Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LittleMissPurdy]

has anyone ever made cheese?
I have some rennet & would like to try this.
Have read a bunch of online stuff, was just wanting some tips/tricks maybe they don't say on videos & blogs. What would be the best type for a beginner?
Making cheese, along with a bunch of other weird-type things to do, is on my "kick the bucket list"...would really like to try this before i am outta here.
I wonder if they have a cheese making thread here..hahaha, they have everything else!

 

[HeartoftheMatterFarm]

When it comes to goats you have to love them to deal with all the crazy stuff they do. I think have about 28 goats right now. I sold 3 and got more babies and more babies to come. Doing math right now during kidding season is hard. I wait till I'm done kidding before I count.

 

[BullChick]

has anyone ever made cheese?
I have some rennet & would like to try this.
Have read a bunch of online stuff, was just wanting some tips/tricks maybe they don't say on videos & blogs. What would be the best type for a beginner?
Making cheese, along with a bunch of other weird-type things to do, is on my "kick the bucket list"...would really like to try this before i am outta here.
I wonder if they have a cheese making thread here..hahaha, they have everything else!

If I’m allowed to acknowledge you, go to the https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-home-bakers-here.921333/page-1926#post-21011093
We talk about cheese making for beginners there.

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

Some information to any peeps out there 'new to chickens' and a friendly reminder to all of those who have been doing this forever... Please read.

Becoming a CPT, Certified Poultry Technician, is an awesome way to learn MANY new things about caring for & keeping chickens.
You will learn the extreme importance of Bio-security, you will never look at things the same way again I promise you!
The diseases/illnesses that can afflict poultry of any type.
This knowledge is not just for chicken keeping, it includes turkey, ducks, geese..all poultry that is available here in PA.
If you take the course, it comes in two stages.
Theory: The overall care of poultry , animal husbandry for backyard & commercial.
Practical: field testing, actual hands on practice of swabbing & blood collection from certain poultry species.
The fee for this course is only $10.00.
If you complete both parts you will be licenced & able to collect poultry samples for private farms, backyard hobbyist, breeders.
People who like to exhibit their poultry in shows have to be tested before they can compete. You do/can receive compensation for doing this.
Some people do this as extra income...just saying. Some others do not choose to charge for their services.
**I am not selling this for anyone, just trying to get more information out there as to the importance of responsible animal husbandry.
The more we know & understand, the more likely we are to be more "present" in our actions.
These issues just do not effect those who are immediate, these issues can spread like wildfire effecting us all.
I am bringing this to everyone because I am a CPT, along with many others here on this thread and on "Backyard Chickens" as a whole.
I went to a course, 7-8 years ago, because someone on here brought it to our attention that it was available & only $10.00, so what did we have to lose?!
I took the Theory course with a couple peeps from this thread.
I did not have the chance to field test right away, but had some time before the "course-completion" ran-out. Can't remember off-the-top if it was 6 months or a year to complete, but you have time.
Was finally able to complete field testing at my own home, on my own birds. I had to call the state veterinarian to come and watch me fulfill the requirements. She was great & helpful throughout the testing.
She answered all of our questions & concerns.
Believe me peeps, if I can handle this, YOU can too! Nothing to be scared about.

Every year I renew license through the state.$10.00, it keeps me in the "know" as to what is happening in this state & all over the country in agriculture/poultry.
We receive emails/updates through the state, Nanette Hanshaw, wonderful people.
If we ever have any questions/concerns, we just call/email them and it is answered.

I do not participate in testing for shows and such. I do not have the physical capacity to do this, but I do have the knowledge for my own flock and those around me. If there is ever an issue. It would be handled properly.

The website for more information about the course & where/dates they hold them.
www.agriculture.pa.gov/Animals/AHDServices/licenses-certificates/Certified%20Poultry%20Technician%20License/Pages/default.aspx

***Just this-morning we got an email stating:

Please see below for an update on the Newcastle Disease situation out west. Several commercial layer and pullet flocks have been euthanized in addition to the many backyard flocks. It has also been identified in Mexico but we don’t know if that’s because birds were moved.

To help protect our PA poultry, PDA has a quarantine order soon to be published in the PA Bulletin- I’ll share the document once it’s final.
ALSO:
In other news, another case of LPAI has just been reported in turkeys in Minnesota. There is little information on the internet but they may be being held for controlled marketing, as the other flocks were.
Site: Chippewa County 1 detected on January 25, 2019

Situation: Serologic evidence of H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza detected in a commercial turkey flock of multi-age toms. A virus has not been isolated on this farm.


