Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

Makes sense. What is a chicken whose fate is undecided? ;-)

Unlucky?

 

[Coffee 1st]

well that quote didnt work.. i will try again...

 

[Coffee 1st]

ARE. YOU. KIDDING ME?? I checked this afternoon and got caught up. I go take care of the turkeys and get them distributed, cut up, bagged, into the freezer, cleaned up, and come back and 86 new posts????? Is there a cash reward for getting the top thread??? Sounds like everyone is having a pretty good day all in all.

So, I loaded the 15 turkeys this morning. Hauled them to Dennison, and a kind gentleman that works there helped me pull them out of the truck where they sat and didn't want to come out. I had to pull the same trick with them this year to keep them in the truck while loading one at a time... lower the gate, then close the hatch to the topper, they are too stupid to know they could easily duck under and escape. I was smart enough to take my poultry hook with me though and we got them all in the stall to await their big surprise.
I knew that this year's were bigger than I have grown them before, but....
Last year, my biggest one was 19 pounds, most were around 15-17. I got them the first week in June and processed the second week in October. This year, exactly the same. I fed the same feed, the same amount, maybe less, put them on pasture at about the same age. Pretty much everything was the same.
3-25#
4-17#
all others were right at 22# give or take a few ounces.
OMG! they were not easy to get into the truck and they weren't any easier getting out of the coolers and weighing them when I got home! I didn't have 2 of them sold, but tonight, one person said she would take two more, so I think I have sold all but what I wanted to keep! YEEEHAW!!!
Then tonight after delivering them to the folks in town who bought them, I came home and proceeded to start cutting up the two that we had split. Chickens are SO SO SO SO SO much easier! I decided to keep one half in one piece and we can have it for dinner one night. I then removed drumsticks, wings (all the way back to the shoulder), thighs, backs, and breasts, leaving the bones in. Tomorrow I start a marathon stock cooking challenge. Let me stop and thank Coffee1st for two excellent ideas!!! First, I am going to pressure can my stock this time. Second, you helped me decide what to do with all the giblets from these goober birds! My dogs are going to get 7-weeks of a once a week addition of pate from the giblets. So, I got all done with cutting and bagging and shrink wrapping what I cut up and got it all in the freezer. Then I started cleaning the livers, which they at least took the gall bladders out of for me. Then I had to clean the hearts. Then I cleaned the gizzards, which are kind of gross but also I think they are fascinating! My favorite part is cleaning them and trying to extract the whole inside 'pouch' fully intact. I did stop feeding them yesterday, just gave them a snack early enough that I knew it would be gone before their 'appointment'. However, being that they were on pasture, they still ate grass, and that wasn't the most offensive smell, but not anything that made me drool either. After cleaning those, I proceeded to open each little gizzard pouch to look for treasure in the form of gizzard stones! Yes, I picked through the gross, smelly grass that was half ground up and pulled out some stones. I had a thought too GIZZARD STONE ART!! I could make a killing at craft fairs!! Some of them are as smooth as river rocks, but not others so much.
Okay, then I washed the necks, threw two away, and put those in the frig to make stock with too.
I should have written down weight totals, but I will do that tomorrow.

Oh, and in between a fella came and got 15 roosters to butcher. I had rounded them all up last night and put them in a pen. I screwed up the lock and it didn't latch, so guess who was running all over the pasture this morning? Yup, had to go catch them again after I dropped the gobblers.

Alright. I am caught up. I am tired and my feet are crying. You won't see me in the morning, so I hope there aren't 200 posts by tomorrow evening when I am able to come back. Take care folks!

We all get ideas from each other... and you sound like a very busy woman.....

 

[Coffee 1st]

Some people call them pioneers. They are a meat broiler. I got mine from Hoovers in Iowa and they told me that they are not considered a hybrid like red Rangers/freedom rangers are. They are a pretty breed. No two look quite alike.



Conrad in his teenage rebel phase

Conrad looks like he has an attitude..Love the pic...and Love the coloring...

 

[duluthralphie]

I got the Creamer to Lala this morning. She gave me a turkey feeder for him! I am so excited I needed another large feeder.

I met her Mom. She does carry a cane with a huge knob on it. I only riled her up once by mistake, She almost got me with the cane but I threw Lala between us. I hope the goose egg heals and the concussion does not last long Lala.

Do any of you have a good recipe for chicken hearts? I am not all that fond of hearts. I think it is all in my head, but something about them gives me the willies. I love the Livers ( waste disposal plant) but get willies over the pump.... weird. Anyways recipes or ideas welcome.


Now I just learned by accident there is a way to tell how many times each person has posted on a thread! I am the leader on this thread followed by Minnie and BC. So some of you get posting! Besides it is afternoon decaf time and I have nothing to read, while I drink coffee and vacuum pack the hearts.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Finally getting the coop finished up. DH got some insulation done in the important spots. I supervised and made sure he got his 15 min breaks Most of the girls still pile on one another at night in a corner. Never looks too comfy.

My "adopted" chicken is still getting the crap kicked out of her. She won't come down to eat or drink, so I have to baby her. Not fun. At night, I stick her in the coop with the others since she won't leave her branch and go inside on her own. By that time, everyone is sleeping and could care less. In the morning, she's back hiding again. Any advice on this? I slowly introduced them for a few weeks beforehand. I don't expect all to be perfect, but man, this is getting old. Last time I introduced a new bird, all was well after a week or so. Maybe it's because she's a ginger. Kidding to all you redheads...joke...I swear. Lol

The little adopted chicken that could...

 

[Coffee 1st]

Well it finally came today. I'm going to get every bird when they go in their coop tonight there is no way I could catch them now since they are in the yard ...

 

[Coffee 1st]

I also bought this since it seems to be highly recommended by so many on BYC ,, didn't realize the bottle was so big 16.9 fl oz not sure I will use it all before it expires 8/2018 I will have to read up more on it.. Any recommendations ??

 

[KlopKlop]

I got the Creamer to Lala this morning.  She gave me a turkey feeder for him!  I am so excited I needed another large feeder.

I met her Mom. She does carry a cane with a huge knob on it.  I only riled her up once by mistake,  She almost got me with the cane but I threw Lala between us.  I hope the goose egg heals and the concussion does not last long Lala.

Do any of you have a good recipe for chicken hearts?  I am not all that fond of hearts. I think it is all in my head, but something about them gives me the willies.   I love the Livers ( waste disposal plant) but get willies over the pump.... weird.  Anyways recipes or ideas welcome.


Now I just learned by accident there is a way to tell how many times each person has posted on a thread!   I am the leader on this thread followed by Minnie and BC. So some of you get posting! Besides it is afternoon decaf time and I have nothing to read, while I drink coffee and vacuum pack the hearts. 

The last time I did hearts I put them in a zip lock with Italian dressing to marinate for a bit. Then skewered them like kabobs and grilled them on a hot grill for a short time. I brushed the leftover marinade from the bag on while they cooked. Don't over cook them or they will be too chewy

 

[Coffee 1st]

Her ear today. I've had her on antibiotics now for 4 days. It still doesn't look good but it looks better doesn't look like it will exsplode and it looks like it is scabing.. I think she wants to get back with her friends ...