NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I have spent some chunks of today working for the broodies. They are not appreciative of my efforts. The two eggs that I passed from one to the other did nothing in the warm bowl of water, so I threw them out. Set up the dog crate, and put a tarp over it. All that was fine with the girls, but when I took their nest boxes out of the little coop and put them in the crate, the complaints began. Speckles settled down under the coop with her chick in her feathers. She didn't like being put in the crate, nor did Gabby. And no one liked that I moved Honey in the bottom of her cat carrier into the coveted coop. Honey has three eggs I will examine tomorrow, with gloves on. And I must fence off an area for them. And make strawberry Jam!

Happy birthday, Chris! Your new chickens are beautiful!

Who is Chris and I too hope they have a happy birthday and year.

Well there are three broodies sitting on eggs still. A B. Marans has two and I can't get near her at all! I've not checked the EE and hers to see how it's doing. I've got to set drinkers and feed dishes out for the new chicks. I've like to move them to the coop with the other broody but those hens have other ideas.

I just don't want them to lose their chicks and it would be easier on me to have all the broodies with chicks in the same coop.

Well everyone have a good Saturday. I'm off to get feed and perhaps clean a coop or two.

ta, ta for now,

Rancher

 

[kimmerjo]

Hi neighbor i see you're in Falconer. I'm with you on those darn roses. When we cleared our land for our house we burnt them.... It work for awhile 3 years later and they are starting to come back. So this last weekend I got out the big weed whacker and go to town. Then I dumped a salt vinagar mix on them crossing my fingers that worked.

It wouldn't surprise me. But I always question any research until I know who really paid for it. Research has a tendency to find what the money wants it to find.

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I'm home again.

The EE lost her chick, I don't know how but it was dead in the waterer though it did not look like it drowned. She was not an attentive mother in that she didn't do the "chk, chk" thing to call it for food, like other do.

The Marans lost one too and I'm not sure what happened as she was coming at me something fierce when I went into the coop. I had to use an empty feed jug to keep her off me. I put some feed and a little shallow dish of water in with her.

I just got back from Hooches' a junk/antique shop and found some old "Farm and Home" newspaper from 1910 and there abouts. What caught my eye was a chicken on the cover of one. There are some neat articles and pictures. I also got some Agricultural newspapers too. They are very fragile so looking at them will take care. Also I think there will be some patterns for crochet and I'm not sure but some recipes.

There was also a poultry book but I had no cash so I didn't get it, but the lady told me to just bring her the money when I come again for the newspapers. I suspect she was glad someone would buy them as it's the city and not many folks there would be interested in farming.

I did get one newspaper that was found under the flooring in a house.

I will go back and get that book when I get to the bank and get some cash. They didn't take debits or credit cards.

DW was sleeping and I hated to leave her here alone but she's crabby and complaining I'm hovering over her. She gets her second bout of Chemo on Monday. She gets up for a while but then it's down and out for a few hours. I just wish we could get some sleep at night. She's up with her blasted leg. She's had an MRI and the doc says that will "tell all".

I can not get over the young people at the cancer place.

Anyhow look forward to hearing about what I find in these old newspapers. I hope I'm not the only one interested in history.

 

[Lynzi777]

Well I moved all the chicks outside this afternoon. I figure since it's hot outside they could grow out in one of my rabbit hutches now that I have some empty cages. I thought about moving them to the box crate in the shed but it's TOO hot in there. I'm hoping they are ok to be outside now. I'm going to make a little box/hut in there for them to huddle under at night IF it does get a little chilly. but I don't see that happening now that July is practically here. I figure there are enough of them (4 sizzles, 5 Orps and a duckling) that they should be able to keep each other warm. They were just getting so loud inside upstairs in my office. And it was starting to get dusty too. Off to make a little hut for them. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

 

[marquisella]

OK, so I need help..not with chickens but with making strawberry jam.

I haven't made jam in 30 years so decided to give it a try.

I used the recipe that came with the certo pouch. It said " 4 pints strawberries, 1 pouch, 7 cups of sugar".

Ok, so I measured out exactly 4 pints of strawberries & mashed them up like they said to, but....then it said use 4 cups mashed strawberries. So whats the problem you ask?

Well, if I kept the juice, it made almost 5 cups of mashed strawberries. No where did it say to strain the berries, or keep the juice. And who would want to get rid of all that nice juice?

So I went ahead & used it all, and I think it will not thicken properly....I made strawberry syrup instead.

Tomorrow, I have 3 more quarts of berries to do.

Should I strain out the juice & just use the 4 cups of mashed berries? Somebody please ?

Or, after I made it, I looked on you tube & there was someone making "old fashion" jam without pectin. I could do that I suppose, but the cooking time is double. Any suggestions? I hate to lose all that beautiful strawberry juice...so maybe I should do the old fashion jam instead.

 

[horsekeeper]

OK, so I need help..not with chickens but with making strawberry jam.

I haven't made jam in 30 years so decided to give it a try.

I used the recipe that came with the certo pouch. It said " 4 pints strawberries, 1 pouch, 7 cups of sugar".

Ok, so I measured out exactly 4 pints of strawberries & mashed them up like they said to, but....then it said use 4 cups mashed strawberries. So whats the problem you ask?

