Well we ate our rooster tonight. Some of it was eatable...The legs were tough as hell! I did everything that was recommended. I let it rest in the fridge for 5 days. I soaked it in a brine like a friend recommended and I slow cooked it in the crock pot. The breast meat was pretty good. There was more then I expected. DD was a little put off that were were eating our roo, but DS loved what I gave him. I guess next time I'm just going to make chicken N biscuit instead of trying to just eat the chicken. I think that the chickens liked it the best as all. I gave them the rest of the meat left on the bones.
All else is going well. I think that I finally have the incubator figured out and I'm setting my eggs tomorrow. Just giving it one more night to make sure that I have it for sure. Lets hope for some sort of success. I'll feel like it is a successful hatch if I get 1 or 2!
God luck with the hatch. I have 8 more days til lockdown for mine and even with the a/c on the temp has been stable and the humidity has been good without the addition of any moisture! 21 days doesn't seem so long unless your waiting for chicks to hatch!
Morning all. I had 3 silkie chicks hatch out yesterday but the first one that hatched passed away last night. I knew it was in trouble when it hatched and I did what I could for it but it died. So sad. It was a beautiful color too. The other two chicks are healthy and vocal. Im not sure the rest of the eggs are going to hatch. This year has been the biggest disappointment for me as far as hatching silkies. Ive had nothing but failures and my broodys as well. I guess 2 chicks are better than none when you are paying for hatching eggs. I will let the other eggs go a couple more days before pulling the plug on the bator for the year. At least I have a few chicks to work with and grow out.
I took out some old hamburgers yesterday and let the brats/monsters out so I could feed them. Once they figured out that the hand wasnt going to hurt them or grab them, they were happy to be hand fed. The boys were a little rough but everyone enjoyed their goodies. The terrorists were having a fit, watching from their pen. I let them out and fed them their portion. Not by hand though. Those girls are rough! They will rip your hands off trying to beat everyone else getting to the goodies.
I have to pat myself on the back. I am a notorious plant killer. That being said, my plants I put in the raised bed this year are doing very well! They are growing (albeit slowly) and look good. Usually by now I have killed them. I hope I get them to harvest time! I had rabbits on the lawn in the front and back last night. Good thing I have those plants fenced off like Fort Knox because the rabbits and the chickens would strip me clean.
Luv--ever try canning chicken? All the meat comes out tender and juicy. Im surprised the legs were tough being you cooked him in the crockpot. One thing I have learned is that when you do cook them in the crockpot, you have to make sure they are fully covered by water or broth. It does make a difference.
Pharm sorry to hear yet again you had a bad hatch. :-( if anything happens with these eggs I have going in the incu you're more than welcome to have some if any come out as silkies. I should get all three types-silkies, smooth sizzles and frizzled sizzles.
Toomanyroos syndrome over here too Wish I could keep them all, but 10 Roos are just a few too many. :/
They are spitzhaubens: leghorn type, considered LF tho on the small side of LF. Fun birds w lots of energy and personality. Pm me if you need a polka-dotted roo w a Mohawk.
I haven't had the time to be on lately. End of school activities with the girls and family functions. Nora ran a fever all day yesterday and her doctor appointment is this afternoon. I think it is teeth coming in. My poor baby!
I managed to plant my garden. I have a bunch of broodies. My pekins managed to hatch out 9 babies. She left two eggs in the nest. One of them was still peeping so I put it under a broody bantam cochin, who is now a proud duckie momma.
Morning all. I had 3 silkie chicks hatch out yesterday but the first one that hatched passed away last night. I knew it was in trouble when it hatched and I did what I could for it but it died. So sad. It was a beautiful color too. The other two chicks are healthy and vocal. Im not sure the rest of the eggs are going to hatch. This year has been the biggest disappointment for me as far as hatching silkies. Ive had nothing but failures and my broodys as well. I guess 2 chicks are better than none when you are paying for hatching eggs. I will let the other eggs go a couple more days before pulling the plug on the bator for the year. At least I have a few chicks to work with and grow out.
I took out some old hamburgers yesterday and let the brats/monsters out so I could feed them. Once they figured out that the hand wasnt going to hurt them or grab them, they were happy to be hand fed. The boys were a little rough but everyone enjoyed their goodies. The terrorists were having a fit, watching from their pen. I let them out and fed them their portion. Not by hand though. Those girls are rough! They will rip your hands off trying to beat everyone else getting to the goodies.
I have to pat myself on the back. I am a notorious plant killer. That being said, my plants I put in the raised bed this year are doing very well! They are growing (albeit slowly) and look good. Usually by now I have killed them. I hope I get them to harvest time! I had rabbits on the lawn in the front and back last night. Good thing I have those plants fenced off like Fort Knox because the rabbits and the chickens would strip me clean.
Luv--ever try canning chicken? All the meat comes out tender and juicy. Im surprised the legs were tough being you cooked him in the crockpot. One thing I have learned is that when you do cook them in the crockpot, you have to make sure they are fully covered by water or broth. It does make a difference.
