Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Chaneys Ranch]

What is everyone doing for Thanksgiving? DH (he really isn't but that is another story) will only be home tomorrow. I made the mistake of saying I would make a turkey (it was in the freezer anyway), and that he should invite his brother. This is the first time I have made a bird since I did the deed to the roosters (that sounds so wrong!). I am hoping I don't cry.
So ... Turkey, meatballs, stuffing, apple sauce (home canned) yams, mashed potatoes, and whatever vegetables I have canned. Oh, and the garlic monkey bread.

It is rising on the counter now, and will be baked in the morning. The meatballs JUST came out of the oven. Do you think I should add sauce? And am I forgetting anything?

Please ignore the Drake Cakes in the garbage can.

Gotta love N.J.!

Yummy dinner looks awesome! I brine a turkey and have the family here. We all email to figure out when everyones off work.. then plan the day. Hubbys sister hosts for their family, its always Thanksgiving day for them. Tummy is growling just dreaming about it!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here is the background info: Penny and the four hens were giving me an egg a day until one pretty much quit.
The past week or two I am getting five more often, but I have had four shell-less eggs. Today was one of those days. I do expect 4 eggs a day. So ... Did the hens give me two whole, one not whole and a fart, or am I doing the happy chicken dance?


If you are confused, I am asking if you think this was a fart, or if this is someone's first egg?

i vote a first egg, but i am the an optimist..usually hehe!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

MC, it looks like a nice first egg to me too...

I never shut the computer off this morning, so it's been sitting here on byc all day! I just got home, I sure do hate delivering mail in the dark! went out with a flashlight to check for eggs and see the gang, even if it was only momentary... they are all still roosting in the enclosure, got to say my goodnight peeps... and I found 6 perfect eggs waiting for me! is this the 3rd or the 4th perfect day??? I can't keep track of anything anymore, unless I write it down... I'll have to page back here to see where the count is... such pretty eggs... I'm so tired and my aching back can't tolerate any more moving around, so scrambled freshies is on the menu tonight! not that it would take much effort to heat up stew, or soup or chili, I have all 3 handy... personally, I would just love to sit back and eat a whole pile of candy... so eggs it is! then I'll eat some peanut butter fudge dipped in caramel sauce...

Woohoo, congrats! perfect days are awesome. I woulda opped for the scrambles too.. lil cheese melted on top.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

MC, it looks like a nice first egg to me too...

I never shut the computer off this morning, so it's been sitting here on byc all day! I just got home, I sure do hate delivering mail in the dark! went out with a flashlight to check for eggs and see the gang, even if it was only momentary... they are all still roosting in the enclosure, got to say my goodnight peeps... and I found 6 perfect eggs waiting for me! is this the 3rd or the 4th perfect day??? I can't keep track of anything anymore, unless I write it down... I'll have to page back here to see where the count is... such pretty eggs... I'm so tired and my aching back can't tolerate any more moving around, so scrambled freshies is on the menu tonight! not that it would take much effort to heat up stew, or soup or chili, I have all 3 handy... personally, I would just love to sit back and eat a whole pile of candy... so eggs it is! then I'll eat some peanut butter fudge dipped in caramel sauce...

Eeegahds! Will your schedule be this bad through Christmas? Don't even get to see your chickies. We had a soggy gray day, but the the chickens seem immune. No worries about freezing, as this has been a warm front, almost 60 all day. Need to go lock up and check for eggs. Of course it just started pouring.

And now I will be thinking about peanut butter fudge all night!

 

[cheeka]

yep... shredded some cheddar for on top... they were so good! added one extra egg so I could share a little with the furries... a little bite for each kitty and a little bigger bite for the Pug... 2 pieces of toast, one for eggs and one with fresh raspberry preserves that I got as a gift from a customer... she makes the best jams I've ever had... first year I was her carrier, she kept giving me little loaves of different breads, that I gave away to friends... my relief carrier told her I couldn't eat any of it. she was upset (mildly) with me for not telling her, and she has given me the jams ever since. I have another customer who is always giving me pastries and cookies, but her stuff is apparently terrible... (smells good to me) but no one will eat any of it, they say it tastes like she left something out, or mixed up the sugar with the salt... hey... she's 86... the chickens love her stuff!

I'm rambling... OH W4W!!! I printed up a copy of Nub Tooth and brought it to work ~~ Major Raves! no one was able to contain their laughter!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well... had an interesting discovery...Red ran over to see why i was frantically digging at Betsy's feathers! Big G is behing him, demanding to know why she was griping so loudly! Guys i have an update, kinda suprised me. My chickens are only about 7 months old. I thought they didn't molt the first year? My best layer looked odd yesterday. I picked her up and heres what i saw....This is molting right? Her feathers are falling out of her neck! I was terrified, mites? OH MY GOSH, whats wrong with my babies?






