Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Oh sure! we're having frozen pie from the store!

Kathy , I do have heat lights in my coop but last year only left the red light on. Lord have mercy every rooster for miles showed up. So this year I'm going to turn all lights off at night. Now I've read that each bird generates 10 watts of heat and I've also read that roosts are better if the 4 side of a 2x4 is up so the birds cover their feet with feathers when they roost. I didn't but intend to rub vaseline on everyones feet and combs, but it may take a couple of days.

 

[kathyinmo]

I read (can't remember where) that frostbite usually doesn't occur unless it is 20 below zero. I hope I don't have a problem with it here. I love my roosters' combs. I was ridiculous last year with heating. I bought some of those electric heaters that look like the old oil (coiled) heaters, and had them going in the coops, as well as heat lamps. I have learned (a little bit) this year, and I really really do not want to heat the coop. Never say never, I know .....

I also read that, Tim, that the chickens generate ?watts of heat.

If you use Vaseline, don't ya have to keep doing it, like every day or more? I have droppings boards in most of my pens and coops, and I scoop them daily, so I hope that will keep the humidity down.

 

[rancher hicks]

Last year there were ice crystals on the walls on certain days. I had those red bottom waterers and the buggers kept knocking them over. This year I have the nipples so hopefully that will keep them dryer. I also have the lights near the tops of the roosts. I may switch the white one out for a red, but I do have a regular whitel light bulb in the coop too. I could leave the reds on at night and just turn the white on in the morning. I also cover the run so they can get some fresh air during the day if they want. It's covered with clear (opac) plastic so the sun generates some heat.

 

[Braclin]

Well friends I gotta head out to work. Wishing you all the best holiday ever!!

 

[rancher hicks]

Well now, I don't know how to make the turkey thingies but I do wish everyone a safe and sober holiday. I am thanking God for my BYC friends for sure.

Love ya all

Rancher

 

[Cetawin]

OMG that is the most disgusting looking pie I have seen Cynthia....just send it to me and I will force myself

I mean my chickens to eat it. Yes...you cannot have that in the house....how embarrassing for you.

Well I have been cooking and baking the day away myself and trying to get ready for the in-laws visiting on Friday

I gave up on the housework and stayed in the kitchen and when these last three loaves of bread are baked I am going to hit a hot bath. So far....2 green bean casseroles (HUGE) 20 Large Baked Sweet Potatoes are baked and mashed and 6 Large loaves of whole wheat and honey bread.

When I say large loaves...I mean large...this is a tablespoon lying on the loaf

 

[Cetawin]

I have a 10' x 20' coop and have 2 heat lamps with 250 watts heat bulbs in there....I keep one window open about 2" and have no problem with condensation and the window is but none of the waterers has frozen which is what I have them for primarily.

I am adding another 3/4 of a bale of straw to the coop for them because we are looking at highs of 23-27 this weekend so they can burrow down in the straw if they feel cold...

 

[Serrin]

Oh Joy! Oh Rapture! Denny got the water line thawed out and running perfectly again!

No more excuses. I got all of the dishes taken care of first thing, as soon as I had running water again. Next was to boil the sweet potatoes to take with to Pete & Robin's. Those are done and in the fridge for now.

Tomorrow, about a half hour before dinner, they'll get peeled, sliced, covered with 1/4 inch slices of real butter, doused generously with brown sugar and baked in a 375 oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until bubbling. It's my mothers recipe and I've loved it that way for years and years. Don't know why nobody else does them this way.

At least I've never encountered them done the same way anywhere else.

The boys have survived the full day in the pump house just fine. Actually, it's kind of fun to have my boys right here with me. They're very good company....errrmm...that is until that little loud mouth CB decides he needs to crow his silly little head off. Little Man Syndrome at its finest!

I've heard nary a peep out of Brutus. He just likes to sit quietly behind me and preen my hair.

Red is totally content to rest on top of the dryer and keep an eye on everything that goes on. And they carry on little conversations with me. So, yeah, all in all, it's very pleasant to have the boys for company out here. They'll probably be going back out to their coop either tomorrow or Friday. Temperatures should be moderating considerably by that time.

Cetawin, that bread looks absolutely mouth watering! I've got a real weakness for artisan, hand crafted breads. Look out when I get my full kitchen done!

I'll be baking up a storm for sure! Anybody have a great sourdough recipe they'd like to share in about 6 months??

I was ridiculous last year with heating. I bought some of those electric heaters that look like the old oil (coiled) heaters, and had them going in the coops, as well as heat lamps.

Sheesh Kathy! And I thought I was going overboard with two heat lamps in the big coop!!

Don't you dare lecture me missy!! All I did was bring the boys into an existing structure that has heat in it already!

Holy Smokes! You actually bought heaters for them? DH would flat out kill me or have me committed!

We had a visit from Mr. Hawk again today.

I was in the big coop at the time, checking on Chief and the girls. I was sort of trapped in the coop as we had a small family of deer in the driveway, eating the wild bird seed that Denny had tossed out for the wild quail. That's probably what had enticed the hawk in so close. He was eyeing all of those tasty little quail like some sort of smorgasbord. Kathy, you would have been real proud of Mama Maggie and her two girls! They were standing on top of the new nest boxes right under the window at the time. As soon as she spotted that hawk, she and the twins let out shrill warning cries. Which in turn got everyone in the coop riled up and duplicating her call. That girl has some very sharp eyes so she does! And she never took her eyes off of that wretched bird the whole time he was up in the trees. I'm just glad that everyone was safely in the coop at the time.

Hopefully, the next time he pays us a visit, there won't be deer in the way to disturb and we'll have a better chance of convincing him that this is not a good place to hang out! SSS has its place and time. I hate having to do it, but I hate even more the loss of a bird I know and love. I feel bad enough when I see a hawk get one of the sweet little wild quail as it is. Poor little guys! They've got a hard enough time without adding Mr/Mrs. Hawk into the picture!

Well y'all, I hope that tomorrow is a great day for everyone. I too am grateful for my BYC family. Consider yourselves soundly hugged!

I'm off to bed now. Need to get an early start to various things tomorrow!

Sweet dreams y'all!​

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Just yell out when you want it. The starter recipe is great for other breads too

I made two loaves of the one pictured white wheat, whole wheat and honey

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, I figured out who is laying the Silkie egg, for sure. It is mama black Silkie. I guess that means she is done with the kids. Since I penned them all together it seems everyone in there is mothering the babies now. They all sleep in a pile, cuddled together. Papa Silver is just a great Alpha, too. He calls everyone in at night, and calls the babies to feed, too. I know I need to trim crests. I want to be sure they can see, especially in the winter.

Amy, I am so glad Maggie and the twins are doing well. Mike was just asking about them yesterday, so I gave him the full report. He smiled, giggled, and said he is happy they are doing so well. Of course, we then had to reminisce with old stories.

I still have not made it to the grocery store. Good thing Walmart is only 5 miles from me and open on Thanksgiving. I have been cleaning and rearranging. We took our big recliner rocker over to Brittney, and had a big ol' empty spot in the living room. Laundry is done, bathrooms are stocked.

Brittney and baby are just doing fabulous. The girl has amazed me, honestly! Uncle Tyler and Uncle Trav will be so happy to see them today. The men in our family are just nuts over babies.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.