Texas

[magpiesing]

as soon as i can get to the feed store to get another waterier I'm going to start the chicks on some probiotics and Electrolytes im on the way to get every one a boiled egg within the hour when they cool down

I was able to get some tetracycline at my feed store. I want erythramycin but not able to get it local and didn't want to wait for ship. I just made it by the cup. Not sure I got the dose right but more than enough. I also did something else. These are my chickens so took a chance. I made a stronger solution in a shot glass and put about 8ml in a diabetic syringe and gave it to her by dripping on the side of her beak. Since it is antibiotic I hope she didn't get too much. She's much better today, no snezzing no crusty nose and her eyes are open and brighter. I hate to make alot only to use a little and throw the rest away so I tried to break down the formula as small as I could. The package directions are set up to treat alot of animals not just one little chicken.
Hope yours will be ok...good that you are acting quickly. I'm checking all of mine up close today just to be sure there aren't any more.

 

[bnjrob]

Thank you! We processed the largest of our Pekins and the amount of fat on him was ridiculous! We skipped plucking and skinned and I feel like over half of his weight went into the bucket. lol

Do the geese tear stuff up as bad as ducks? Our ducks were eating our dirt. The slightest puddle and they would drink out of it and eat the dirt and make holes. Fresh water and numerous water play areas and they would drink/eat out of the nasty puddles first, then hang out in the fresh water.

Should have saved that fat! We went to Central Market in Dallas this week and they were actually selling rendered duck fat. Seriously. This little package of duck fat for like $8 I think it was. It is supposed to be quite a delicacy to use. You should be able to render it just like beef fat and use it as shortening and it would offer a bit of a flavor as well. Our Java chickens are pretty lean, but when I roast a chicken, I use the carcass including skin to make homemade chicken stock. Tastes fabulous, way better than storebought. Have also done it with duck - awesome!

 

[SlipsWife]

Should have saved that fat! We went to Central Market in Dallas this week and they were actually selling rendered duck fat. Seriously. This little package of duck fat for like $8 I think it was. It is supposed to be quite a delicacy to use. You should be able to render it just like beef fat and use it as shortening and it would offer a bit of a flavor as well. Our Java chickens are pretty lean, but when I roast a chicken, I use the carcass including skin to make homemade chicken stock. Tastes fabulous, way better than storebought. Have also done it with duck - awesome!

My husband offered to save it...I should have let him! I've read that its suppose to be awesome for cooking vegetables. I can't believe its so expensive! Shhhhh, don't tell him! lol

I guess I need to research how to render fat, its not something I've ever thought of doing but it seemed wasteful to throw it out.

 

[bnjrob]

My husband offered to save it...I should have let him! I've read that its suppose to be awesome for cooking vegetables. I can't believe its so expensive! Shhhhh, don't tell him! lol

I guess I need to research how to render fat, its not something I've ever thought of doing but it seemed wasteful to throw it out.

LOL - what he doesn't know...

Super simple to render fat - chop it up, throw into a pot, cook until it melts, strain out the cracklins and put it into a jar. I actually just put up photos of my first time rendering beef tallow this winter. Works pretty much the same for any type of fat. http://www.polarisstarfarm.com/adventures/2014/05/31/oldfashioned-beef-tallow/

 

[SlipsWife]

LOL - what he doesn't know...

Super simple to render fat - chop it up, throw into a pot, cook until it melts, strain out the cracklins and put it into a jar. I actually just put up photos of my first time rendering beef tallow this winter. Works pretty much the same for any type of fat. http://www.polarisstarfarm.com/adventures/2014/05/31/oldfashioned-beef-tallow/

Thank you! I pinned your blog post so I can find it later!

Now I really wish I would have saved the fat. Since processing our fist ducks and cockerels, I've become a little obsessed with processing our own meat. We only have 1/2 an acre, so I can't go crazy like I want, and with a family of 7 we have large meals and use twice as much meat as most families at a meal but every bird is one step closer to my goal. We have 5 turkey growing now. Its been so much easier to process our own birds than we thought it would be. My husband and I both grew up hunting but its different when you raise the animal. We started with mini cows to use for beef, we ended up getting to attached and sold them to a petting zoo. lol

 

[bnjrob]

Thank you! I pinned your blog post so I can find it later!

