NY chicken lover!!!!

[vmdanielsen]

Almost forgot! Ginny---can I have your recipe for the lemon sauce you soaked the pound cake in? Im going to make one tomorrow.

Amy, I used 1 cup sugar to 1 cup lemon juice( I used the stuff in the green bottle,,Price chopper I think) and boil until it becomes syrupy or until you get dime sized bubbles. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, poke many holes in the top, leaving it in the pan and gently spoon syrup over it. I ended up using the first batch up on just the top. When I took the cake out of the pan to do the bottom I ended up making another batch of syrup.


So, If I had to do it again, I would start off using 2 cups sugar and 2 cups lemon juice. Follow the same procedure by poking holes(sometimes I use a fork, or sometimes wooden chopsticks). then spooning syrup on top and bottom(while out of pan).

Wrap for a while in plastic wrap to allow lemon syrup to penetrate. With 2 cups of syrup, the pound cake is Very lemony...you get a delicious pucker!! I let mine sit for 24 hours because even though I made it for valentine's day for my lemon lovers, there was banana bread still to be eaten. This recipe, was very easy and delicious. Whoever posted it thanks!!!

I hope yours comes out as well as mine did!!

 

[featherz]

I need some recommendations on electric fence. Here's what I have...

My coop is appx. 20' by 12'. My attached run is appx. 50' by 150' (this may expand further at some point). I have 6' tall metal poles holding up 4' plastic fence. I will be adding another 2' of chicken wire to the top to prevent the chickens flying over. Right now, I just have some of the plastic fence held onto a screw to act as a door into the run, but that will soon be replaced by a wood framed chicken wire door.
I am clueless as to how the electric fence works. Is it a single wire that is fed through the fence? At what level do you put it? Do the chickens ever get zapped? How do you do a hinge for doorways?
Recommendations of brand name and strength? I want to protect from the usual... racoons, fox, coyote and hopefully weasels.
After seeing that fox yesterday, middle of the day, I realized how fast it could happen and wipe out my entire flock, especially with a coon. I would be heartbroken.

I love my poultry netting also! Even though it's only 4 feet high, the only time I've had any of the 40+ chickens fly out of it is when a hawk spooked them out. It's pricey, but after trying everything else out it worked the best. I also have a hot wire attached to the top and bottom of the coop and runs.

 

[vmdanielsen]

I need some recommendations on electric fence. Here's what I have...

My coop is appx. 20' by 12'. My attached run is appx. 50' by 150' (this may expand further at some point). I have 6' tall metal poles holding up 4' plastic fence. I will be adding another 2' of chicken wire to the top to prevent the chickens flying over. Right now, I just have some of the plastic fence held onto a screw to act as a door into the run, but that will soon be replaced by a wood framed chicken wire door.
I am clueless as to how the electric fence works. Is it a single wire that is fed through the fence? At what level do you put it? Do the chickens ever get zapped? How do you do a hinge for doorways?
Recommendations of brand name and strength? I want to protect from the usual... racoons, fox, coyote and hopefully weasels.
After seeing that fox yesterday, middle of the day, I realized how fast it could happen and wipe out my entire flock, especially with a coon. I would be heartbroken.

Try googling how an electric fence works or try http://www.sureguard.com.au/library/Library-Design-Setup/electric_fence_design I do understand how it works, but don't know if I could convey it properly to you. I have an electric horse fence that my poultry netting(which I love) is connected to. There are 2 kinds of electric fence, Solar or AC(from an outlet). I find AC more powerful and consistent(I have both). It is important to have excellent grounding. During the summer, I only use the fence and move the end poles to get through*as a gate), but in the winter I have a gate installed as the ground freezes and I want to be able to pass though.

I have had many electric fence chargers and I really do like premier1 chargers and poultry netting. As far as how much to get, I would get as much as I can afford....both premier1 chargers and fencing are costly.

I also have a permanent fence (non electric with a top and bottom guard wires)...this may be more of what you are looking for. This is where one would run an electric wire about 6 inches above the ground around the non electric fence and another (hot wire)around the top of the fence...... Hope this helps....

 

[ChickPrincess]

Rancher, my husband makes me ladders(think step) to put in the pastures for obstacles for hawk in the chicken pastures. It may or may not work. I know how easy it is to obsess about such a thing...it is terrible to loose something when you try so hard to keep it safe.
Um tonight....it is better when it sits for a day...the flavors all meld....You and everyone else are always welcome!!!!!If you come north...let me know!!!
I love my electric poultry net!! We have had foxes check it out and they leave...we still have them, but they are not a problem(the foxes)....

Will be looking into netting, too. Thanks!

I love my poultry netting also! Even though it's only 4 feet high, the only time I've had any of the 40+ chickens fly out of it is when a hawk spooked them out. It's pricey, but after trying everything else out it worked the best. I also have a hot wire attached to the top and bottom of the coop and runs.

This is what I'm thinking, if I can afford it.

