Michigan

[LoveMyChicklets]

Good morning Sam! I have about 40 pounds of cracked corn so that's a bonus! If I don't have any human treats for them I give them cracked corn as their treat

I just wasn't sure on what would be more effective since I'd read so much on the forum about oats, etc.

Thanks!

 

[lighthawk]

Good morning everyone. 17 degrees here much warmer than yesterday. just plowed out the drive. Being about 20 miles from the lakeshore I always get more snow than Kalamazoo and points east so I got about a foot. Two foot of drifts in some places and can see the grass in others. still plugging away at the coop design for this spring I think I am on my 5th revision and had another idea last night how I could change it to maximize lumber usage. So back to the drawing board again

By the time I actually start construction this should be the single most thought out coop in history. Seems every time I finish a drawing someone else at BYC brings up another idea and here I go again. Hopefully All this planning will be rewarded by happy content secure chickens that love to lay lots of eggs.

Stay warm. Rich.

 

[Opa]

Part the fun of chickens is fiquring out what you want to do next and part of the mystery is trying figure out why you did what you've already done. Now that might not make a lot of sense to some people but once you start raising chickens it will.

 

[chickflick]

Opa aka Sam is a good man to ask questions about coop design and construction, since he builds houses and does remodel for a living.

Good Morning! My it's still quite cold out there. I'm not even gonna bother opening the pop door today. Just too cold. Have a great day, everyone!

 

[lighthawk]

Quote:
By the time I am finished he may be wishing you never told me that

 

[YakLady]

Hey, Opa! I told my hubby last night about your brined deer hindquarters. He loves pastrami, and he was quite impressed. I also told him that you turned an upright freezer into a smoker. At the same time, I reminded him that I fully expect him to take up huntin' next year.

 

[chickflick]

Quote:
By the time I am finished he may be wishing you never told me that

Could be, but he would never admit to it!! Always there when you need him. It's just Sam. He can't help it. You should see his wood carvings...amazing!! A man of many talents and a nice guy to boot.

 

[Opa]

Boy the prior posts certainly brought on an "aw shucks" moment.

I'm just trying to repay the many kindnesses that have been afford me over my many years.

I was PM'd asking about smoking venison hind quarters and thought that I'm post it for everyone. When I butcher a deer I separate each hind quarter into 3 roasts. Remove all the fat you possibly can and place them in the following brine solution. This solution will be sufficient for up to 25 lbs of meat.

Pastrami Brine
5 quarts ice cold water 38-40 degrees
5 oz Prague Powder No. 1
5 oz powdered dextrose
8 oz salt
1 tbsp liquid garlic
Brine meat for 5 days turning meat daily to insure equal coverage. Thicker pieces of meat should be injected with solution

Remove meat from solution and place on racks until no longer dripping. Rub liberally with ground black pepper and coriander. Place in smoker preheated to 130 degrees with dampers wide open. Hold at this temperature for one hour or until the surface is completely dry. Close damper to 1/4 open and apply light smoke for about 2 hours. Gradually increase temperature to 200-220 degrees and hold until internal temperature of meat reaches 175-180 degrees. Remove meat from smoker and allow meat to cool at room temperature for 2 hours before place in refrigerator. I like to slice it the next day and vacuum seal most of it, then freeze. Truthfully very little ever makes it to the freezer.

 

[briana1975]

I went out to change or add water into the coops. And my turkey hen Violet was attacking my silkie roo. He has a hole in his comb and was bleeding quite badly. After I got him into the house, cleaned up, and put into a large crate for the day, I went out to finish some more chicken chores and noticed a lot of blood on the ground , the top roost, and the top of the gate, where the turkeys like to roost sometimes. Even outside of the chicken yard where Violet likes to come and go as she pleases. Also a smashed half eaten turkey egg. I do not see any blood dripping from her right now, but I was unable to catch her by myself. As soon as my husband comes home from work I need to get ahold of her and see how bad she is. I am just using warm water and soap to clean the wounds and antibacterial oinment. We are running to town tonight so I will pick up some blue kote. Should I be doing anything else?

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

Wow wish I would have gone hunting tonight since the next storm is rolling in on monday so I hear. Really busy plowing drives and the rivals had to call me to help with theirs since their plows broke and in return I helped him fix his plow so that was ok.

Hope everyone enjoyed the sun that could. Hope everyone is safe.