Now I really wish I would have saved the fat. Since processing our fist ducks and cockerels, I've become a little obsessed with processing our own meat. We only have 1/2 an acre, so I can't go crazy like I want, and with a family of 7 we have large meals and use twice as much meat as most families at a meal but every bird is one step closer to my goal. We have 5 turkey growing now. Its been so much easier to process our own birds than we thought it would be. My husband and I both grew up hunting but its different when you raise the animal. We started with mini cows to use for beef, we ended up getting to attached and sold them to a petting zoo. lol

LOL - I have to be careful or I will save EVERYTHING, thinking "I might be able to use it for.....". And then if I throw something out and figure out a use for it later, I always want to smack myself. Not bad to start small. We don't eat a ton of meat just being the two of us, but we are not even yet at the point where we can produce enough chicken for our consumption. But it's a goal. Too bad for your stomachs but good for the mini cows that got to be pets - LOL. We've thought about getting some of the mini dairy cows since we don't even know how we would use all of the milk from a mini cow much less a full size one. Haven't thought out what using a mini cow for beef would be like. Raising and processing your own animals does take some getting used to.

 

[magpiesing]

LOL - I have to be careful or I will save EVERYTHING, thinking "I might be able to use it for.....". And then if I throw something out and figure out a use for it later, I always want to smack myself. Not bad to start small. We don't eat a ton of meat just being the two of us, but we are not even yet at the point where we can produce enough chicken for our consumption. But it's a goal. Too bad for your stomachs but good for the mini cows that got to be pets - LOL. We've thought about getting some of the mini dairy cows since we don't even know how we would use all of the milk from a mini cow much less a full size one. Haven't thought out what using a mini cow for beef would be like. Raising and processing your own animals does take some getting used to.

I can identify...both myself and DH's mom have been trying to down size. Not only do I save "stuff" just in case but I also used to love flea markets and clearance aisles. I'm not a hoarder by any means but was brought up by parents that went through the depression and so nothing was wasted and never pasted up a good deal. Just a mind set I guess.
We're looking at buying a small beef animal...have you seen the price of beef lately, (don't even mention steak) lately....sheesssh. I don't expect to process any of our birds for at leat a few months and those will be unwanted roos.Out of 38 birds we have 5 roo for sure and I think 3 of the chicks are too. So we will grow them until either they can't get along or until big enough to be worth the sacrifice.

 

[magpiesing]

Dang!! Mosquitoes are horrible. I told DH a few days ago...wait until the rain stops and it warms up...there will be a bug explosion and sure enough...!!! I just wanted to repot a basket I got for mother's day and I got assalted by the winged hoard! I managed to get it done and then ran for cover inside! Got way more flys around too. At least the fans in the chicken house help keep the bugs away they can't fly in the high wind...lol

 

[topdycke]

Should have saved that fat!  We went to Central Market in Dallas this week and they were actually selling rendered duck fat.  Seriously.  This little package of duck fat for like $8 I think it was.  It is supposed to be quite a delicacy to use.  You should be able to render it just like beef fat and use it as shortening and it would offer a bit of a flavor as well.  Our Java chickens are pretty lean, but when I roast a chicken, I use the carcass including skin to make homemade chicken stock.  Tastes fabulous, way better than storebought.  Have also done it with duck - awesome!

We have duck fat saved from holiday ducklings that us used to oven roast rancher potatoes. Very good stuff

 

[TherryChicken]

we just lost the chick with the deformed beak this morning :'( it seems my luck with animals is running out. I'm pretty sure he died from his beak deformity but with one of the other chicks sneezing should i be worried about something catching with the other chicks?

if they are sneezing then I would highly recommend some advice from others. It is possible they have an infection. I am so sorry for your loss. Don't give up