Try googling how an electric fence works or try http://www.sureguard.com.au/library/Library-Design-Setup/electric_fence_design I do understand how it works, but don't know if I could convey it properly to you. I have an electric horse fence that my poultry netting(which I love) is connected to. There are 2 kinds of electric fence, Solar or AC(from an outlet). I find AC more powerful and consistent(I have both). It is important to have excellent grounding. During the summer, I only use the fence and move the end poles to get through*as a gate), but in the winter I have a gate installed as the ground freezes and I want to be able to pass though.

I have had many electric fence chargers and I really do like premier1 chargers and poultry netting. As far as how much to get, I would get as much as I can afford....both premier1 chargers and fencing are costly.

I also have a permanent fence (non electric with a top and bottom guard wires)...this may be more of what you are looking for. This is where one would run an electric wire about 6 inches above the ground around the non electric fence and another (hot wire)around the top of the fence...... Hope this helps....

Yes, it does help! Thank you!

 

[Henicillin]

I bumped into an old acquaintance who recently hatched a handful of eggs for herself (not sure of breed). She told me she got 3 or 4 roos and just 1 pullet. She wanted to give me a roo, but I respectfully declined.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems I hear this a lot from folks who hatch. Is there some truth to it that a higher percentage of chicks hatched are roos?

TOB

Only if you don't want them. If you want them because they make delicious table guests, it seems to be the other way around.

 

[Henicillin]

Just logged in on my PC and saw ducks on homepage! I want ducks!! My husband would kill me. I wonder if my neighbor would want to add to her flock. LOL She's got a nice little pond over there for them and everything. Someday....

Ducks rock. They're easygoing, fun to watch, accepting of other ducks, and full of personality. I love mine, and want more.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Rancher & Stony, my husband has recently gotten into trapping and hunting them. He has gotten a lot of fox the past few years, which I'm grateful for, but he's still trying to figure out the right setup for coyote. He did shoot one in our neighbors garage a few weeks ago - also covered in mange. One of the fox he trapped this year was covered in it too - died in the trap within a few hours it was so bad.
To be fair, when I saw the coyote in the yard the other morning I woke him out of a sound sleep yelling and handing him his gun...(I'm sure that brought him back to his days in the marines...lol) and he was aiming offhand while it was moving. The problem is we do have a neighbor who doesn't like guns being fired, so we try to stick to a .22 to keep the noise down, but then we have to make a head shot.
I did get my small game license this year, I really should be practicing too.

We're east of Rochester in Wayne county.

Chickprincess - Yes! Will you be the God-momma!? I think she set the eggs Wednesday, I'll share pictures when I get them!
There is a podcast I listen to - they are always advertising for an electric fence company they use...
http://www.kencove.com/fence/

By the way if anyone is looking for a good podcast, a farm local to me does a good one, Chicken Thistle Farm Coopcast. It's at least good for a few laughs if you already know most of the farming info.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Only if you don't want them. If you want them because they make delicious table guests, it seems to be the other way around.

I like delicious table guests!

They always come with their best sides.

Sometimes they come all dressed up.

Sorry, couldnt resist hen. You started it...

 

[stonykill]

Rancher & Stony, my husband has recently gotten into trapping and hunting them. He has gotten a lot of fox the past few years, which I'm grateful for, but he's still trying to figure out the right setup for coyote. He did shoot one in our neighbors garage a few weeks ago - also covered in mange. One of the fox he trapped this year was covered in it too - died in the trap within a few hours it was so bad.
To be fair, when I saw the coyote in the yard the other morning I woke him out of a sound sleep yelling and handing him his gun...(I'm sure that brought him back to his days in the marines...lol) and he was aiming offhand while it was moving. The problem is we do have a neighbor who doesn't like guns being fired, so we try to stick to a .22 to keep the noise down, but then we have to make a head shot.
I did get my small game license this year, I really should be practicing too.

We're east of Rochester in Wayne county.

Chickprincess - Yes! Will you be the God-momma!? I think she set the eggs Wednesday, I'll share pictures when I get them!
There is a podcast I listen to - they are always advertising for an electric fence company they use...
http://www.kencove.com/fence/

By the way if anyone is looking for a good podcast, a farm local to me does a good one, Chicken Thistle Farm Coopcast. It's at least good for a few laughs if you already know most of the farming info.

get a 22 magnum . Also called a 22 WWR. While not as quiet as a .22 it isn't terribly loud and packs plenty of punch for a coyote. They even make 45 grain rounds just for predators such as coyotes for the 22 wwr. And youdon't have to stick to the head shot and can take a much easier "boiler room" shot

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I have an electric horse fence that my poultry netting(which I love) is connected to. There are 2 kinds of electric fence, Solar or AC(from an outlet). I find AC more powerful and consistent(I have both).

I personally and semi-regularly check the potency of the horses' electric fence. This is not voluntary, mind you, but usually involves moments of rushed distraction, general laziness or my thinking I can limbo low like I did in my younger day. Just got a most unpleasant zap along the back yesterday. The worst was when I accidentally hit the wire with a metal slide bar that locks the gate. YOWZERS, that was nasty.

TOB