Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[NovaAman]

About legs... Make a table frame to set it on...that's what I did with my dog house coop.

 

[NovaAman]

oh, yeah, some people are very funny faraway. I mean there are people (my sister) who won't eat my eggs. Prefer the store eggs, its just less icky. Lol. Sure. They've been bleached and are already a week or more old! Yup, less icky. She won't even eat my meat birds... Lol

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahahaha I have heard of people not eating eggs if there is a rooster around, but what they don't know won't hurt them!

Amazing, I wonder if they would feel the same if they knew what intensively raised birds went through before being on those little foam tray in the supermarket.

Each to their own, more for me and my family.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Almost forgot to congratulate you and Alicia on your PB during the fun run! What was the distance? I run as well - just getting back into it after taking almost a year off after an injury. I can't imagine I'll ever do more than a 5k - I'm definitely not a distance runner. Lol. I wish my husband had an interest in running, it would make the miles seem less
Recycled some cabinet hinges for my coop too today. It's amazing what there is lying around if ya look long enough in our basement.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Thanks Pam. I was pretty stoked for the run. We signed up to Parkrun, which is a weekly community run. 5k every Saturday morning, all around the place. I got 2nd in my category, 16th overall (from 81) in 23:10. I beat my PB by nearly a minute. I was pushed along by another runner, so I was well motivated.

Alicia's PB was also beat, she came in at 34 minutes. Although she is happy with her improvement, she seems not that happy with her recovery. She is coming off a break too after hurting her ankle a few months back.

The past couple of years we have entered into the 12k City to Surf Race, and last year we set a goal of the half marathon (21k) so we have been getting ready for that in 10 weeks time.

I have always been more of a weights training kind of guy, but it's hard to be good at both, so I am focusing on the running until after the big one in Aug. Having support for this kind of thing makes the world of difference, if you are motivated maybe it might rub off.

As for the hinges, how good is it, something you have right there, no travel, does the job AND costs nothing, boggles me as to why more don't re-use stuff.

For my chicken talk today....thinking we might have a big cook up tonight, Roast or crispy fried chicken for former 15 week old roosters?

 

[Wrightsx4]

Nothing beats roast chicken! Then again I rarely fry anything anymore. When I couldn't run or do much of any exercise for that matter (neck/upper back injury that took forever to heal) I focussed on eating more healthily, much to my husband's dismay! Haha...can't make him run but I can get him to eat well at home .
Our two roos are still in the freezer. I think the family may be ready to have a home grown chicken dinner. I'll take Nova's advice though and slow cook since my guys were older.

 

[NovaAman]

Guess what!? My phoenix put themselves in the coop all on their own tonight! How awesome is that! They are 6 weeks this week. Boy does time fly. I will get new pics soon. Their colors are AMAAAAAAAZING! Lol


Them older roos, slow cooked, then shredded with slop joe mix... Num num num. Great sandwiches.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I stayed home today, fabricator had no power, and I have to get my tax submission ready **GROAN** I was hoping to have it all sorted and get a few things done on the rooster box. I only got to spend about an hour on it, so not a huge update.

Capped a few corners, and fitted a foam strip to the doors. I wish I did not have to add to the corners, but free hand cutting was never going to be neat. Have to get a pic next time.

I did make a decision on the two meals. Milo is going to be a crispy chicken dish tomorrow, served with mash and gravy, maybe a coleslaw. I don't want to freeze either of the meals, so it's chicken two nights in a row. Lucky is in the oven now. Given his age I am going with a traditional roast cooking method, hopefully he is not too tough.



Will report back with a pic and review after dinner.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Our first home hatched, grown, processed and cooked roast chicken.





A big serve. Skin was crispy, cooked all the way through. Moist and mostly tender. As for flavour, I can only describe it as being different, and more rich to a tore bought bird. I do have this feeling of "I hope I did everything right and don't get my family sick" hahahaha

MY drumstick bone came out clean as I was cutting it from the bird!

 

[NovaAman]

Yum. Looks good. Yes, home grown birds are more rich. Even good home grown meat birds are more rich in flavor. I let my meat birds be on grass all day along with their food and water. WOW what a flavor difference over the store boughts.


Yuck... hate tax time.