Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Smokerbill]

I picked all the kale that was ready and will put it in the freezer after it cooks down a little. Tomorrow I'm picking the collards.

 

[Sequel]

I picked all the kale that was ready and will put it in the freezer after it cooks down a little. Tomorrow I'm picking the collards.

View attachment 4136885View attachment 4136886

I ended up canning both kale and collard greens. Not that we’re going to relish them canned but the freezer is full and I didn’t want to waste them. And heck it’s food that doesn’t need refrigeration and I know what’s in it.

 

[Sequel]

Hey @Smokerbill was it you that wanted to find a local source for chicks? I’ve noticed on Craigslist there has been a listing in Chehalis claiming to hatch quite a number of different breeds. I don’t know if you’ve seen that or Sussed it out. A lot of people are creeped out by Craigslist but I’ve had great luck finding pullets local to me.

 

[FeatherAndBloom]

Thanks, that’s what I figured!

And yeah. It seems like everyone is trying to get rid of wood chips! We are using them to prevent invasive blackberry overgrowth in a couple places already. We requested a big truckload through chipdrop for that project; not sure if that’s useable for chickens as it’s not “nice” chips and has a lot of leaves etc in it!

I really liked deep litter for the quail, with proper maintenance it wasn’t bad to keep up with. I am hoping with bigger birds like chickens it will be even easier; the quail didn’t turn it over as much as I’d like so I’d go in and do it myself. I cleaned theirs out monthly mostly because they don’t use nest boxes so I had to dig in there to get their eggs every day!

Just had my WAYYY overgrown 50 foot apple tree taken down and chipped onsite and using for chicken run deep litter. For me it wasn’t that leaves and stuff are a problem (chickens will have a blast picking thru everything) but with chip drop you can’t be picky about what kind of tree you get or how much. Cedar especially isn’t good for chickens respiratory systems.

 

[Smokerbill]

I ended up canning both kale and collard greens. Not that we’re going to relish them canned but the freezer is full and I didn’t want to waste them. And heck it’s food that doesn’t need refrigeration and I know what’s in it.

I just don't like to can things in the pressure canner, but I do have one. And the 70-90 minutes for greens would seem like forever to me. I prefer water-bath stuff like tomato products and salsa. And sweet pickle stuff like bread and butter, or sweet relish.

I'm processing the greens differently this year compared to last year. I just blanched them last year before freezing. This year I'm cooking them until almost done, and then I'll freeze them. They'll take up less space that way too, and be a lot quicker to cook when thawed.

 

[Smokerbill]

Hey @Smokerbill was it you that wanted to find a local source for chicks? I’ve noticed on Craigslist there has been a listing in Chehalis claiming to hatch quite a number of different breeds. I don’t know if you’ve seen that or Sussed it out. A lot of people are creeped out by Craigslist but I’ve had great luck finding pullets local to me.

It's possible, but I don't think it was me. Nowadays I'd never be comfortable buying chicks or chickens that came from anywhere but a commercial hatchery. I'd be paranoid that they'd be carriers of Mareks, or who knows what else, and that would take all the fun out of chickens for me.

 

[Hinotori]

Hubby is going to buy me a new pelket smoker. Old one is 14 years old and the auger doesn't work right anymore. Have to get it before tuna runs.

He really wants to have tuna for sandwiches again. Has to have salt free. I didnt can last year. Cut that finger tendon right before canning time. Cut resistant gloves are required for me now. He checks

 

[Smokerbill]

Hubby is going to buy me a new pelket smoker. Old one is 14 years old and the auger doesn't work right anymore. Have to get it before tuna runs.

He really wants to have tuna for sandwiches again. Has to have salt free. I didnt can last year. Cut that finger tendon right before canning time. Cut resistant gloves are required for me now. He checks

Do tuna run as far north as you are or do you head out from Ilwaco? When do they run? I'd like to try fishing for them but I don't know if I could handle the rocking boat because the only time I went deep sea fishing I turned green and felt terrible the entire trip.

 

[Hinotori]

Do tuna run as far north as you are or do you head out from Ilwaco? When do they run? I'd like to try fishing for them but I don't know if I could handle the rocking boat because the only time I went deep sea fishing I turned green and felt terrible the entire trip.

We go to Westport for it. Hubby has tried multiple times to do a tuna fishing trip but weather has canceled each one so we just buy it at the pier. Realistically it's cheaper to buy than the trip but he'd have fun. He does go bottom fishing occasionally

 

[Smokerbill]

The little chicks and the teenagers are doing well. The old hens are still kicking too, but one or two seem to have reproductive issues even though they're acting fine.



Kale after harvest...