There was a lot more information in the email on what the terms for quarantine order are.
I will be more than happy to share this information if you would like.
I apologize greatly for the length of this post. Please forgive me, I do this for the benefit of all.
Sincerely,
Danielle

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

When it comes to goats you have to love them to deal with all the crazy stuff they do. I think have about 28 goats right now. I sold 3 and got more babies and more babies to come. Doing math right now during kidding season is hard. I wait till I'm done kidding before I count.

.....hahaha, wait till your done "kidding" before you count..okay, that is very funny to me, but I am a little bit "different" sooooo....
Yeah, about the "goaty" things they do, remember, I have a neighbor with them. Have witnessed more than I should have not owning any.
You either love them or you don't. I do, but having them here right now would be too much.
I was lining-up to help care for hers over the summer when she would want to "get away" for a long weekend or week camping & such, in return for a baby goat to be housed with hers,(for company), but it would have been mine/ours... but I was physically assaulted by a truck. That whole incident put our plans back and some of those plans are completely off the list now forever.
Not saying that for nothing, just saying it takes a ton of time with goats & having time for anything else is tough..she has milk goats, wanted to get into meat goats too. Not sure what she is going to do now.
Bless you for your goat love!! They do take another level of commitment.
They are just so gosh darn cute when they are babies though

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

If I’m allowed to acknowledge you, go to the https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-home-bakers-here.921333/page-1926#post-21011093
We talk about cheese making for beginners there.

Thank you...what?did ...I...say something? did I miss something? is this something left for a private conversation?
I am gonna check out that thread!! It doesn't "look" hard making cheese, but then that can b said for a great many things as far as just looking.

 

[fangedknight]

WELP! No eggs yesterday, day before, or today! So I think Sophie is done laying for this clutch. Got all four of the eggies in the incubator, humidity is holding nicely at around 30%, I'm nervous, excited, and actually a little more confident this time! (It also helps that I put the incubator in the living room so I don't have to go far to take care of them).

I will say that I will be SO GLAD when this damn mud season is over. UGH. I need to do something with the run, it's getting so bad. I think maybe a roof is in order, I do like having the snow and rain water fill up their pond liner I have in there for them though. Think I might do a gutter system that feeds right into the pond, that way I don't have to worry about missing out on the rainwater.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Some information to any peeps out there 'new to chickens' and a friendly reminder to all of those who have been doing this forever... Please read.

Becoming a CPT, Certified Poultry Technician, is an awesome way to learn MANY new things about caring for & keeping chickens.
You will learn the extreme importance of Bio-security, you will never look at things the same way again I promise you!
The diseases/illnesses that can afflict poultry of any type.
This knowledge is not just for chicken keeping, it includes turkey, ducks, geese..all poultry that is available here in PA.
If you take the course, it comes in two stages.
Theory: The overall care of poultry , animal husbandry for backyard & commercial.
Practical: field testing, actual hands on practice of swabbing & blood collection from certain poultry species.
The fee for this course is only $10.00.
If you complete both parts you will be licenced & able to collect poultry samples for private farms, backyard hobbyist, breeders.
People who like to exhibit their poultry in shows have to be tested before they can compete. You do/can receive compensation for doing this.
Some people do this as extra income...just saying. Some others do not choose to charge for their services.
**I am not selling this for anyone, just trying to get more information out there as to the importance of responsible animal husbandry.
The more we know & understand, the more likely we are to be more "present" in our actions.
These issues just do not effect those who are immediate, these issues can spread like wildfire effecting us all.
I am bringing this to everyone because I am a CPT, along with many others here on this thread and on "Backyard Chickens" as a whole.
I went to a course, 7-8 years ago, because someone on here brought it to our attention that it was available & only $10.00, so what did we have to lose?!
I took the Theory course with a couple peeps from this thread.
I did not have the chance to field test right away, but had some time before the "course-completion" ran-out. Can't remember off-the-top if it was 6 months or a year to complete, but you have time.
Was finally able to complete field testing at my own home, on my own birds. I had to call the state veterinarian to come and watch me fulfill the requirements. She was great & helpful throughout the testing.
She answered all of our questions & concerns.
Believe me peeps, if I can handle this, YOU can too! Nothing to be scared about.

