My Coop Update

[Brian]

/

I hadn't even thought about the smell. I'm definitely going to cut that number back drastically. I guess I'm just getting excited and I'm like a kid in a candy shop; I want everything I see.

Betty, I think we can all relate to that. Initially, I wanted around 8 hens. I ordered the min of 25, with plans on giving most away. Then, I couldn't do it, and I decided to keep 16 (which I did). Now, I wish I had around 20, and I am using all my will power to keep from getting three more buffs, and one more barred rock!

Let's say you get 30...what will you do with all the eggs? I assume you'll sell them, perhaps at a local grower's market?

Brian​

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
This recipe came from the cooking channel sometime back in the 80's. It has evolved over the years as family members have passed it around. It's a favorite during the holidays because it's very tasty, easy to make and feeds a large group of people.

I live in a very small town of around 600 people and the grocery store doesn’t carry bread flour so I order Vital Wheat Gluten online and add it to my all-purpose flour to make my own bread flour. If you have a store near you that carries bread flour you don’t need to mess with the Gluten.

I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as mine has.

Cinnamon Bun Babka

***Dough***
2 heaping tablespoons white sugar
1/3-cup honey
1/2 stick butter (chopped)
1-teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups scalded milk
2/3-cup cool water
2 large eggs beaten
5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (If you can find bread flour you can use that and skip the gluten)
3 heaping tablespoons vital wheat gluten
2-1/2 teaspoons or 1 packet of instant yeast
(You can use regular yeast but you will need to proof it first; just dissolve it in the cool water with a pinch of white sugar and add it to the recipe when it has gotten all foamy.)

***Put the first 5 ingredients into the bread machine in the order listed. Stir with a rubber spatula until the butter is melted. ***(I have a very old bread machine that makes a two pound loaf, most bread machines will kneed the dough very well regardless of size but you will need to remove the dough to a larger container to allow for a proper rise.)
***Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed and select the dough cycle. When the machine first starts you will need to use the rubber spatula to help mix the flour and the liquid or it won't mix well. Just stir with the rubber spatula until all the flour is moistened.
***While you wait for the dough cycle to finish, make your filling and preheat the oven to 325°. Spray a sheet pan with spray-oil, cover with wax paper or parchment paper and spray again.

***Filling***
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2-cup flour
1-tablespoon cinnamon
1/2-cup butter (I use real butter here-I've never tried margarine)
***Mix dry ingredients together, cut in butter. Place in refrigerator until needed.

***Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a floured surface. Coat with flour so it doesn't stick to your hands or the counter. Roll the dough into a large rectangle, 12x24 inches. Spread the filling evenly over the dough and roll up jelly roll style so that you end up with a 24-inch long roll. Pinch the edges to seal.
***Starting at one end and working your way down the dough a little at a time, twist the dough as though you were wringing out a dishtowel; the roll will get longer as you twist it. Do this gently as not to tear the dough but well enough that it is well twisted and almost doubled in length.
***Then coil the dough around like a pinwheel creating a super large cinnamon roll, tucking the loose end of the dough under so it doesn't unravel. Brush dough very well with melted butter to prevent a skin from forming and let dough rest for 10 minutes, then bake at 325° for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the Babka is golden brown.
***Make a glaze out of powdered sugar, water and a little vanilla. Drizzle this over the Babka and let it cool.

Enjoy

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
Betty, I think we can all relate to that. Initially, I wanted around 8 hens. I ordered the min of 25, with plans on giving most away. Then, I couldn't do it, and I decided to keep 16 (which I did). Now, I wish I had around 20, and I am using all my will power to keep from getting three more buffs, and one more barred rock!

Let's say you get 30...what will you do with all the eggs? I assume you'll sell them, perhaps at a local grower's market?

Brian

Buy my calculations (and please correct me if I’m wrong) that would give me around 6-1/2 dozen eggs a week. That would just barley fill my families needs for the week. I buy 5-dozen eggs or two flats each week.

 

[ebonykawai]

30 hens will give you WAY more eggs than that. Probably closer to 150-180, which would be 12-1/2 to 15 dozen.

 

[chickensista]

I buy 5-dozen eggs or two flats each week

OMG - you do need chickens! BTW, Betty - awesome job on the coop so far. My 3yr old obviously isn't pulling her weight around here!

But back to the eggs. You can definately get more eggs/wk depending on the breed of birds you get - which you probably already know. But if your flock average is 4eggs/wk/bird, then 30x4=120 or 10dozen/wk.
Good luck with everything.
Terry​

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
Quote:
OMG - you do need chickens! BTW, Betty - awesome job on the coop so far. My 3yr old obviously isn't pulling her weight around here!

But back to the eggs. You can definately get more eggs/wk depending on the breed of birds you get - which you probably already know. But if your flock average is 4eggs/wk/bird, then 30x4=120 or 10dozen/wk.
Good luck with everything.
Terry

Cool then 30 chicks it will be!! That will be enough eggs for us plus plenty to go around for the rest of the family. Thanks guys!!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I started off with 10... Now I'm up to 18, with 6 chicks in the brooder, 10 more bantams in another brooder, 4 eggs in the 'bator, and 25 more to come in May... that's when we decided to take the "hobby" to the next level, build a 12x20' coop with runs, and start a business!

 

[BettyR]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

I started off with 10... Now I'm up to 18, with 6 chicks in the brooder, 10 more bantams in another brooder, 4 eggs in the 'bator, and 25 more to come in May... that's when we decided to take the "hobby" to the next level, build a 12x20' coop with runs, and start a business!

That is so cool!

I'm afraid I would have an awful lot to learn before I would be able to open a business.

But who knows; my oldest daughter who is married and lives in a small town just North of Houston says that she's counting the days till we get that first egg. She’s paying $3.50 a dozen for yard eggs!

 

[BettyR]

With the help of two daughters we got three walls up yesterday!!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
That is so cool!

I'm afraid I would have an awful lot to learn before I would be able to open a business.

But who knows; my oldest daughter who is married and lives in a small town just North of Houston says that she's counting the days till we get that first egg. She’s paying $3.50 a dozen for yard eggs!

I admit, I'm still learning - aren't we all?

I get $3.50/doz (the local store sells fresh farm eggs for $3.75) for my eggs from friends and neighbors. The regular "store bought" white eggs go for almost that, and the fresh ones are way better. I took a side-by-side shot of a fresh egg and a storebought egg... the storebought looked washed out in comparison. And better yet, you know what's in them! Or not, as the case may be.

Your coop is starting to take shape, and I'm jealous. We had a snow advisory pop up, and some areas got 3-4 feet of snow last night. Winter's not over yet, and I'm jonesing to start on my coop!!! Keep posting updates... love watching other people's projects!!!