Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[pennyJo1960]

Good Day X Batts. Busy as heck here yesterday. Old friends are always welcome here
also.
Sun is out today 55 no rain today.

 

[GregnLety]

Dipped in egg, a seasoned breading mixture of your choice, and deep fried in the pan. It's a stunningly delicious spin on chicken fingers.

Here are chicken-of-the-woods fingers (right) and cheddar-jalapeno biscuits (gluten free, so my biscuits are rarely photogenic).

View attachment 3467009

And before:

View attachment 3467010
This was late September in the smoky mountains/southern Appalachians where we live. We took just enough for a good meal and a portion for our mushroom-guru friend (everyone needs a mushroom guru) who we called to confirm the ID and that this tree was an oak, not a dead hemlock. As you allude, chicken of the woods is best from hardwoods. The ones on evergreens are said to be tough on the tract.

Besides morels (which I saute with ramps - also in season here right now - in olive oil with a dash each tamari soy/chicken broth/salt/pepper/pat of butter at the end), chicken of the woods are my favorite. They're comfort food.

I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of east Kentucky and my dad loved fresh mushrooms. I didn't develop a taste until later in life. Now I know the good stuff I missed out on.

 

[Molpet]

yes that's why I left lots but I hadn't thought about placing the fallen bits; I assumed that by the time they fell from the tree, they'd completed their reproductive function. Also this one grows on live oak (and other trees) so I'm not sure it would take to dead wood. There are plenty of other fungi that prefer that though!

Seems to be a bit more involved than I thought. Have to drill into new log.
https://grocycle.com/maitake-mushrooms-guide/

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking about. I found really interesting every article that you linked and I think the people around here who read them did as well. I would love a corner for recommended articles by members like you that could highlight those less visible articles.

I did start such a list although I haven't updated it for a long time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/shadrachs-must-read-articles.74422/

 

[Shadrach]

Sounds like Henry's doing well these days, even trying to keep Ella rounded up.

The more time out in the allotment they have the better he gets.

 

[Shadrach]

Dipped in egg, a seasoned breading mixture of your choice, and deep fried in the pan. It's a stunningly delicious spin on chicken fingers.

Here are chicken-of-the-woods fingers (right) and cheddar-jalapeno biscuits (gluten free, so my biscuits are rarely photogenic).

View attachment 3467009

And before:

View attachment 3467010
This was late September in the smoky mountains/southern Appalachians where we live. We took just enough for a good meal and a portion for our mushroom-guru friend (everyone needs a mushroom guru) who we called to confirm the ID and that this tree was an oak, not a dead hemlock. As you allude, chicken of the woods is best from hardwoods. The ones on evergreens are said to be tough on the tract.

Besides morels (which I saute with ramps - also in season here right now - in olive oil with a dash each tamari soy/chicken broth/salt/pepper/pat of butter at the end), chicken of the woods are my favorite. They're comfort food.

Love this. I don't recall seeing it here in the UK but in Catalonia mushroom hunting is a very popular past time. One does of course need to know exactly what won't kill you.

 

[Shadrach]

View attachment 3467144
Finally its Janice and Pearl who are stuck to the nest. They seem to do great. Are very tranquil and growl to any chicken or human that is trespassing. The other hens have another nestbox now to lay. And they don’t disturb Janice and Pearl. .

Yesterday I bought 11 hatching eggs. 6 normal size bantams (20 days) and 5 tiny Dutch (often need only 19 days to hatch). I put 3 bantam Sussex red porcelain and tree fake Dutch eggs under Pearl. Janice has 3 bantam Vorwerk and 2 fake Dutch eggs. Tomorrow I will change the fake Dutch for real ones.

Thumbs up that the broodies do well and the outcome will be good this time. But also happy if I get two pullets. This time I try to keep it open. But if necessary (fuss), I can divide the coop.

Mmmm. I think I make a new thread for this project. . And add a @ if you give a like here.

Do post about it here.

 

[Perris]

Love this. I don't recall seeing it here in the UK but in Catalonia mushroom hunting is a very popular past time. One does of course need to know exactly what won't kill you.

all mushrooms are edible - some once only

I know at least 3 trees infected with the chicken of the woods fungus round here, and parasol mushrooms grow in the area too - they're fantastic, and the only one that grows to the size of a dinner plate in UK, so easy to ID.

 

[Shadrach]

Wet and chilly. We are supposed to be heading for a few dry days and maybe even a bit of sunshine as from tomorrow.
Everybody came out for an hour or so.

This taking pictures with one hand close up isn't as easy as I would like. I would like to do short videos and I would if I could host them on BYC.
Even Fret puts up with a crop and vent check while she's on the roost bar. I have a theory about this of course.

Official sundown is a few minutes past 8pm. Henry went to roost at 7.15. Being a large chap getting through the pop door is a bit of a squeeze. You may remember I put an extra piece of plastic on the bottom outside of the pop door to prevent noses and paws from pushing the pop door open from the bottom. This has had an unforseen benefit for Henry in particular. The step inis now quite wide compared to the single plasic edge that was and Henry's foot spans both the new and old section and he looks a lot more comfortable getting into the coop now.

 

[Shadrach]

I've been thinking. I know, I know, I shouldn't. It only gets me into trouble.
I was sitting on the roost bar with the hens when Henry gave the caution warning call. It's exactly the same call used by the roosters in Catalonia when another creature not considered an imminent threat such as the dogs that lived there come into sight. Mrs rat was crouched outside the new coop extension intent on getting some supper. Frankly I'm tired of feeding her overweight rear end and her slippery little brats when she has them. What was quite pleasing was when I stepped out with a rock in my hand she ran to where a few days ago she could have walked through the fence only to find the new fencing I have fixed at the bottom of the old fence prevented her escape. She panicked and ran around the coop run until she found a section that I hadn't done yet.
It is almost impossible to keep rats out of the run, even with the extra fencing, but now there aren't any living under the coops and all the old routes have been dug up, I would like to make the rats life as difficult as possible, especially when it comes to getting at the chicken feed given I'm leaving feed out overnight.

Rats out in full daylight here is unusual and if Carbon sees one she'll go for it. The rats here come out looking for food at dusk and during the night.
I'm thinking about building a feeder that has an auto door. I've found a very cheap auto door.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354715691182?hash=item5296b3e8ae:g:xDgAAOSw17hkN4tL

which with a bit of fiddling about I can fit to a plastic container.
It's not a large investment and I have some excellent electrical products made in China (Mini fanless computers that have worked faultlessly for a few years now, hard drives at ten years old, Digital to analogue convertors etc) all at a fraction of the price of similar specified sold by UK, US and EU suppliers (most of this stuff is made with Chinese parts anyway)
The door is simple. Its a rachet on a motor basically with an optical sensor. For the money it has to be worth a try given it's a non critical problem. If it packs up I'll be there in the afternoon anyway and the chickens wont starve.