Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[the left wing]

Hey there Chickeers! I dont personally have chickens at home, but at my barn we have about 60 Flemish Giants and a few leghorns, bantams (purebred Seabrights and Serama crosses) basically mutts, and assorted others. Im thinking of keeping a few at home- but going slllllooooowlllllly, because I tend to get obsessive, and it appears from the forum, that obsessive leads to lots of chickens. As the name suggests, I live in Madison, and am not really a part of the chicken community here, but interested in chicken goings on- I hope people post events. I love our barn chickens, a few of the more independent types- our 1 Auracauna is much more independent, and roams down to the horse barns to see what's up. I havent decided what sort of chickens to pursue. I love the Seramas, and they make great pets, but Id like eggs perhaps... so that leads me to my interest in larger chickens. I like the personality of the Polish chicken we had... emphasis on had. He was really quite um, challenged, but hilarious. But Im more the heritage breed kind... with historic leanings.... but dont have access/ability to have a rooster. So that seems like a dead end to have high quality rare birds and not be able to share or reproduce them for my own little obsession...who knows where it will go.... but Im reading/following the threads that interest me and learning....

 

[babylady4]

On my way home from the dentist yesterday and what do I see? Somebody living right next to the city park has CHICKENS! Right in town! The catch? They are one of those few properties still in the township.

Today is kraut-canning day....... I have my three biggest pots heating up on the stove, all filled to the brim with kraut. Now I just hope I have enough jars! I may be canning some 2 qt jars of the stuff!

I have not heard anything from the rescue, so I think we will be swinging by Cuties! I am excited to see your place!

DH left without getting my WB canner down, so I better get it all cleaned up and ready..... I'll let you know how much I end up with!

 

[jvls1942]

good morning, what a winter wonderland we have out there.. I am guessing we will be with snow for the next 4 months.. this stuff didn't all melt and it looks like we will be getting more before long..

Kraut canning.. should maybe throw a kettle of ribs into the oven as long as you are at it..
slooow baked ribs & kraut,, should be good and falling off the bone tender by the time the canning is all done.. throw in a kettle of boiled potatoes and enjoy ....

I am going shopping today,, I need yet another tool,, I thought I had them all.. I don't have a good disc sander.. I am going to try to rig up something on the table saw.. I think they make a sanding disc with an adhesive back.. I will sacrifice a saw blade for the disc if I have to..

I have an old piece of sanding disc table in the garage,, I might be able to tear it apart and make something out of it ..

the last two of the renegade BO pullets were up on the deck this morning,, they still refuse to go into the coop.. I must say they are fine looking birds, though.. freedom must agree with them..

I guess I should go up and finish washing the dishes.. I like to let the silverware soak for awhile , makes it easier to clean them... Annie uses the dishwasher,, I would rather do them by hand,, by the time the coffee is brewed, the dishes are done.. gives me something to do while I am waiting for the coffee..

OK, going up for another cuppa,, bbl .....jiminwisc......

Cuties, the blue parakeet came out of the nest box today.. there are two left in there.. they should be coming out within 2 or 3 days .. I told Annie she should band some of the birds so we can tell the babies from the parents..


this is a not so good picture of the parent birds..

.............d

 

[Terri O]

Good morning! SNOW here! First that has stuck for more than an hour. I expect it will melt a bit today...but we are supposedly going down to NINE tomorrow night.

I guess I will have to get the big horse blanket out for Commander! We should have a shivvvvery Smiley for our WI thread.

Welcom Lefty! Good on you that you are pursuing chickens gingerly....I started with twelve--I cannot say for sure how many I have now! Do you have a horse too? You mentioned "your barn" and I have only heard horsey folks say that! If so...there are lots of us on here that share that obsession too! You are in good company. We do have a meet-up coming up in December at CLUCK! in Paoli. Perhaps you can come and introduce yourself to us "near Madison" folk. I will let RBerry fill you in on the details.

BL4 did you have to check out the plot map to find out about the township line or do you just know that off-hand? Maybe the township can annex your property? LOL!

