Texas

[A1momof3]

I have an electric pressure cooker. I don't use it near as often as I should but I've canned jalapeno jelly. I also love it for cooking beans. I did a roast in it once but shouldn't have added the veggies at the same time, they were mushy.

We have a glass top stove that's built into our kitchen island, separate from our oven, and I've read its not good to keep them up on high temps for extended periods of time. I think if it were with an oven, it might not be an issue. The only downside to the electric pressure cooker that I've had is the really large tall jars, like what you would use for storing a large family size of spaghetti sauces, are to tall.

There's a 'Pressure Cookers for Dummies' book that I bought and I wish I could remember the other one, that have good recipes and ideas. Pinterest is the easiest place to find pressure cooker recipes.

I got some Cowboy Candy at Canton a couple of months ago, it's like candied Jalapenos and it is so good with cream cheese on a crackers. Love it. But I have never had Jalapeno jelly.

If you use zip ties, make sure they are really lose. Their feet will keep them on.

I wish I had started pressure canning sooner. Just couldn't stand the prices of pressure canners but finally broke down and got an inexpensive one from Walmart - now I can't believe I went for so long without one and I want a bigger, better model. Being able to pressure can really opens up more canning options.

Can relate about the water - hate to have to pay someone to do things when we can do so many things ourselves. Usually ends up that if we have to have something done in a hurry, then we'll pay to have it done. Otherwise it sits and waits until one of us or our family can get it done.

Yes it sure does and you tube and pinterest are two great places for info on canning.

Tried the Velcro bands - they didn't stay on long at all before the chicks were ripping them off each other's legs.

I use a pair of bandage scissors to cut off any zip ties that I put on - works fine for me and no worries about stabbing an antsy chicken while you're cutting it off.

Yes, I think I will try the zip ties, they were pretty calm and let me wrap those other things around so I am sure it will be ok.

Ohh I like that! Yes, make it for her and then put me on that growing list. Am I number 4?

I want to try winter gardening. I'm looking forward to growing lettuce and other cool season crops. My stuff I planted in February has sprouted. I doubt I will get any broccoli, hopefully the other stuff will grow.

My garden is fenced in with chicken wire. I had to put something around it to keep the dog out. I think it would keep chickens out too.


I'm going to work out the final touches to my coop and hopefully start building it this fall/winter so that I will be all ready for chicks come next spring.

Girl, I wanted to gather up 3 or 4 more of those sweet like Silkies today and bring them up there to you. We just got to find you a coop someone is trying to get rid of. That way at least you can have a few until you get your set up going well. They are so small and take such little room and they grow slow.

Those are so cute!


We are trying to do more for ourselves. We usually have a garden, but the last two years we haven't due to me having surgery. I plan on doing one this year, if I can get my raised beds in. I can't do the bending over, in the ground garden anymore. Chickens are one step closer. As soon as we clean out the freezer, I'm wanting to get grass fed beef. DH has even talked about getting a calf to raise and butcher out. Seriously thinking about it. I'd rather have a horse, but a calf would be more practical.

We lost our lights yesterday, but they were only off for a couple of hours. Hope you get yours on sooner than they are saying.


LOVE these!!!! I'll gladly get on the waiting list for these. So, how much are you charging your fellow BYC'ers to make these?

I plan on using cinder blocks to make my raised beds. We had thought about using cross ties, but we didn't want the creosote leaching into the veggies.
Awww, those are cute silkies! I'm not really a silkie fan, but these are adorable!!!


DH and I went to Lowes this morning and picked up a few things. I got my other roost board, and he picked up some to start the chicken run. It was so nice today, I decided to let my babies out in the big coop. They loved it! They had a high ho time scratching, running and finding dirt to bathe in.




But I want to go over there!!!




They even learned to walk up/down their ladder! This one was temporary. They now have one that has "rungs" on it for them. But they were doing pretty good without them.

They stand in line better than some people I see at Walmart! LOL




I also got my roost up today. I did it all by myself. I can do a lot of things by myself if given enough time.





I plan on putting another roost in front of this one (brown board along top of brooder). As you can see, the chickens spent a lot of time going up and down the ladder. I guess it was fun for them?

These pictures get me so excited. I can't wait to get my coop done and get these girls out of my house. I LOVE them, but they are to big and to active to be in the house any longer. The dust alone is driving me crazy. LOL They look so cute going up, one by one, up their ladder. So exciting!!

 

[Kate2011]

Hello fellow Texans,
I am looking for a few chicks that will be hatching this late Monday, March 31st or Tues. April 1ST. We have a silkie chick expected to hatch on March 31ST and it will need a few companions after hatching. After all of our precautions to keep our flock safe, we had a skunk tunnel 2 feet down and up into the coop. Our silkie rooster and hen were killed and we brought the hen's last egg to the incubator. We now have 2 new coops that have metal barriers that go down into the ground to prevent this from ever happening again. If you are in the Grapevine, Justin, Denton, Flowermound, Lewisville, Roanoake or Keller area and have a bantam or silkie "newbie" chick for purchase please let me know. Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Deb

 

[SlipsWife]

I got some Cowboy Candy at Canton a couple of months ago, it's like candied Jalapenos and it is so good with cream cheese on a crackers. Love it. But I have never had Jalapeno jelly.

