Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fuzzi]

I have now hosted ten of the dinner invitation events. Two meals were less than stellar, drunk while cooking for one and the other just wasn't very nice.
I've learn't a bit about cooking under pressure and spent quite a lot of money to discover what I've known for some years now; chickens are better company than people.
Of couse, I've discussed these events with Henry. What he wants to know is when it will be his turn. As he pointed out, he's not a fussy eater unlike some of his hens and I wouldn't be hampered by having to wash up as I go due to plate and utensil shortages.
I have pointed out that he wouldn't be impressed by the ground conditions or the limited space in my flat. I got the look and got told it couldn't possibly be worse than the run he is mostly confined to. He may have a point.

Being a generous sort of chap but with a low people tolerance I will do more dinners, mainly for family but not quite so many in such a short period of time.
I've tried, but the simple truth is I'm not a social creature and at fast approaching 70 years old I feel I'm entitled to be as antisocial as I please.
Hopefully the weather will improve a bit in the coming month and while I can't do my prefered gone feral living, I will at least be able to spend more time at the field with the chickens and with a bit of imagination, pretend the rest of the world is not really of interest and too far away to be of any relevance.

I'm approaching 65, and I would rather spend time with my chickens, dog, cats. The people at my church are very nice, and I do enjoy going occasionally to social events, but I am always happy to be home with garden and flock.

Most of the people at work are self-obsessed jerks. I sneezed at a meeting this week, and even though I had covered it the woman next to me pulled out a mask and pointedly put it on.

Tax:

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Sounds like the perfect time for me is right now! Need to get some equipment asap. As it happens I am nearly out of a big bottle of maple syrup given to me by a Canadian friend so this is very timely.
Thank you all for sharing the knowledge. Perhaps those with black walnuts can also share how to open the nuts!

Hooray, have fun!

The only stressful part for me is finding the perfect stopping point for the boil. I'd heard to boil until it reaches 219°F so sometimes plunk a digital food thermometer in the pot when it's close to syrup. It doesn't always work, though, because I do so little at a time. The thermometer acts up when there's only 1/2" of liquid in the pot.

Instead, you can kind of get a feel for when it's done by watching it bubble and foam up, but you can also be scientific and measure sugar content and such. Anywho, I'm probably not the best person to ask. I've sugared for a long time but not very efficiently. It's just something cheerful to do in the cold months. So tasty.

 

[Shadrach]

Regarding the difference in attitude towards me between Mow and Fret and Tull and Sylph, and of course Henry. This article may explain it (I had forgotton about this article. Do give it a read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Regarding the difference in attitude towards me between Mow and Fret and Tull and Sylph, and of course Henry. This article may explain it (I had forgotton about this article. Do give it a read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/

Good article. Azygous is someone who poses great questions and posts a wealth of helpful information on this site.

 

[Perris]

Regarding the difference in attitude towards me between Mow and Fret and Tull and Sylph, and of course Henry. This article may explain it (I had forgotton about this article. Do give it a read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/

it's a great article, but the received wisdom that only male birds sing has since been rewritten (see link below). I don't think it undermines her argument about vocalisation and socialisation, but people might want to keep it in mind if trying to explain differences between male and female behaviour. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4379

 

[Shadrach]

The sun shone, a breeze instead of a wind and no rain but still cold ar 5C.
Two and a half hours today. I even managed to get some more clearing up done.
Due to the storm damage that took down the shed and the greenhouse, an area that the chickens favoured due to the shelter the structures gave, the chickens have gone back to using this place. I'm going to make some rough improvements there to provide better shelter.

This is another favourite sheltering spot.

Tull and Mow going through one of the compost heaps after I dug a bit.

 

[MrsNorthie]

I have many black walnut trees - I didn't know they produced good sap for syrup. How do you go from sap to syrup?

Heating and stirring it, not really a boil but almost.. it goes from a clear almost watery sap to a lovely thick amber syrup. We used wood fire to fuel our boiler. (it has a technical name but my brain isn't working..lol) But you can heat it in smaller quantities in a sauce pan.

 

[MrsNorthie]

I'm approaching 65, and I would rather spend time with my chickens, dog, cats. The people at my church are very nice, and I do enjoy going occasionally to social events, but I am always happy to be home with garden and flock.

Most of the people at work are self-obsessed jerks. I sneezed at a meeting this week, and even though I had covered it the woman next to me pulled out a mask and pointedly put it on.

Tax:
View attachment 4039175

Someone tried to ridicule me for being a hermit...LOL I just prefer the company of the Egg Thief, my feathered and furry children. I don't want to be social, once you start making friends, they won't leave you alone, always wanting you to go out with them or talk and frankly, most of the time, I am just happy to sit in peace and not have to talk.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Regarding the difference in attitude towards me between Mow and Fret and Tull and Sylph, and of course Henry. This article may explain it (I had forgotton about this article. Do give it a read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ding-agent-between-us-and-our-chickens.78307/

This is a great read. I can attest to the benefits of having a bond with the chickens. My job can be miserably stressful and just sitting with my feathered babies just makes all the stress melt away. It is therapeutic. I think it give the boys some time to relax too. The girls all settle in one place so the boys can take time to properly eat and preen.

 

[Molpet]

Thank you all for sharing the knowledge. Perhaps those with black walnuts can also share how to open the nuts!

Vice