Good luck on the late hunt Brent! Oh yeah, you guys with kraut: BL you said you are processing yours? Doesnt that kill off all the good stuff in the kraut? I was amazed how crunchy and good ours was right out of the jar! Even after cooking it with ring bologna and potatoes it kept the texture. Speaking of...I think I will eat the LO right now! BRB!
OH YUM! Because of using some red cabbage my potatoes have turned pink! LOL. So tell me how you store your kraut OK Brent?

I need to eat this and then get out and do chores...I like your idea of feeding later and later Jim. My night chores take 1/10 the time of the morning...I dont know how good it would work for critters that eat 2xday though...darn!
Later, TerriO

 

[199787]

Awe Jim. Those baby parakeets are sooooo cute!

Terri so true. Chickens are like potato chips. Always room for a few more

That little Jedi costume is off my Build-a-Bear, lol. They fit newborns! Haha. We think he should dress up in my daughters Army build a bear costume next. I know he's not a doll, but it was my husbands idea .

Only 3 of my chickens have seen snow before. The rest are acting like it is a deadly poison on the ground this morning. When I kicked them out of the coop the flew panicked to their overhang. Ducks think it's pretty scary also, lol. The ones in the barn won't come out either. Funny watching them fret and taste it from the safety of dry ground.

 

[delisha]

Mom took the new chicks right out in the snow this morning. Crazy birds.

Welcome to the group Lefty..

Kendra, congrats on making it into the paper..paparazzi will now be in your yard with the cops.

I froze the kraut in zip lock bags instead of canning.

 

[chikenscratch]

Deli - they had better not come over!!!!!! After getting the ordinance changed, I think I'll tackle putting a fence in the front yard instead of just the back yard, it'll keep the criminals (and police) off our property

This cold, snowy weather has me thinking about maple syrup! Does anyone have a few taps and buckets that we could borrow for a season to see if we want to continue to make maple syrup???

 

[RBerryChicks]

I know this is old hat for most of you, but . . . we got our first pullet egg yesterday!!

So cute, it's just a bit larger than the bantam eggs. Now the question to the more experienced, about how long does is take for the eggs to reach the larger size? I suppose it depends on the breed.

LMiller: Love the little Obi Wan . . . too cute!
TO: Congrats on the job w/the baby and good luck on the other two interviews. WHEW, you are one busy lady. Will you be selling the pups? Not saying I'm interested, necessarily

I'm just checking for kristip

CS: Love it that you made the local paper - keeping my fingers crossed this works out. How very scary for your friend and so good you will be there for this second stage of the process. Positive vibes being sent her way

Left wing: Welcome to the Cheeseheads!! As TerriO mentioned a group of us are meeting up at Cluck the Chicken Store in Paoli on Saturday, Dec 14 starting at about 8:30. The store opens at 10:00 and it's small, so we want to have time and space enough to have very in depth discussions on all things chicken . . .

Seriously this is just a casual gathering, it's a fun way to network and put a face to the name. There is also a bash/camp outing in the spring that I missed last year, but plan to attend the next one. Looks like far too much fun to be missed. TerriO posted info on this last year.

jvls: Oh those parakeets are just so darned cute. I had forgotten about the ribs, kraut, and tatters. I like the country ribs slow cooked with the kraut . . . I think I'm going to the butcher shop tomorrow.

Happy Friday everyone!!

 

[cuties]

You've got a ways to go before tapping!!

Welcome lefty!

Del, are you planning to attend?

 

[Amyable]

Love that little Jedi! Too cute LMiller! That pic needs a meme.....

My oldest comes up to the bedroom this morning crowing about the 1/16 inch of snow. He says, 'mom I see snow...and schoolbuses!' Ackkk, overslept! It was 8:10, had him breakfasted, brushed, dressed and there before the 2nd bell rang 20 min later.

Long night with a hungry babe and Cartman crawling in with us twice.

Speaking of baby, this is him a couple weeks ago. Growing entirely too fast. He's wearing some 6mo outfits already and less than 3 months old. Waahhhhhhhh!

His mohawk is the best! <3