Washingtonians

[Breshcandra]

Its snowing here too.

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
Yes! I used to give my chickens suet in a cage hanging from the coop ceiling in winter. It gave them something to do and the suet warms them up.

I used to make hot cereal for my chickens, too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duckavenger/326212794/in/photostream/

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
I watched a cooking show once where they featured farm fresh eggs and made deviled eggs. The chef said to boil them with LOTS of salt. Can't remember the measurements but it was around 1/2 cup or more. It doesn't make the egg salty. I tried it and it works.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

Quote:
Yes! I used to give my chickens suet in a cage hanging from the coop ceiling in winter. It gave them something to do and the suet warms them up.

I used to make hot cereal for my chickens, too.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/326212794_85032e6442_z.jpg?zz=1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duckavenger/326212794/in/photostream/

Okay, so off to Wal*Mart to buy a dog water bowl heater thingy...and some suet bars. Actually, there is a big "block" that is made for quail and wild birds...I will look into it...I am not sure if it is suet though. So what is your concoction of Hot morning treat? I just used instant oatmeal and added peaches....but you are using actual layer crumbles? do you add some scratch too? What is the ratio? How much water? how? Sorry, too many questions....but I would like to do this for them...I never thought of making their food into hot cereal. Milk is not so good for chickens right? I think I read that...I was going to add a bit to the cereal to make it creamier.

 

[DuckLady]

I used layer crumbles, added hot water to "cook" it and and just added til it was a nice consistency. I sprinkled scratch grains on top for a garnish.

You can make your own suet too, but sometimes the premade stuff is less expensive.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

Quote:

Scratch for garnish.....you are just as bad as I am. I consider my hens "pets with perks"....Meaning they are spoiled rotten and I get eggs. Thank you so much.

How do you make suet? I have cooked down bear fat into lard once....is it something like that? How do you get rendered or non-rendered fat (not sure if the exact wording for it)?

At this point I will buy some....but I would like to know how to make it too.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:

Scratch for garnish.....you are just as bad as I am. I consider my hens "pets with perks"....Meaning they are spoiled rotten and I get eggs. Thank you so much.

How do you make suet? I have cooked down bear fat into lard once....is it something like that? How do you get rendered or non-rendered fat (not sure if the exact wording for it)?

At this point I will buy some....but I would like to know how to make it too.

I make them old fashioned oatmeal, with fruit mixed in and some raisins on top. Man do we have some spoiled chickens! Gotta love 'em!

 

[DuckLady]

I will get my recipe journal and post it in a bit.

 

[hallerlake]

My potted dahlias go in the greenhouse. They came through last winter just fine. The ones in the ground I started from seed this year, and there are certain colors I'd like to put in pots on the deck next year. I suppose there's nothing to keep me from potting them up and putting them in the greenhouse now.





Quote:
[/b]

My greenhouse is 6x8' I just went out and measured. I am not sure if I have already said what size it is. I know it has been a long time since I bought it. I used just a small inexpensive space heater, the kind that is normally used inside a house. I bought a temperature sensitive outlet that keeps the space between 36 to 42 degrees, if I remember right. It seemed to work the way I wanted it to. I had put blankets over the top on the greenhouse during last winters blast of cold. It was less than freezing for the best part of 2 weeks I think in December of 2009. The blankets were able to retain enough of the heat to keep all the pot of geraniums from freezing. I had no problems with overwintering the plants out in the GH. They continued to bloom for most of the winter and on into the spring. It didn't help that it was so slow this year to warm up.

I still need to pull the begonias in tomorrow before the temperatures really get cold. I don't know whether or not I will dig up dahlias or not. I have never had great success with digging them up. They have always rotted on me. For many years I have had them re-grow as long as I just leave them where they are planted. I do worry a bit about the dahlias that are in some of the larger pots just because they are more prone to freezing. I also will need to dig up the Canna bulbs tomorrow, and get them set for the winter. I left all of the summer bulbs stay where they were, so that they will have that first frost, so as long as I get them in tomorrow I think I will be okay with everything.

 

[Chickielady]

Quote:
You are going to feel like it is spring when you come over the mountains...it is about 31 outside, barely breezy...and 40 inside my coops...I remember the winters over there, dry blowing snow, white outs, blistering cold temps down to the minuses.
Oh, I envy you in the summer a little, but not now !
Stay safe !
Pack your vechicles with sleeping bags and blankets and extra food should you get stuck...and I want your big doggie !!!