Michigan

[Opa]

Sold 4 hens, they are leaving tomorrow, now I don't feel so bad about the extra 2-3 dozen eggs coming for my incubator

Yep, that's chicken math at its finest.

Olive - I may take you up on this. My MIL sent me her pressure canner. It kind of scares me. I need to go have the guage checked but I just know I am going to blow up my kitchen.

How far are you from Grand Rapids?

x 2 on the pressure canner. I own one we picked up at a yard sale, but the thing scares me.

The risk of having a pressure cooker blow up is rather exaggerated and almost falls into the category of urban legend. As long as you pay attention to temperatures and pressure they are perfectly safe. A high quality cooker like one by American can't possibly blowup. It has, as do most, a pressure relief valve that prevents explosions.

For those who are concerned post a picture of your cooker and myself, Olive, and I sure several others can advise you.

Quote: Cold temperature aren't going to be a problem for your birds. The biggest problem with keeping birds in winter is humidity. Unless a coop is ventilated properly excess humidity can lead to frostbite. The next thing you need to be concerned with is insuring that they are kept in a draft free environment.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Hillbilly Hen-

Did I ever confirm with you? YES I want one. I just have to make sure I can fit it in the truck..

Wonderful! Depending on how much you will already have in your truck it should fit.

 

[teeville5]

Do hoop houses work in Michigan? I was considering going that route and just insulating with hay bales (you see how I tie in TWO conversations here at once!) for the winter but I wasn't sure if it would be too cold for them. Certainly it would be easier to keep ventilated.

I personally couldn't tell you, but my DH has been thinking of putting up a hoop house run for quite some time. In fact, I think that's what he's planning for the little chicks when they get bigger.

Nova-

I ate Chines yesterday, buffet style. SOMETHING I ate I am no longer allowed to eat. Unfortunately, I dont know which of my choices it was. I thought for sure it was a heart attack, except for the fact that my stomach was bloated so large.
This is WITHOUT a gallbladder.
Darn shame that I dont know what did it. I didnt eat anything I havent eaten before- but the pain put me in tears at the table. My family was concerned because I seriously seriously was hurting and waiting for my stomach to actually explode.

How does this happen when one no longer has a gallbladder to have stones?

Mom2, you need to watch the fat intake. It will do a number on you now that your gallbladder is gone. I was told to keep to only 45g of fat a day which I did for at least 6 months after my surgery. If you absolutely can't avoid it, then add fiber to your diet to help absorb it. Also, did you eat any broccoli? That's something that will cause quite an uncomfortable bloat.

Where is the coffee? What flavor is it? Well what roast? I have not had coffee in over a week because of the gall bladder and I have to drink vicariously thru other drinkers...

Coffee here is 8 o'clock whole roast original blend. DH takes it black, but I add a generous splash of irish creme creamer.

 

[EeyoreD]

Thanks Hillbilly Hen and Opa! So as long as, with tarps/bales, I can make sure that the ground and roosting areas are draft free and they're covered from the weather it doesn't really matter if the walls are just wire grating. Perfect! I think that's going to be the easiest thing for me to put together. (not easy, mind, just easier)

 

[teeville5]

Eeyore, I have hoop house runs that I completely cover in the winter with greenhouse plastic. I think they would be fine. I have thought about building another one as a grow out pen.

HH, I told DH that you do the hoop house run and he would like to know what materials you use for the hoops.

 

[Totalcolour]

My type-A side would just like everyone to take note that Chicken Grandma FREEZES her sauce. Both garlic and olive oil are no-nos in canning.

Carry on.

This one contains tomatoes, peppers and garlic




I regularly can tomatoes with peppers and garlic, so I cn make chili quickly.

Maybe you are talking about a water bath? I use a pressure canner.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I used cattle panels. I also covered with chicken wire as I don't leave the chickens out at night. Hardware cloth is more predator proof but very pricey. I will try to post a couple of pics when I find them.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Well, I have been on a google mission, to find different ways of treating constipation in hens, so i have more options if i ever am presented with this again. Not too much out there, really, even on BYC, which is surprising. Sooo that means it's probably not common. Doesn't make me feel any better. What i have learned:
1.you can SOAK the hen in a warm bath, 20 min to an hour. I only put her in for mabie 5 min, enough to wash good.
2. give them 1ts epsom salt in 1 oz water, which is an emergency flush, and is supposed to also help with poisoning, vent gleet, sour crop, and anything plugging the digestion in general.
3. squirt a little warm olive oil into the bum. I tried vasoline, but this seems like it may be more effective, especially if combined with a warm soak.

Although i had researched this before, it was not as easy to treat as was implied. you never know what little tip may save a life.

Also, while researching, i came across this link posted by someone trying to help a constipated chick; it is how to squeeze a chick just right to do it, and is a dirty job's episode of vent sexing. Although gross, now i know how it is done! Far's i know it has to be done within the first day after hatching, or it's too hard to see, though.
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/dirty-jobs-chicken-sexer.html

 

[NovaAman]

There is a thread/article called "our hoop house". Its been on the bottom of the pages for the last several days. Check em out. I want to do one...

 

[teeville5]

Thanks HH. Pics would be great if you find them.
Also, DH is wondering how the cattle panels hold up to the snow load in winter. Thanks!