Surviving Minnesota!

[lvie]

The brine recipe looked to good. Apple Cider, H2O, Bay leaves, rosemary, oranges, garlic, peppercorns, salt and brown sugar. That is the purpose of purchaseing the whole free range turkey without any additives. I will do it again and next time I am doing it like my son does - massage under the skin and basting and all that work. But I want to try it someday.

 

[lvie]

I have never brined a turkey except to smoke it.
I answered this in another post as a multi quote and it went in as a separate thought on page 78 - not repeating because that is when women are accused of talking twice as much as men!
Ours were great and they lived free range until they met BR for the second time, He is rough on Turkeys.


I do not think you need to rip it down. I would think slots cut near the roof on opposite sides would do it. North/south or east west. Make sure the roost are below the slots by 18 inches or so to keep them out of the draft. Then plug any holes you have on the bottom to stop drafts. Mine seem to be doing ok with the slots on opposite sides. Your climate is very similar to mine, except I am WAY further north of you.
Thanks! I will do this! Reenforce the coop 3/4 of the way up; put in a couple of vents; and the roosts are a few feet below that so it should work out fine.
And yes, Ralphie, you are so far north of me. LOL

Hey, I set up a coffee station in my kitchen today! I want to do this when we build up north. It is a separate cabinet on rollers with a drawer for coffee and the pot and cups on top. I like it! Anyone that wants coffee does not need to ask - just do it. Anyone (or everyone) can tell me how to post a picture from my Phone I will put it on-line. Also, Ralphie you said two things lately - one was how you used a different way to upload pics from your phone and it worked better - and something about a method of shaking hard boiled eggs so that they peel easily. Could you take your time to repeat those statements. I would appreciate it.

I only have 3 chickens outside today. Blackie and his two pullets.

Bert nor his girls never left his tractor. Ed and his gals, refuse to budge from the coop. I have a picture of them huddled by the interior door looking at me with fear in their eyes, they thought I was going to make them go out in the white stuff.

I opened the door for King George, if no one else is going to be outside he can go out. He refused too.

I do have Guineas and turkeys out running around. They are loving the snow. The Guineas must have debated the pros and con and decided to go for it.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ivie the shelling of eggs is so easy it is unbelievable.

Just put the hard boiled egg in a glass, IT MUST BE A GLASS GLASS not a plastic one. Half fill the glass with cold water and shake the crap out of it, the shell either comes off or loosens so much it slips off the egg.

I always have pitted eggs when I try to shell them, this way they are all pretty. I assume Carrie will want pretty eggs, she seems a little high maintenance.


When you post from the IPhone do not use the app, Upload it from "sarfari" open BYC in safari and it is just like using a putor.

 

[Cluckies]

 
Ivie:

What was wrong with the Free range turkey?   When was it processed?

You need to get rid of that moisture or you will lose combs and may end up with respiratory problems.

Maybe I was just too tired. Everyone else said it was good. I tasted not as moist and I thought the brine would affect it more than it did. It looked like a really good brine. It was different.

So do I rip down all the plastic and start over? And why wouldn't the new plastic frost up? What can I do to dry it out some? I think the foam insulation will just be wet and not keep the metal roof from evaporating inside the coop. MY DH will probably faint but oh well. Its been awhile since I ruffled his feathers - as to the chickens. Don't think I have been letting him be when it comes to other 'things.' 

I want to revamp the coop anyway. I am determining how I should go about doing that. Ideas are rolling around in my head.

FOUR eggs this morning!

I have treated plywood under my steel roof, have not seen any condensation? Maybe that would work for you? I'd leave the plastic though, keep the snow and rain out of the run. Or it will be wetter in there

 

[duluthralphie]

Maybe I was not clear, when I said cut slots in the side high up on the sides, if there is no eave you would need to put one there to keep the rain and snow out.

 

[Rhetts]

Checking out the new digs here. It will be awhile before I can read through the whole thread. I posted this on the MN thread and copied and pasted it here in case anyone can help out.

Does anyone have feed mills mix layer feed for you? My BIL is looking into getting feed by the bulk. He is talking to the guy about different mixes. I am currently getting feed from that mill that I like a lot. Problem is BIL doesn't like that fish meal is used for protein and wants to take it out completely and just up the linseed meal. I don't agree and think that could be bad for the hens but I need the facts to back it up. Can anyone point me to where I can learn about the nutritional needs for chickens and the percents and all that stuff?

 

[Rhetts]

So I have some exciting news well at least for me it is. We processed one of our geese, brined it and smoked it for thanksgiving. AND it actually tasted good. I was so worried and nervous because we have NEVER done anything like that before and reading on the internet if you botch the cooking of the goose it tastes like liver which I don't care for in the slightest.

 

[holm25]

Rhetts!! I was getting ready to pm you!! Where have u been!!


Friday we have to preg check cattle wish me luck!! Its going to be wet!!

 

[holm25]

And some pics!

 

[Rhetts]

Holm I love your pics!

after you are done doing your cows come over to my house to do mine could you please?! Oh, I got another cow!! Makes 3 for me now. the last one is a highland heifer about 2 years old possibly bred in Aug. Super fun having cattle!! Our little calf is growing like crazy!