Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LadyBehir]

I am going to learn how to can this year. I've cooked a large batch of beets and diced them up into single serving portions and frozen them. I am the only one here that likes them and it makes for an easy heat in the microwave veg side. I am prone to eating way too many of them in one sitting and uh, it is scary the next day in the bathroom. Scared me the first time I overindulged. Growing them is easy and now that I know chickens like the greens, we can share.

 

[stake]

Hey:

LMP:

Show up at Wing's house with a Sweetgrass and you may have yourself a canner.....lol


Been slowly getting into canning/preserving.....I have dunked hot peppers in vinegar 75% after cutting slit holes in them and they stayed good in the frig....this year I also did this http://www.amandathevirtuouswife.com/2012/07/banana-pepper-rings-canning-tutorial.html
and it worked out well...

Noted before, Blarney was making Pepper Jelly and think that's something to do....I have also blanched green beans a did the food saver with them...haven't tested them yet....kraut is on my todo list also.....

Always looking for new ideas...,,

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Hey:

LMP:

Show up at Wing's house with a Sweetgrass and you may have yourself a canner.....lol


Been slowly getting into canning/preserving.....I have dunked hot peppers in vinegar 75% after cutting slit holes in them and they stayed good in the frig....this year I also did this http://www.amandathevirtuouswife.com/2012/07/banana-pepper-rings-canning-tutorial.html
and it worked out well...

Noted before, Blarney was making Pepper Jelly and think that's something to do....I have also blanched green beans a did the food saver with them...haven't tested them yet....kraut is on my todo list also.....

Always looking for new ideas...,,

I am going to learn how to can this year. I've cooked a large batch of beets and diced them up into single serving portions and frozen them. I am the only one here that likes them and it makes for an easy heat in the microwave veg side. I am prone to eating way too many of them in one sitting and uh, it is scary the next day in the bathroom. Scared me the first time I overindulged. Growing them is easy and now that I know chickens like the greens, we can share.

OMGosh..hahaha..it is pretty scary when that happens!!

...hahaha, have never froze beets, will have to try a few this year!! I am the only one who eats them here too..they just don't know what's good!..haha more for me anyway!

Would LOVE to show up with a Sweetgrass, for a pressure cooker!! haha..sounds like a fair trade

...haha..

If anyone would like to share canning recipes or any recipe for that matter...I am all in..always looking for improvement & new ideas in the tastebud area!!

We made a ton of salsa this-past year, seasoned diced tomatoes, relish, beets, pickles..omg, the best homemade i have ever had!! I will share the recipe if anyone is interested!!

...bread & butter pickles...also blanched: yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli., sugarsnaps....
This year doing it all again & get to include some starberries!! I don't think the fruit trees will be ready for a couple years yet

...
I have a friend who makes some pretty awesome apple butter and canned "italian" peppers in olive oil/vinegar, she is going to show me how she does her stuff this year..so excited!!
Also, going to be "putting up" veggies for the chooks too...
And trying out that whole process of *storing root veggies for the winter, *(news paper & veggies layered in a container in the dirt-side basement)....we are going to grow potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic ..along with all the other "normal" stuffs..

Don't forget the "chicken" garden...sunflowers/lettuces/grasses-grains/pumpkins/cabbage/kale/Jerusalem artichoke...many more things(flowers to seed)....

 

[SilkieSensation]

I've been hatching for over a month now.  I turned the 'bator back on around the beginning of December.  I have 4 hatches in the brooder, but the hatches have been small.  I wasn't getting any eggs at first, but I set what I was getting.  Fertility is down in many of my pens.  Of course, it's a Cochin thing so I will have to trim butts.  I am running 90-95% fertility in my MFC and BC/MFC pens now.  Since I set up the lights, I get between 9-18 eggs a day now.  I am setting every 5 or so days, so having the eggs set that long does not help fertility either.

Yep, hatching season is upon us!  I can say that I am very thankful that I now have an off season, though.  Since getting the Sportsman, I hatch enough Jan-Jun that I can shut down in June and have plenty of eggs to sell afterwards.  I know to get anyplace on my projects I should hatch everything, but I don't have the space to house all the birds I could potentially hatch!  And what's worse is this year hatching season started early.  I did that so I wasn't dealing with fertility issues into March like last year!  Hopefully I won't get any brooder illnesses like last year, either.  I lost over half the chicks I hatched because of whatever it was.  I have no ducks this year, so no wet bedding to cause any illnesses! 

I usually have 3 bators running year round. I have a 5 wk gap in hatching this year due to 2 moves in a month's time. If it wasn't for the moves (& spending a month in a 24 ft camper with no room for my bator) my bators never would have shut down.