Every year I renew license through the state.$10.00, it keeps me in the "know" as to what is happening in this state & all over the country in agriculture/poultry.
We receive emails/updates through the state, Nanette Hanshaw, wonderful people.
If we ever have any questions/concerns, we just call/email them and it is answered.

I do not participate in testing for shows and such. I do not have the physical capacity to do this, but I do have the knowledge for my own flock and those around me. If there is ever an issue. It would be handled properly.

The website for more information about the course & where/dates they hold them.
www.agriculture.pa.gov/Animals/AHDServices/licenses-certificates/Certified%20Poultry%20Technician%20License/Pages/default.aspx

***Just this-morning we got an email stating:

Please see below for an update on the Newcastle Disease situation out west. Several commercial layer and pullet flocks have been euthanized in addition to the many backyard flocks. It has also been identified in Mexico but we don’t know if that’s because birds were moved.

To help protect our PA poultry, PDA has a quarantine order soon to be published in the PA Bulletin- I’ll share the document once it’s final.
ALSO:
In other news, another case of LPAI has just been reported in turkeys in Minnesota. There is little information on the internet but they may be being held for controlled marketing, as the other flocks were.
Site: Chippewa County 1 detected on January 25, 2019

Situation: Serologic evidence of H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza detected in a commercial turkey flock of multi-age toms. A virus has not been isolated on this farm.


There was a lot more information in the email on what the terms for quarantine order are.
I will be more than happy to share this information if you would like.
I apologize greatly for the length of this post. Please forgive me, I do this for the benefit of all.
Sincerely,
Danielle

I took the classroom part of the test last year but never competed the hands on part :/ I tried drawing blood a few times from some of my own birds but haven't been successful with it. I would love to complete it and get my flock NPIP certified. Is there a trick to getting the blood to come out? Lol

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

I took the classroom part of the test last year but never competed the hands on part :/ I tried drawing blood a few times from some of my own birds but haven't been successful with it. I would love to complete it and get my flock NPIP certified. Is there a trick to getting the blood to come out? Lol

,
I am so glad you did the class part! The blood draw can be intimidating, but once you do it, you'll be like...and then no bird will be safe!, just kidding! My goodness.
Find a calm girl with bigger veins in her wing area. Also, making sure they have had plenty to drink helps a lot!! Plumps up their veins..just like us. Oh, and using a very small needle, yeppers, that helps.
My first bird was Ginger, she has terrible veins, even the vet couldn't get it one the first try...hee hee, made me feel good though..sorry. Her veins are so tiny the vet asked me if she was dehydrated...uh No, you see the HUGE waterer!! anyway...
**find a calm(er), plumpy-vein girl, use a very small needle, makes sure she is well hydrated and practice, practice... Yes you will most likely see a little bruising, their skin is so thin in that area & pale. But using the small needle helps a lot.
You can do it!
It is like anything else we do with these animals, the more you do, the more comfortable you are with it. It will become old-hat in no time!
Becoming NPIP certified is a big deal, with all the issues & concerns about poultry. Having that one extra layer/step-up makes a big difference to many breeders and their businesses.
Hope something here helps

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

WELP! No eggs yesterday, day before, or today! So I think Sophie is done laying for this clutch. Got all four of the eggies in the incubator, humidity is holding nicely at around 30%, I'm nervous, excited, and actually a little more confident this time! (It also helps that I put the incubator in the living room so I don't have to go far to take care of them).

I will say that I will be SO GLAD when this damn mud season is over. UGH. I need to do something with the run, it's getting so bad. I think maybe a roof is in order, I do like having the snow and rain water fill up their pond liner I have in there for them though. Think I might do a gutter system that feeds right into the pond, that way I don't have to worry about missing out on the rainwater.

We could have an entire thread going about this weather and the absolute mess it is making...
we started to use mulch in our runs 2 years now, to help keep the factor to a minimum. It has help greatly. They still dig down under and make holes, but over all it is great. As it breaks down it helps keep the dirt from being completely dead & compacted.. There are actually worms under it. The girls enjoy digging around and finding them.
We are still working getting the run covered too, with the way things are going, don't think it is going to be drying out anytime soon.
Your gutter system idea sound promising!