Can I ask? Did you get all the birds from the same place? Are you saying your broodys have a hard time hatching as well?
Are you feeding your silkies hamburger? Could it be a poor nutrition thing?
My broody's have had a hard time due to the coop being too hot, there being to many broody's and non broody's. It's hard to brood when other hens get in there and lay more eggs. Some I know have had to many eggs. Lately I've been candling and tossing eggs left and right. Well mostly right....... right into the ditch!
Too with eggs not starting out at the same time hatches are not good. I should have spent the money I spent on and incubator on building a broody coop, just to stick broody's in.
I am not a "veggie terrorist", haha, but I am intrigued by the concept of Eggplant Meatballs! I'd love to check out the recipe, Rancher, when u get a minute to share. Thx.
Hi guys. It's been a while since I've posted. You've all been busy.
I just wanted to share a little story and a pic or 2.
Last Saturday Danielle and I went to see Jamie Matts. We were going to pick up my birthday present and visit for a while. Jamie showed me my pair of birds and then we wandered around. I'm like a kid in a toy store when we go there
Well we were getting ready to leave and Jamie says to wait and then takes off running. I had no idea where he was going or why I had to wait. Well he comes back and hands me another pullet and says happy birthday! I couldn't believe it. Talk about a surprise.
So here they are, my new trio of blue mottled cochins.
The cockeral has a little bit of sunburn but that'll molt out.
I can vouch for what wonderful birds they are -- our Chumley is one of Marquisella's Lav Orps and she is an absolute DELIGHT of a bird in every way: personality, looks and dependable layer of large eggs. We love her!
Morning all. I had 3 silkie chicks hatch out yesterday but the first one that hatched passed away last night. I knew it was in trouble when it hatched and I did what I could for it but it died. So sad. It was a beautiful color too. The other two chicks are healthy and vocal. Im not sure the rest of the eggs are going to hatch. This year has been the biggest disappointment for me as far as hatching silkies. Ive had nothing but failures and my broodys as well. I guess 2 chicks are better than none when you are paying for hatching eggs. I will let the other eggs go a couple more days before pulling the plug on the bator for the year. At least I have a few chicks to work with and grow out.
Sorry the hatches haven't worked out too well, Pharm. Lots of hopes put into them only to be disappointed...bummer. But you do have a couple of chicks to enjoy and watch as they "blossom!" Maybe those remaining eggs might hold some surprises? Hope so!
I'm enjoying seeing everyone's flock photo's. So nice!!
Sold all baby bunnies, thank goodness for that! Bummer is my mini satin who I was hoping was NOT pregnant, was and she had a litter this morning. At least I'm down to a pair of lionheads-those are the kids' pets. One holland lop and the two mini Satins. Ok that still sounds like a lot. The mini Satins were on my for sale list but the mom and babies are obviously staying now.
I found a home for one of the Silkie/Polish crosses. I wanted to part with the dark blue one and keep the white (splash) and the light blue one. I'm contemplating parting with the polish I have. I've also decided to part with some ducks. :-/ I'd like to get down 2 or 3 so we'll see what goes. I'm getting there!
My little chickies are growing and I cannot wait to get them outside.
Chris, you are so lucky. I've wanted some Jamie's blue mottled for the longest time. I'm so very pleased for you. If you ever get more chicks then you want let me know as I can definitely take them off your hands. And belated happy birthday to!
Happy belated Birthday Chris! Those are some mighty fine presents you got! I expect by now that Hilda has Junior well trained and he is minding his manners and being a good boy. If not, I am sure she will correct him.
Rancher--I have two different lines of silkies and the eggs I had hatching were from a third line. I never feed my silkies meat as they dont like it. They do get fruit and veges and eggs. I just finished opening all the unhatched eggs and every single one had quit at hatch. No shrinking, no drowning, just quit. Now that I am thinking about it, these failures have happened during the times when the weather was cool, then turned hot and humid at hatch time. I even used a different bator this time around. I know that my bator spiked to 100.2 a couple days ago when I was at work and it was hot and muggy. I am thinking that this temperature change might have killed them. I know that we had the same weather change when the broody silkies were sitting and supposed to hatch. I am done for the year. Cant take any more disappointments. I did get at least two chicks.
Lynzi---thank you for your kind offer. I hope your hatch is better than mine was. I guess your momma mini wanted babies again!
Released all the beasties to freerange and threw the silkie chicks out into their playpen. Still looking for a forever home for Little Man and his girls. Put the new babies down in the brooder and cleaned up the bators and put them out into the sun to cure. They will be packed away. Mowed the lawn so everyone is out looking for bugs and other tasty treats that I have uncovered with the mower. Bugs werent happy about it. Knees arent either but I have learned to live with that.
Gotta go finish making my potato salad for dinner. Ta for now
Wish I could keep them all, but 10 Roos are just a few too many. :/