Good Morning Pennsylvania! Silkie, nice structure! Should be a safe place to kidd, when the time comes.

@Lisa, breakfast is an issue! A handful of cashews sure helps to take the edge off in the morning.

There were fox mating in the corn field just aside our property this morning, I drug DH out of the shower and held onto the dog, but he missed. I really need to learn how to shoot the gun.

The birds will be taking over the shed in the pix. The plan is to build the goats a shed of their own. I may build the waterfowl a different shed & give the lower level to the goats. Haven't decided for sure yet.

Morning everyone.....the sun is finally shining here!!! ...wow, it is amazing how much that little thing called light can make things better....okay, I have a question..hahha, well-you knew it was coming...I am NOT having this issue at the moment & hopefully never will, but got thinking about egg-bound hens....i have read some about this, but was wondering what any of you have done or would do if faced with this issue.?....having new girls coming into their egg-laying time..weird things happen all the time, just would like to be informed a little more than what i am..not. thank you-danielle

Here's what worked for my hen last winter:
Tons of extra calcium/oyster shell.
Isolated in a cage by herself but in sight of the others.
Medicine syringe full of veggie oil injected into the vent every 2-3 days until she began passing eggs regularly. Took about 2 weeks to get her completely back to normal. No problems since.

 

[kalbach8]

Ohhhh, I want to can toooooo. We have a garden and grow tomatoes, green and hot peppers, and cucumber. We usually give everything we can't eat ourselves away to family, friends, and neighbors.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Ohhhh, I want to can toooooo. We have a garden and grow tomatoes, green and hot peppers, and cucumber. We usually give everything we can't eat ourselves away to family, friends, and neighbors.

well...get yourself some jars/lids/rings and a great big pot..or a regular "canner"...you can even get a starter kit from "Ball"..has everything in it..even the lifter thingy...hahaha., there are so many recipes and "how too's " on the internet, you can try a little of everything!! I have found some very good ones!!

Instead of giving things away..put it up..and share with the chooks

......we can all share our "methods" and recipes...if we are all into it?!

....maybe..

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I usually have 3 bators running year round. I have a 5 wk gap in hatching this year due to 2 moves in a month's time. If it wasn't for the moves (& spending a month in a 24 ft camper with no room for my bator) my bators never would have shut down.
The birds will be taking over the shed in the pix. The plan is to build the goats a shed of their own. I may build the waterfowl a different shed & give the lower level to the goats. Haven't decided for sure yet.
Here's what worked for my hen last winter:
Tons of extra calcium/oyster shell.
Isolated in a cage by herself but in sight of the others.
Medicine syringe full of veggie oil injected into the vent every 2-3 days until she began passing eggs regularly. Took about 2 weeks to get her completely back to normal. No problems since.

Thank you Silkie!...good info!!

For any & All......Other than good "type"..or ..structure meant for that specific bird....what are some ways to help prevent this from even happening in the first place? Or is it just "one of those things"..and you really can't?....thank you ...

 

[SilkieSensation]

Thank you Silkie!...good info!!

For any & All......Other than good "type"..or ..structure meant for that specific bird....what are some ways to help prevent this from even happening in the first place? Or is it just "one of those things"..and you really can't?....thank you ...

I know there are othet causes, but for my girl it was low calcium. She couldn't make the shells to lay the eggs. This was paired with stress from a move. She was still laying, but not regularly & the eggs were bloody when she did. I had just list another bird to the same thing so was panicking thinking there was something wrong with all of them. Turned out some of them were just more sensitive to calcium levels. I can always tell when JJ forgets to add oyster shell to the feed a couple days in a row. That particular hen's eggs get very thin shelled very quickly. Toss her an extra handful of calciym & she's right back in the swing.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I know there are othet causes, but for my girl it was low calcium. She couldn't make the shells to lay the eggs. This was paired with stress from a move. She was still laying, but not regularly & the eggs were bloody when she did. I had just list another bird to the same thing so was panicking thinking there was something wrong with all of them. Turned out some of them were just more sensitive to calcium levels. I can always tell when JJ forgets to add oyster shell to the feed a couple days in a row. That particular hen's eggs get very thin shelled very quickly. Toss her an extra handful of calciym & she's right back in the swing.

thank you again Silkie!!...I will definitely make sure to keep the "shell" cup filled. I use the shells of the eggs we use. I just wash'em out & let them air dry. I have a big bag full of them..just crush them up...fill the cup..done! and it didn't cost any extra..which is the best !

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Oh my Goodness!! Oh my Goodness!! MsLadyHawke just dropped off a whole Bunch of D'Uccles for us to hatch along with the Orps!! Yay! The kids are soooooo happy, can NOT wait to see these little cuties when they hatch....gotta make this hatch work!.