I just looked up Cowboy Candy...it looks like it might be bread and butter jalapenos. So...yummy...HEB in Marble Falls carries them, I haven't been able to find them anywhere else. We always stock up when we go visit family...speaking of, I think I opened our last jar the other day, it must be time for a road trip!

 

[SlipsWife]

When do you start feeding/watering newly hatched chicks?

We've only dealt with shipped chicks and by the time we get them, its time for food and water. We will be setting eggs the beginning of next week. Once they hatch, when do we offer them water/feed. Do you offer water immediately and then wait on food for 24hrs?

 

[orumpoultry]

When do you start feeding/watering newly hatched chicks?

We've only dealt with shipped chicks and by the time we get them, its time for food and water.  We will be setting eggs the beginning of next week.  Once they hatch, when do we offer them water/feed.  Do you offer water immediately and then wait on food for 24hrs?

I offer water only for twelve hours, and feed there after. But if they spread the hatch out over a few days I offer it all at once so they don't go hungry between eating all the yolk, etc.

Good news is I watched the power company fix the lines today. Fun to watch, had me on edge. From what I hear lots of places from Riverside to Huntsville are still without power. The only grocery v store in Huntsville that has power right now is the small HEB. And its PACKED full of crazies so I hear. Glad my shopping is done for the month....

Bad news is after looking them over thoroughly today, I discovered white mites on Larry and Lyle. Guess I'll start treatment on them and the coop Monday when everything's open again. Unless I want to drive 35 miles into Huntsville... Nah. I'll wait.

 

[A1momof3]

I just looked up Cowboy Candy...it looks like it might be bread and butter jalapenos. So...yummy...HEB in Marble Falls carries them, I haven't been able to find them anywhere else. We always stock up when we go visit family...speaking of, I think I opened our last jar the other day, it must be time for a road trip!

Yea, I had found the recipe after I tried them for the first time. I planted 5 jalapeno plants so I hope to have plenty peppers. We also like to half the peppers then stuff with breakfast sausage, wrapped around a piece of pepper jack cheese then wrap it in bacon and grill them. We call them hallelujah peppers. Wonderful.
I miss HEB so much. WE have nothing around here but brookshires and Walmart. We NEED a HEB close. I have to stock up on certain things when ever I go back to the Houston area to see my friends. So I understand road trips! LOL

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Girl, I wanted to gather up 3 or 4 more of those sweet like Silkies today and bring them up there to you. We just got to find you a coop someone is trying to get rid of. That way at least you can have a few until you get your set up going well. They are so small and take such little room and they grow slow.

Such a nice thought. It's just not meant to be right now though....

Hello fellow Texans,
I am looking for a few chicks that will be hatching this late Monday, March 31st or Tues. April 1ST. We have a silkie chick expected to hatch on March 31ST and it will need a few companions after hatching. After all of our precautions to keep our flock safe, we had a skunk tunnel 2 feet down and up into the coop. Our silkie rooster and hen were killed and we brought the hen's last egg to the incubator. We now have 2 new coops that have metal barriers that go down into the ground to prevent this from ever happening again. If you are in the Grapevine, Justin, Denton, Flowermound, Lewisville, Roanoake or Keller area and have a bantam or silkie "newbie" chick for purchase please let me know. Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Deb

Try Shutt'er Down Ranch in Princeton. They are hatching out silkies weekly.

 

[A1momof3]

I love reading craigslist ads. For sale.... wrought iron birdhouse 100$..... no takers
Vintage wrought iron birdhouse $100.....
Oh man, now that's a good deal.... it's vintage!!
Funny how that one word can turn everyday junk in to priceless gold! LOL

 

[tjo804]

This is a great article to read if you are thinking about raising your own Meat.

BackYard Chickens › Learning Center Articles › The Emotional Side of Chicken Processing
They have other articles on processing and they are helpful as well.
Reading these is a good step to prepare yourself for this venture and to make a decision on how to take the first step in processing which is the kill.
You will need to have everything planned out and mentally accept these steps before you purchase the chicks.

It is also important to look into what kind of Meat bird you would like to raise

if you get broilers and then decide you do not wish to eat them, These birds will not live a long happy life as they were bread for short term to be raised only for meat. You buy the chicks that you will raise / eat each year.

Dual purpose birds offer the ability to maintain your own supply of meat and eggs you can hatch your *crop* by incubating them or let them do it for you.

I have made the decision myself to raise SLW and BR as Dual purpose. HOWEVER, my family is not there yet so I will most likely wait until next spring to ready them for the Circle of Life.

I will have to handle the processing by myself and I know this ahead of time so I am prepared not to wine about not having any help.

I am actually looking forward to tasting a chicken that is Fed good feed and yummy fresh foods. No steroids or antibiotics, No GMO's
I also think I might enjoy a Home Raised Turkey or Goose for the holidays.

Due to upbringing in the city, I have been considering this for 2 years and finally feel ready.
I did however forget that preparing myself was a selfish thing to do, my family is very attached to animals of all walks of life and the Chickens are loved dearly here!
So now it is time to involve them which will put this on hold again. If I had planned and prepared with them we would all be ready now.
I hope this helps at least one of you

 

[A1momof3]

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/grd/4398515642.html

Small Starter Chicken coop with free chicks...125.00 Troup, Texas