NY chicken lover!!!!

[ChickPrincess]

This year I hatched 36 heritage birds for myself. I will probably keep1 or 2 cockerals for breeding next year an 4-6 pullets depending on breeder quality. Because they are a heritage breed, they reach harvest weight at 5 or 6 months. Yes they need to be slacked otherwise rigor mortis makes the meat very tough. At least I think it is rigor mortis(sp) that will make it tough. I do it during thawing. Insted of thawing in fridge for a day, or on the counter for a few hours, I will take out of the freezer and let them sit for 3ish days before eating. It does take forethought before eating them, but I do not have space to slacken 30 chickens.

Does anybody know how big of a freezer I will need hold 30ish 4 or 5 pound birds?

I have a freezer in my basement that's just the right size!

 

[ChickPrincess]

His paperwork said Quarterhorse but if he is I think he's more appendix QH, more Thoroughbreed than normal QHs. He has a lovely palomino coat with some roan on his cheeks and a deep red shine to his coat. He was beaten up pretty bad before I got him. He dislikes men (even some young boys) and the smell of cigarette smoke. He needs to build up more muscle before I will get on him myself (I'm a heavy rider) so I'm having various smaller friends and family get on him while I treat it like a pony ride. He seems to love it.

Burns my a@@ to have such a beautiful animal treated poorly! There's no excuse. Glad you have him now.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Chickens can be messy ..I swear they spit dirt in their water
I have never seen mosquito larvae in the AVC water . Vinegar is acidic & can be used for disinfecting ....That is why the bowls stay cleaner longer .

I actually have been using the ACV instead of soap to clean the water bowl. Cleans the stainless like nothing else! I clean the bowl right on the coop deck, so then I'm not adding soap to the ground there too.

 

[Lynzi777]

This rain is getting on my every last nerve. Just when I look outside and think it looks like it's going to be a nice day!! It pours! Went to Toys R Us this morning to shop for my son and couldn't see a thing in the way home! It's sunny now, but humid and I want to get out there to clean coops! Ugh

Something's up with my silkies.....the Splash is sitting on that one egg, the chicks are laying with her and the black hen is always down below by herself in the run. Usually when I open the nestbox lid all the chicks come running over peeping their heads out, etc. Every time I've opened it since getting home on Sunday, they're all huddled together with the broody. What the heck is going on with them!? They just seem too quiet.

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

I love camping and wish I could do it more. Having so many dogs makes it difficult because we can't take them all with us. I don't like having to ask my parents to dog sit too many times.

I'm playing catch up with chores today. My in laws came up to visit yesterday. They showed within a half hour of my getting home from work and stayed until after 7. I really didn't want to get out of bed this morning.

On to the topic of rain. There is going to be a problem getting crops in for winter this year if this weather keeps it up. Hay prices are going to be high because they can't get the equipment on the feeds with out sinking or tearing it up. The corn in a lot of places is drowning, which will mean higher feed costs. Ugh! We've had a lot of flooding here.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

My BYC flock, if you could spare a moment to send up a prayer or good wishes to my family, I'd appreciate it tremendously. My 22-year-old nephew was killed in an accident on Sunday. My sister and brother-in-law, my other nephews, my family, and all his friends and loved ones are devastated - I'm asking all my friends to pray for us or send good thoughts our way, as the support is so greatly needed and appreciated.

A tiny bright spot in the darkness of the past few days - last night, all four duck eggs under my hen hatched into beautiful baby Rouens. They're for my youngest nephew, who at five years old has lost the big brother who was such a huge part of his life. Such a simple thing, yet so meaningful in times like these.

Henicillin,

I am just seeing this today, as we have been out of town. I am so, so sorry. Life is very fragile, as we all know, and it certainly is not fair. I will definitely say some prayers that your sister and your entire family can find some peace and comfort in this very sad time.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

This rain is getting on my every last nerve. Just when I look outside and think it looks like it's going to be a nice day!! It pours! Went to Toys R Us this morning to shop for my son and couldn't see a thing in the way home! It's sunny now, but humid and I want to get out there to clean coops! Ugh

Something's up with my silkies.....the Splash is sitting on that one egg, the chicks are laying with her and the black hen is always down below by herself in the run. Usually when I open the nestbox lid all the chicks come running over peeping their heads out, etc. Every time I've opened it since getting home on Sunday, they're all huddled together with the broody. What the heck is going on with them!? They just seem too quiet.

My pen is rather squishy and I spent a good chunk of time raking it out, as we were away for a long weekend and it was kind of nasty. The humidity and plain old MOISTURE out there is definitely wearing thin!

Hopefully, your chicks are OK. I don't have a clue why they would be acting like that.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I actually have been using the ACV instead of soap to clean the water bowl. Cleans the stainless like nothing else! I clean the bowl right on the coop deck, so then I'm not adding soap to the ground there too.

ChickP,

when you use the ACV to clean (great idea, I think!) are you using the mothers to do this, or just regular vinegar?

THANKS!

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

His paperwork said Quarterhorse but if he is I think he's more appendix QH, more Thoroughbreed than normal QHs. He has a lovely palomino coat with some roan on his cheeks and a deep red shine to his coat. He was beaten up pretty bad before I got him. He dislikes men (even some young boys) and the smell of cigarette smoke. He needs to build up more muscle before I will get on him myself (I'm a heavy rider) so I'm having various smaller friends and family get on him while I treat it like a pony ride. He seems to love it.

My boy is also an appendix QH. Long 'n lean. He is a good fella. I rode him a couple of weeks ago for the first time in months. He was good as gold. His best buddy is a large pony that was abused years ago. He has never forgotten. It's always a milestone when he shows a new degree of trust.

Good luck conditioning your boy! Great that you're taking it slow.

TOB

 

[Sally8]

we never camp with electricity. More than 20 years ago I restored a huge slide in truck camper and we used that a few years but have tent camped since then. In both cases the camper or the tent is a place to sleep and ride out thunderstorms. Other than that you will find me at the fire eating and drinking coffee

Honestly, I am not a camper. Not that I mind roughing it but I've seen all the work friends go through to camp. I always go visit and am amazed at the "campers" that are out there. The "home" is so much nicer than the first mobile home I lived in. They come with TV's, satellites, air conditioners, huge picture windows. Not really camping in my opinion. (Just my opinion) I do enjoy the relaxing part and the no electricity (no phones)

Your craftsmanship is outstanding!