NY chicken lover!!!!

[Henicillin]

I don't have a site, but I just signed up a FB account this morning. BalanceofNature BathandBody. There's nothing on it yet, but will be soon! Send me a friend request! Be my firsts!
I'll be working on a new product later this weekend. An eye serum that will be useful for puffiness, redness, irritation, etc around the eye with Indian Pennywort extract, Green Tea extract and Chamomile extract, along with panthenol and hyuralonic acid. Can't wait to play with that one!

Done!

 

[Henicillin]

We went to the Schaghticoke Fair today for the first time in years. It was great! I don't know why we haven't gone there in ages, but we definitely plan to go back.

A couple of folks from around Stephentown and Petersburg were exhibiting all sorts of absolutely gorgeous little bantams. I fell hopelessly in love with the Japanese and the OEGs, especially when one little silver duckwing roo piped up with the cutest little crow I've ever heard. I need a coop of tiny bantams now. There was also an enormous Buff Orpington roo (I want to say he was reserve champion for the show) I coveted, several nice Cochins, and quite a few RIRs. No dyed silkies, thankfully - I guess that trend hasn't hit Rensselaer County yet.

 

[stonykill]

You know what else I do, in addition to the vinegar....I put them in the fridge over night before trying to take the shells off. I wonder if that make a difference? My shells are really hard too, and I roll them on the counter (well, whack them first, then roll) and the shells come right off.

One time I dropped a fresh egg on the way to the fridge and it hit the floor from waist high...it didn't break...I wasn't shocked, cuz before the glass bowl, I considered using a tack hammer on them

I skip the vinegar and just refrigerate them overnight. And they peel easy.

 

[rancher hicks]

We tried that once, didn't seem to help. Got egg shells of steel, except for the two laying the empty balloon shells.

DW just boiled eggs that were just days old and they seem to peel fine.

I suggest boiling them and then dump them in iced water. At school I drain them and dump ice over the top and let them sit. I figure it's like putting a hot glass in the cold, that the shells will shatter. Maybe yes, maybe no but it's what I do.

 

[rancher hicks]

Same here....hard shells....but my neighbor who DOES put oyster shell right in the feeder with the feed has much "softer" shells to crack. Like store bought shells. I think that the breed makes a difference. Her's are production reds....like you would find in the super market.
Mine are all sorts of birds and I had to go out and buy a GLASS bowl specifically for cracking them on, cuz they wouldn't crack on my plastic bowls. (And we're not talking cheap plastic here, these are tupperware and rubbermaid bowls)

I toss some oyster shell in each jug of feed that I make. I've been told to crack an egg on a flat surface. This way it cracks more even and you don't get shells in the bowl. I like to crack eggs on the counter and then into a separate bowl so if I do need to pick out shells it's not in the batter. Also wet your finger before picking out shells it's breaks the tension and makes it easier.

 

[rancher hicks]

You know what else I do, in addition to the vinegar....I put them in the fridge over night before trying to take the shells off. I wonder if that make a difference? My shells are really hard too, and I roll them on the counter (well, whack them first, then roll) and the shells come right off.

One time I dropped a fresh egg on the way to the fridge and it hit the floor from waist high...it didn't break...I wasn't shocked, cuz before the glass bowl, I considered using a tack hammer on them

 

[Sallysec]

Hi New Yorkers Oh I am so happy to see you all, I feel like no one around me has chickens, when I started to mention it to the people around me (my own friends etc) everyone looked at me like it was insane. I have never had chickens, but am interested in keeping a backyard flock for my families own personal needs. I have 8 baby girls headed my way in October and am so excited! I wish I could have met some people in my area to actually have some hands on experience and local friends to talk birds to about the local issues we face together. I right now am having a hard time finding local places for organic food...I have to either get it shipped in or drive up towards Albany or West to Pennsylvania. I am in Rockland County.

Best Wishes,
~S~

 

[rancher hicks]

We went to the Schaghticoke Fair today for the first time in years. It was great! I don't know why we haven't gone there in ages, but we definitely plan to go back.

A couple of folks from around Stephentown and Petersburg were exhibiting all sorts of absolutely gorgeous little bantams. I fell hopelessly in love with the Japanese and the OEGs, especially when one little silver duckwing roo piped up with the cutest little crow I've ever heard. I need a coop of tiny bantams now. There was also an enormous Buff Orpington roo (I want to say he was reserve champion for the show) I coveted, several nice Cochins, and quite a few RIRs. No dyed silkies, thankfully - I guess that trend hasn't hit Rensselaer County yet.

I've never been able to get into bantams. The bantam roosters seem to crow more often than there larger counter parts. You would have loved the bantams in AL. Very nice birds.

We had the dyed silkies at the state fair, ,,,, again! I'm not sure people realize they aren't naturally that color. Of course there is nothing to say that.

I had a nice BO roo but gave him to a friend. Choosing to keep the blacks to cross with the lav hens. The Buffs are much bigger though I think. If I had paid so much for the lavs I would have kept the Buffs. I suppose I can always drive to PA and get some more.

 

[Lynzi777]

My coop is almost complete! I have to say, I am NEVER attempting this again. Thought I'd be able to build one myself, I had a plan in my head of what I wanted it to look like, thought everything would piece together smoothly. I'll tell ya, I would have much rather spent another $350 and ordered the same one I have. It may not be made of the best materials, but at least it looks nice. LOL I'll have to take pics tomorrow when I'm done painting the one I made all weekend. I cannot see this thing making it thru the winter. Which means not only will I be clearing some space in my shed for my bought coop, but now this one too.

 

[horsekeeper]

Had 24 Muscovies and the last 4 silkie roosters processed today. Three nice young people with a mobile processing set-up drove into my yard and did the job. They came out nice and are resting in the fridge for a few days (the chickens, not the people). Kinda sad and one of the silkie hens is crying for her favorite roo. They were downing 2-4 bags of feed a week and had to be thinned down.

Finally the original plan comes together and the chicken flocks are being merged into one coop, ducks in the other.

Nice to see so many new folks on this thread and sorry I missed the get together. Sounds like you all had a good time. I lost my cute little mare to a broken leg about a month ago and was out horse shopping. Found a nice middle aged standardbred gelding that is getting too old to pull an Amish buggy. "Sparky" is a real sweetheart and behaved like a gentleman the third time someone was on his back (me).