Well, if I kept the juice, it made almost 5 cups of mashed strawberries. No where did it say to strain the berries, or keep the juice. And who would want to get rid of all that nice juice?

So I went ahead & used it all, and I think it will not thicken properly....I made strawberry syrup instead.

Tomorrow, I have 3 more quarts of berries to do.

Should I strain out the juice & just use the 4 cups of mashed berries? Somebody please ?

Or, after I made it, I looked on you tube & there was someone making "old fashion" jam without pectin. I could do that I suppose, but the cooking time is double. Any suggestions? I hate to lose all that beautiful strawberry juice...so maybe I should do the old fashion jam instead.

Moosh the berries in a large bowl a small amount at a time and measure the moosh into a quart measuring cup until you have the right amount. No waste that way. Let your current batch set overnight and then try some. It might not be as runny as you think. Jelly has to be firmer because it is just liquid without the fruit, but jam can be a little looser and still useable.

Refer to this page if you have to fix your jelly/jam: http://www.pickyourown.org/how_to_fix_runny_jam.htm

 

[horsekeeper]

Marquisella, I have 6 pekins for sale. Let me know if you are interested.


These are the 3 adults from last year, one drake and two hens. I hatched out their ducklings earlier this year and have a young trio as well. I believe they are the commercial meat type and they grow fast and large.

 

[boskelli1571]

OK, so I need help..not with chickens but with making strawberry jam.

I haven't made jam in 30 years so decided to give it a try.

I used the recipe that came with the certo pouch. It said " 4 pints strawberries, 1 pouch, 7 cups of sugar".

Ok, so I measured out exactly 4 pints of strawberries & mashed them up like they said to, but....then it said use 4 cups mashed strawberries. So whats the problem you ask?

Well, if I kept the juice, it made almost 5 cups of mashed strawberries. No where did it say to strain the berries, or keep the juice. And who would want to get rid of all that nice juice?

So I went ahead & used it all, and I think it will not thicken properly....I made strawberry syrup instead.

Tomorrow, I have 3 more quarts of berries to do.

Should I strain out the juice & just use the 4 cups of mashed berries? Somebody please ?

Or, after I made it, I looked on you tube & there was someone making "old fashion" jam without pectin. I could do that I suppose, but the cooking time is double. Any suggestions? I hate to lose all that beautiful strawberry juice...so maybe I should do the old fashion jam instead.

Or you could try using Pomona pectin - if you can find it. It a mite more 'fiddly' than Certo/surejell, but you can double/triple/half the recipes. You can also use sweetener/honey/agave instead of sugar. I changed over last year and I won't use anything else if I can help it.

 

[Lapeerian]

OK, so I need help..not with chickens but with making strawberry jam.

I haven't made jam in 30 years so decided to give it a try.

I used the recipe that came with the certo pouch. It said " 4 pints strawberries, 1 pouch, 7 cups of sugar".

Ok, so I measured out exactly 4 pints of strawberries & mashed them up like they said to, but....then it said use 4 cups mashed strawberries. So whats the problem you ask?

Well, if I kept the juice, it made almost 5 cups of mashed strawberries. No where did it say to strain the berries, or keep the juice. And who would want to get rid of all that nice juice?

So I went ahead & used it all, and I think it will not thicken properly....I made strawberry syrup instead.

Tomorrow, I have 3 more quarts of berries to do. 

Should I strain out the juice & just use the 4 cups of mashed berries? Somebody please ?

Or, after I made it, I looked on you tube & there was someone making "old fashion" jam without pectin. I could do that I suppose, but the cooking time is double. Any suggestions? I hate to lose all that beautiful strawberry juice...so maybe I should do the old fashion jam instead.

I got the Ball classic pectin in the pastic jar, for flex batches. I did the max recommended batch size. I measured the berries after they were rinsed and trimmed, but firmly pack/slightly heaped measure. Also did the low sugar option, which is plenty sweet enough. Mashed the berries in the stock pot and slowly added the pectin as per directions during mashing. Brought up to boil, added sugar, return to boil then can. I didn't think my first batch would set, because I added sugar during the first step. But it still set up fine. After the water bath the solids risen up, so from the outside looks like jelly on the bottom and jam on top, but I mixed it together when first opened and tasted delicious.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

OK, so I need help..not with chickens but with making strawberry jam.

I haven't made jam in 30 years so decided to give it a try.

I used the recipe that came with the certo pouch. It said " 4 pints strawberries, 1 pouch, 7 cups of sugar".

Ok, so I measured out exactly 4 pints of strawberries & mashed them up like they said to, but....then it said use 4 cups mashed strawberries. So whats the problem you ask?

Well, if I kept the juice, it made almost 5 cups of mashed strawberries. No where did it say to strain the berries, or keep the juice. And who would want to get rid of all that nice juice?

So I went ahead & used it all, and I think it will not thicken properly....I made strawberry syrup instead.

Tomorrow, I have 3 more quarts of berries to do.

Should I strain out the juice & just use the 4 cups of mashed berries? Somebody please ?

Or, after I made it, I looked on you tube & there was someone making "old fashion" jam without pectin. I could do that I suppose, but the cooking time is double. Any suggestions? I hate to lose all that beautiful strawberry juice...so maybe I should do the old fashion jam instead.

I has a similar problem with my Apple jelly last year it was a little more runny then I would have liked s I added a little more pectin and it turned out great. Good luck