Red also has "fuzzies" coming off of him....so another piece of the mystery puzzle of NON egg laying chickens!!! (Can you guess, i got my camera battery finally!!)

 

[cheeka]

Eeegahds! Will your schedule be this bad through Christmas? Don't even get to see your chickies. We had a soggy gray day, but the the chickens seem immune. No worries about freezing, as this has been a warm front, almost 60 all day. Need to go lock up and check for eggs. Of course it just started pouring.

And now I will be thinking about peanut butter fudge all night!

yes... sadly it will, my relief carrier transferred to another office a couple of months ago, and he's still not replaced. I'm tootin' my own horn here, but I am the best... I'm in very high demand as i know more than 80% of the routes in Schoharie County, as well as a few routes in Albany County, Schenectedy County, Greene County... I know Columbia and Rensselaer counties well too... I have keys, literally, to 14 different post offices, and key codes to 3 others. I can do a lot in a short period of time, and do it well and safely... and I'm willing to travel. gotta learn to say "no" once in a while tho'... I hate not getting to spend time with the gang. and with chicks coming in the first week of December... I'll manage. somehow.
it was so nice out today, and mild, in the 50's... my poor gang was stuck inside the enclosure all day (with a rotting log to peck and scratch at, a pumpkin split in 2, and a nice new pile of leaves to spread about)
peanut butter fudge is really super easy to make: Peanut Butter, and Confectioners Sugar (powdered sugar) at least 1:1, I like it a little drier, so I use 1/2 cup of PB, 3/4 cup CS, mix it together, and roll into balls, refridgerate! Voila!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

yes... sadly it will, my relief carrier transferred to another office a couple of months ago, and he's still not replaced. I'm tootin' my own horn here, but I am the best... I'm in very high demand as i know more than 80% of the routes in Schoharie County, as well as a few routes in Albany County, Schenectedy County, Greene County... I know Columbia and Rensselaer counties well too... I have keys, literally, to 14 different post offices, and key codes to 3 others. I can do a lot in a short period of time, and do it well and safely... and I'm willing to travel. gotta learn to say "no" once in a while tho'... I hate not getting to spend time with the gang. and with chicks coming in the first week of December... I'll manage. somehow.
it was so nice out today, and mild, in the 50's... my poor gang was stuck inside the enclosure all day (with a rotting log to peck and scratch at, a pumpkin split in 2, and a nice new pile of leaves to spread about)
peanut butter fudge is really super easy to make: Peanut Butter, and Confectioners Sugar (powdered sugar) at least 1:1, I like it a little drier, so I use 1/2 cup of PB, 3/4 cup CS, mix it together, and roll into balls, refridgerate! Voila!

You deserve a well earned break, hope you get one soon! yummy, i will have to try your fuge. I bet my DH wont mind a bit!

 

[cheeka]

You deserve a well earned break, hope you get one soon! yummy, i will have to try your fuge. I bet my DH wont mind a bit!

I'll work til dirt dies... or I do... I think

at this point, even if someone gets hired tomorrow, they won't start til the new year, as they have to complete "rural carrier academy" and "safety school" before they can start.

PB fudge is so good all by itself, but it's the first step in lots of great candies, like buckeyes... melt and temper some chocolate in a double boiler, and take those chilled PB balls and dip them in the chocolate, refrigerate again, til it hardens... or make caramel to dip them into... caramel is also way too super easy to make and so much tastier than the stuff in jars at the market...

1 cup sugar, melted, stirring vigorously ~ if you like it more dark, and stronger flavored, use brown sugar!
4 tbs butter, add when the last sugar crystals melt, use a deep pot, as it boils instantly with the butter and rises quickly in the pan, if you find it scorches the sugar, either use a heavier bottomed pot, or play with the temperature of the burner/height of the flame...
to make candy, that's it... once the butter is melted, remove from heat and allow to cool a bit before pouring it to a sheet pan to cool and cut.
to make sauce; as soon as the butter is melted, remove from heat, count to 3 and slowly add 1/2 cup of cream, half and half or milk... whatever you have on hand, or bc you prefer creamier or chewier... allow to cool for a few minutes, pour into a glass jar, keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks. drizzled on cakes or over ice cream is heavenly!

 

[BullChick]

It is just one hen, and it is not daily. I think she just needs a break since she is the one that was laying a lighter colored egg. Now it varies between a nice egg, and a thin shell. I did have them on grower and oyster while the chicks were growing, but the past few days have been layer feed.