roosting and since the egg box will be on the outside she will no longer be tracking snow in to the coop.

In our climate eggs can freeze if left for any length of time. For those folks that their employment keeps them away for a large portion of the day, having an insulated nest box is almost a necessity.